Page 27 of Disobedient Pawn

“Yeah, they’re always looking for free handouts and clothing. I mean, get a real job, and you won’t have to look so pathetic,” a voice I didn’t know answered. “Oh, I love this shade,” she added, and I could only assume without looking that she was referring to her makeup or hair.

“Exactly, and then to have them blatantly flirt with your boyfriend like they actually had a chance…so pathetic,” a third voice said. I was pretty sure that was Raquel. “Yes, I love that color eyeshadow on you. You should try my lilac shadow. It would really make your eyes stand out.”

“Yeah, agreed. It’s fine, though. I’m going to teach her a lesson she’ll never forget. I will make her life such a living hell that she drops out and has to move to another country just to get away from me and the humiliation.”

Fuck. Stuffing my arms into the blouse, I turned around as I did up the buttons. “I wasn’t hitting on Nash,” I said. Like a scene in a horror movie, all three heads that had been leaning over sinks and staring into the mirror turned in my direction.

Vicky blinked and then laughed. “Oh, sweetie, we weren’t talking about you.” Her eyes traveled up and down my body. The disgust in her eyes was palpable. “You’re not important enough to be bothered talking about.” She clicked the lid on her lipstick and turned to the two girls that looked like malicious guard dogs. “Come on girls, let’s get to class so Ren here can finish getting dressed.” She pointed one long elegant finger at me and wiggled it up and down. “You do know that shirt is stained, right?”

Of course, I knew it was stained just as she knew it was stained. She was in the damn room when it happened. I probably should’ve cleaned up the spilled coffee, but I had just wanted to get the hell out of there.

I was fuming as she smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “See you later, roomie,” she said sickeningly sweet. Holding onto the door, she paused and stared at me. “Oh, and by the way, you’ll want to find a mop and bucket before the end of classes today to clean up your lover’s mess. I don’t clean,” she said as if reading my mind.

“He’s not my lover,” I called after her as the door closed and was met with a string of giggles from more than one person.

I damn well knew that little show was for me, and the fact that she said it wasn’t somehow pissed me off more. Then I had to go and make it worse. I fell right into her web, and just like the spider she was, she waited for me to get stuck so she could attack.

Fuck I hated this place.

Tucking the ends of my shirt into my kilt, I grabbed the jacket off the door and put it on as I stared in the mirror. You could still see some of the stain, but it was nowhere near as bad. What pissed me off even more was how Myles had pulled me into his lap like I was his property or something. I loathed the fact that it hadn’t felt bad either.

He smelled so good, and there was no denying that the flex of his muscles under my hand had been hot as hell. Then there were those eyes that were so different, and…No, I was definitely not going there. The last thing I needed was the distraction of a boyfriend, or whatever it was he thought we would be. If I could stay focused, there was a good chance I could fast-track my studies and get out of here a semester early. That was my new goal.

Picking up my backpack, I marched for the door and ignored all the stares I got as I stepped out into the hall. Let them stare. They meant nothing to me, and their opinions equally so. I watched the numbers count down to room seven and stepped inside. Ivy lifted her hand in the air and pointed beside her. A little bit of the tension that I hadn’t noticed forming in my chest eased at the sight of a friendly face and no Myles, Blake, or Nash.

“Hey, how’s it going,” I asked as I dropped down beside her in the plastic chair. You’d think an expensive academy like this would have something nicer than the standard issue public school seats.

“I’m doing okay…” Her eyes went to the brown spot at the V of my jacket.

“I know, I have a stain. I need more shirts, but the school doesn’t have any in my size, and I didn’t bring any. I also don’t have a car to go shopping anywhere,” I said.

“I’ll take you.” I groaned at the sound of Blake’s voice behind me. I knew I’d gotten too lucky. “It’ll have to wait until Monday since I’m gone to the tourney all weekend, but we can make it a date. I can show you the area, and I know this amazing ice cream shop where I promise not to throw any on you.” Blake walked around to the desk behind me and sat down. “You can come too, Ivy,” he said, and her face lit up.

“Really?” Ivy practically yelled with excitement, making me jump. She looked around the room, her cheeks going red as she covered her mouth. “Sorry.”

She was so cute, and I laughed at her embarrassment, even though I shouldn’t. Turning my attention back to the problem at hand, I looked at Blake and his all-too-happy expression.

“I don’t know. I don’t even know you,” I said to Blake.

“We can ask your daddy if you like,” he said, his lip curving up as his eyes challenged me. I wanted to punch him square in the face but took a deep breath and counted to ten instead. “You know, if you still need to ask for permission to leave the property, that is. That’s usually a first year issue, but if you do…”

I glared at him and hated that he managed to find a scab to pick at that would bother me. Having to ask my father for anything was a hell no.

“Please, Ren,” Ivy begged, her voice soft. “I rarely get to leave the property, my dad is a total hard ass, and I don’t have a vehicle. Chantry sneaks us off now and then, but we usually only do a quick drive-thru and head back.”

My bottom lip would end up bleeding before the week was out at the rate I was biting it. I could feel myself caving as I stared into Ivy’s hopeful eyes. God dammit.

“Fine, I’ll go. Only because you want me to,” I said to Ivy, but that didn’t stop Blake from smiling like he’d talked me into it.

“Yes,” Ivy cheered.

“Great, it’s a date,” Blake said, smirking.

I shot him a glare. “No, it’s most certainly not a date.”

“What would you call it?”

“An outing,” I said and crossed my arms. “It just happens to be together.”