“As well as one from my side of the tracks can. I thought public school was bad, but it has nothing on the people here.”
She purses her lips. After a moment, she says, “I know the kids here can be cruel. Just remember that the education you’re getting here is priceless. Soak up as much of it as you can and try to remain in the background. Nothing good will come from you getting involved with anyone here.”
She glances over her shoulder, almost as if she’s making sure no one is listening to her whispered words.
“No worries. I don’t trust anyone, especially at this school. Besides, I’m hoping not to be here long enough to care about any of these people.”
Liar. You care about Victoria, Tinsley, and Keaton, my traitorous heart says.
“Good. Even those you think are your friends could be the ones to hurt you. Not everything is as it seems with the people here. Everyone is hiding a secret. Even you, Sage.”
My eyes widen at her statement. What secrets could I be keeping from people?
“I’m not sure I know what you mean.”
“I hope you never do. Now hurry off to class.”
She shoves a book at me. I take it without looking at it.
“Thanks, I guess,” I mutter before leaving the library, confused by her statement.
I’m still focusing on the weird conversation I just had, so I don’t notice someone standing in front of my locker until I get there. I startle as Ingram leans against it, smirking at me.
“Thinking about that crazy sex you were paid for last night?” she asks.
“You guys need to make up your mind. Either I’m a whore or a prostitute. Which is it?”
“Both, of course. What’s the difference?” she challenges.
“Well, either I fuck for free because I enjoy sex—which there is nothing wrong with, by the way—or I get paid to fuck. Which is it?”
“Guess you already answered, whore.”
I roll my eyes. “Fine. I’m a whore. Now move. I have to go to class.”
“You need to stay away from Reed. You’re poisoning the whole Yates family one by one. You’re like flesh-eating bacteria, never satisfied until you eat away at everything.”
I push her out of the way, opening my locker. “This is getting really old. I’m friends with Tinsley and Keaton. I know it’s such a foreign concept to someone like you. As for Reed… well, Reed is Reed. He’s a big boy and can take care of himself. I don’t want him, and he doesn’t want me. If you want him, I think you should totally shoot your shot though.”
“He’s a founding family. The main founding family. The Yateses are the ones who thought to even form the founding families of this school. There is wealth and privilege behind that name that you would never even understand. Just by sharing a room with them, you’re tarnishing their reputation. You should do everyone a favor and disappear.”
“Glad we’re on the same page. I’m nothing. They’re everything. Money, power, blah, blah, blah. Give it a rest. I’m here until I turn eighteen, and there is nothing you can do about it. I don’t take orders from you, nor do I cower because you demand it. I know it’s hard for your fragile ego to understand this, so I’ll say it slowly. You. Do. Not. Scare. Me. So get over yourself.” I slam my locker door and walk away without a backward glance.
“Watch yourself. You just started a war you have no chance of winning.”
I ignore Ingram’s parting words, hurrying to class.
Chapter Fifteen
“Honey, a table of four for you came in,” Rosie calls to me as I’m rolling silverware in a back-corner booth.
“Thanks.”
As I make my way to the table, my steps falter and I have a sense of déjà vu when I realize who’s sitting there: Reed, Sterling, Finley, and Keaton.
For the past week and a half, Reed has gone out of his way to be nice to me, even going as far as flirting with me. Every day, the Yates’ siblings pester me until I eat lunch at their table. He partners with me for finishing class and actually helps me figure out what I’m supposed to be doing. His personality has done a total one-eighty, and all I can do is wonder why.
To say that I’ve been trying to avoid him is an understatement. I changed up my routine, stopped going to my locker in between classes, and hid out in the library, but he still found me. I even tried skipping class, but he caught me before I could make my escape.
My only reprieve has been that he hadn’t shown up here. Until tonight. It’s a Wednesday, so it’s a slow night for us. Beth asked me to close up, which is the only reason I’m here tonight. I was supposed to be off, but I can’t turn down the chance to earn more money. Plus, Beth has become a sort of mother figure to me. I couldn’t let her down.
Walking to the table slowly, I hesitantly greet them.
“Welcome to Momma’s House. What can I start you off with to drink?”
All four sets of eyes meet mine. Sterling narrows his, Finley is aloof, as usual, and Keaton looks nervous, but Reed? He seems surprised. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him taken off guard.
“Sage, what a pleasant surprise. What are you doing working tonight?” Reed reaches out to grab my hand, but I pull back.
“The boss says you work, so then you do. That’s usually how a job operates.” I try to bite back the snark, but it isn’t easy.
He laughs gently. “Fair point. I just meant that I thought you had the night off.”
“Stalking me now?”
A small smirk plays on the edge of his lips. “I would love to stalk someone as beautiful as you. As it is, no. I merely remember Tinsley mentioning that she was having a sleepover with you and Victoria at your house. Was that not true?”
My face heats at his words.
He called me beautiful. Did he mean it?
“Stop messing with her, Reed. You’re going to break her, and she’s the best server here,” Sterling quips when I stand frozen a moment too long.
Reed turns to me. “Is he right? Are you breakable?” There’s a wicked gleam in his eye that lights a fire in my core.
“Uh, no,” I mutter, unsure where this bumbling idiot who took over my body came from.
“Ignore the assholes, S.” Keaton gives his brother a pointed look. “How’s your night so far?”
“Good. It’s a slow night. I don’t usually work Wednesdays, but Beth asked me to fill in. I’m actually closing tonight.”
I curse myself for giving too much information. What is it about Reed that causes my brain to malfunction?
“That’s good, right? That they trust you to close?” Finley chimes in, offering me a friendly smile.
“Yep. The extra income doesn’t hurt either.”
Reed reaches out again, this time taking my hand. I dumbly glance down and stare at our joined hands. The glint from his Rolex against his tanned skin is somehow oddly attractive to me.
Maybe my hormones are out of whack.
“We won’t keep you long, then. We just need a quick bite to eat, and then we’ll get out of here so you can close. Call me if you need a ride.”
Usually with a statement like that, I would assume he was making fun of me again, but as I look into his eyes, I find he’s sincere.