“That may be, but there’s still the matter of Jon Eric Carr’s disappearance. His mother—Senator Carr—is convinced you had something to do with it. She holds a great deal of … sway over the other parents and has expressed her concerns of you to more than just me.”
“Headmaster, I had nothing to do with Jon Eric’s disappearance,” I say on a shaky breath. “What could I have possibly done to him? I have no idea where he is.”
The worst part is, almost every word that leaves my lips is the absolute truth.
“It’s well known that you two were at odds,” he says, completely disregarding me.
“Because he’s a piece of shit. He tried to rape me and threatened me countless times.”
“Then it would make sense that you would want to get back at him.”
My muscles quiver with rage. I just told this man that I was nearly raped by another student, and he doesn’t even bat an eye at that. It’s crystal clear where I stand with Headmaster Aldridge. I’m just the piece of trailer trash he was forced to accept within the walls of his precious school, but he doesn’t even pretend to actually give a shit about me.
Jon Eric’s disappearance is far more concerning to him than any assault on my body.
Slapping my hands on the armrests of my chair, I stand to my feet, holding my head high.
“You know, I’m really sick of being accused of every bad thing that happens at this school,” I confess. “Either expel me and get it over with so I can call my lawyer or let me get back to class. I’m done.”
I can tell by the sudden wrinkles around his eyes that he really doesn’t like being talked back to, but he nods—probably because the mere mention of Chandler Branson, the fancy attorney Saint had hired for me, makes the word lawsuit swarm his vision. “Very well. You’re dismissed. Go back to class and stay out of trouble.”
I turn without a word and start for the door, but his voice whips through the air the moment my hand falls on the knob. “Oh, and one more thing, Ms. Ellis?”
I pause and wait for him to continue, but I don’t look back at him.
“You should be more respectful toward Mr. Porter. After all, it was his recommendation that won you your scholarship here.”
I shuffle to my next class in a daze, Headmaster Aldridge’s words ringing in my head. Dylan recommended me for my scholarship?
It’s too crazy to be true, but why would Aldridge lie about that?
I’m so caught up in my thoughts, I don’t notice Saint standing in the hall waiting for me until I practically run into him.
“Move.”
He doesn’t. Go figure. “Why the fuck didn’t you answer your door last night? Or your phone?”
I grit my teeth. “I was busy with my friends. Plus, I really didn’t feel like dealing with your trashed ass again.”
I shove past him to go into the classroom. He follows close on my heels.
“I expect you to answer when I call you,” he rumbles. “That’s the deal.”
“What deal? The one where you fuck me over at least once a week, and then show up at my door expecting to actually fuck me? As if that somehow makes what you’ve done to me better? Go to hell, Angelle.”
We make it to our seats, and Gabe and Liam are already there.
“Whoa, what’s up with you two?”
Gabe recoils when I slice him with a burning look that’s meant solely for Saint. “Nothing,” I snap.
Saint drops into the seat next to me and leans over onto my desk. “That’s not how it is between us anymore, Ellis, and you know it.” He clenches and unclenches his fist on my desk but gradually pulls back and away from me. I hear Liam braying like a donkey behind me, and I bite the inside of my cheek.
“Hey, be careful.”
I jump and turn to find him leaning toward me. His voice is lowered so only I can hear him, but I can sense Saint tensing next to me.
“Remember what I said about pushing too far?” As I bob my head, Gabe continues, “You’re getting there. Just remember who’s more capable of destruction.”
He leans back in his chair just as our teacher begins the day’s lesson, but I can hardly focus as I consider his words.
I do my best to ignore Saint the rest of the day, despite Gabe’s warning, and am pretty successful until History. It’s the period I’m most dreading, and it doesn’t disappoint. Dylan shoots me a venomous look as soon as I enter the classroom. Once I’m in my seat, Saint, Liam, and Gabe all walk through the door and head for me. Saint stares Dylan down before turning his blue eyes on me. I hold them captive for a second, but then look away, not wanting to encourage him to speak to me.
Laurel comes in next, but thankfully, she takes her usual seat and doesn’t come near me, although she does give me a little wave as she crosses the room.
Honestly, it’s a lot of people to ignore all at once.
Dylan gets up and begins his lecture, and I zone out. Even his voice is grating on my nerves. Class seems to take forever, but as Dylan drones on, my mind returns to what Headmaster Aldridge told me. My eyes wander toward him and I study him intently as he teaches. Why would he recommend me for this place? Was it his plan the whole time to get a job at Angelview?
Has this all been some crazy setup for his desired revenge?
Does he know about Nora? Are they working together?
I shudder at the thought. Those two allied together would just be my absolute nightmare.
So many questions buzz through my brain, and I realize, with a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach, that I need to talk to him.
Fuck.
I’d rather walk on hot coals barefoot than have a conversation with Dylan, but I don’t think I have much of a choice. I need to know why he did it, and if he has any connection to Nora.
When the bell rings, I don’t get up from my seat.
“What are you doing?” a voice demands from beside me. “You’re not sticking around for that asshole.”
“It’s none of your goddamn business.”
“The hell it isn’t.” He towers over me, a brick wall of golden rage, but I don’t get up from my chair. A part of me worries he’ll try to drag me out of the room if I move. “You’re not talking to that fucker alone. Besides, did you forget about your detention? We’ve got trash to pick up.”
“I can handle picking up litter on my own, thanks. And if I want to talk to a teacher, I’ll talk to them.”
“Right? Because you make the best life choices when you get worked up. I seem to remember a certain apple.”
“Hmm.” But he’s right—I’ll probably never look at a golden delicious again without recalling how I’d earned my place in prep school hell thanks to one. At least, that’s what I thought at the time. Now I know my existence at Angelview was doomed well before I picked up that apple. “Too bad I didn’t nail you in the balls.”
“You want to be alone with the pervert? I won’t fucking stop you. I’m over this anyway.”
As he leaves the classroom, I close my eyes, a broken breath vibrating my lips. No, I can’t let him affect me like this. Not now. I have to pull it together.