1
Whisper
“I don’t understand what any of this means,” I say rubbing at my temples. This is all a headache. Everything in my life has been a headache. Day after day, year after year.
“It means that they have decided to take you in while you’re in college. This is amazing news, Whisper.” I stare at her. Really look at her. My caseworker. She isn’t your typical looking caseworker, not like the ones I’ve had in the past. She’s taller, more poised, but she has the personality of a street kid which is why I get along with her so well. She’s treated me with respect over the last four years and for that I’m grateful.
“Why would some family decide to take an eighteen-year-old girl in? I haven’t been adopted before now,” I say rolling my eyes. Asia sits forward, resting her elbows on her knees as she glares at me.
“Maybe they’re nice people?” she says.
“Or maybe they’re psychotic killers. Human traffickers. Hell, maybe they are going to cut me up and eat me,” I say sitting back in my chair. Neither of us speak for a long second before she bursts into laughter.
“Eat you? Really? I’d be more afraid for them, Whisper. This is your chance to go to college, have a shot at a real family. The Remington’s are wealthy and have stability. They are offering you the chance to further your education. You’re going.”
“Technically, I am eighteen and don’t have to follow these rules,” I add raising an eyebrow.
“If you didn’t get into so much trouble, that might be true, but you Miss Whisper are hell on earth. Which means the judge already signed off on all of this,” she says with a smirk. One I’d like to slap off her face. I don’t like being told what to do. In fact, I don’t do well with authority at all.
“This is bullshit.”
“Maybe, but I see it as a chance for you to make something out of your life. Besides, I hear Alder Academy has an amazing dance program.”
“Considering I sing, that won’t do me any good,” I snap back. She raises her eyebrow and shakes her head.
“Considering I have seen you dance; I think you’re full of shit.” This is why I like her. She challenges me even when she shouldn’t. She makes me feel like there is something out there for me even when I don’t see it myself. Hell, I don’t believe there is anything in this life that I can do right.
“This is stupid,” I say once more.
“Too bad. It can be stupid all you want it to be but you’re going.” She shoves out of the chair and walks toward the door as I watch her. This is it. The last time I have to see her. Alder Academy? I’ve looked it up. All it is, is a bunch of entitled spoiled rich fucks. Not where I want to be, and it sure as hell isn’t somewhere I plan to stay. I won’t fit in there just like I don’t fit in anywhere. I watch the back of Asia’s head as she heads out the door before flipping her off. Fuck her. With a sigh, I stand from the bed and grab my bag before following the way she went out. I’m down the stairs of my current girls’ home when I see the couple standing outside with smiles on their overly perfect faces. She’s gorgeous, could pass as a supermodel. He isn’t bad himself.
Stepping outside, everyone’s eyes come to meet mine. She steps forward first, holding her hand out.
“I’m Debra. It’s so nice to meet you,” she says pleasantly. I’m not completely rude so I step forward and take her hand.
“Whisper.”
“I love that name. It’s one I’ve never heard before. So unique.”
“It’s stupid,” I inform her, pulling my hand back and letting my arm fall to my side.
“Well, I think it’s beautiful.”
“You would,” I grumble.
“Whisper! Your manners,” Asia reminds me.
“Sorry,” I say sweetly batting my lashes at Debra. She isn’t going to be able to handle me. This isn’t going to work.
“Well, I’m Nathan. It’s nice to meet you as well and if you don’t like your name, what would you like to be called?” Jesus, even his voice is as pleasant as Debra’s. I roll my eyes and shake my head, my long dark hair falling over my shoulder.
“Whisper. Just like everyone else calls me. Are we going?” Nathan doesn’t look shocked at my outburst as he nods his head and holds his hand out for my bags. Shaking my head, I walk to the trunk of his SUV and toss them in before slamming it closed. Asia grabs my arm and pulls me against her.
“Be nice, Whisper. They seem great.”
“She’s a pushover.”
“Don’t push her then,” she says with a smile. A fake front for the fake parents.
“Fine.” I’ll say anything to get her off my ass right now. I want to get the hell out of here and get on with this bullshit of a life. Stepping away from Asia, I climb into the back of the SUV and slam the door closed. Debra and Nathan share a smile before climbing in.
I watch out the window as a part of my life passes by. A past that I hate. A past that I love. A past that made me who I am. I’m not sure who this new Whisper will be once I settle in and make myself a place at Alder Academy. Something tells me that I will still be me. Just which version?
2
Steele
“You see Tricia today?” Knox, one of my brothers asks as we walk the long hallway.
“Don’t I see her every day?” He chuckles when Callan, our other brother steps up next to us.
“What are we talking about?”
“Tricia and how good her ass looks in those little shorts she had on,” Knox states. I roll my eyes as we make our way into the coach’s office. His eyes come up to see it’s the three of us before he drops what he’s doing.
“You three. Why the hell can’t you just stay out of trouble?” he snaps, resting his hands on his hips.
“What trouble?” I ask tilting my head to the side with my signature smirk on my face. We’re known for trouble. Around here we’re known as the Triple A’s. This is our school. We run it, we own it. Nothing happens in this town without our knowledge. We are the fucking Alder’s.
“Really, Steele? Do I need to remind your asses that even though you run the world in these parts, you still have to put in some kind of effort?” I love when he gets all pissed off like this. It makes me hard.
“Need I remind you that I don’t give two shits about any of this?”
“Not even football?” He would pull that card. Alder Academy is number one in college football. That’s because my brothers and I are top fucking athletes. Without us, this team would fall to shit. We keep it running.
“Don’t pull the football card, Ray,” Knox chimes in.
“I have to or you three don’t listen. Your dad’s been up my ass about your grades.” I see the look in his eyes, and I know that it’s hard for him to deal with us and the football team. Dad is always off on business and leaves Ray to pick up the pieces. Ray is like a father figure to the three of us but that doesn’t mean that we don’t give him hell.
“Why? Who’s failing now?” I ask glancing over at Callan. He’s the youngest of the three of us.