Chapter 18
BLADE
Jacob has been at the campus for the past week or so and good for his sake, he’s been staying far away from Amelia. But his presence still makes me uneasy, like a weight pressing at the back of my mind. Especially since he followed Amelia home that night in the dark.
She insists they’re just childhood friends, but I know better. I know Jacob. There’s something else going on, something I can’t shake.
I don’t know what he’s planning, but I’m not stupid enough to believe he just randomly showed up after disappearing for a year and a half, only to follow Amelia home on his first night back. The same Jacob who swore he’d never return to this campus.
As I walk through the halls, I text Asher.
Me: Get info on where Jacob was while he was gone
Asher: Tomorrow. I’m going to Frankie’s dorm, won’t have time tonight
Jesus fuck, people are useless. I start to type a response, but something catches my eye. Jacob, Skye, and Catalina all gathered by a pillar, talking like they’re old friends.
The sight pisses me off. Why is Amelia’s best friend hanging around the girl who used to torment her? And Jacob—of all people—the guy I wouldn’t trust within a mile of her?
Skye looks uncomfortable, her arms crossed tightly, her eyes darting around like she’s not supposed to be there. Catalina’s smirking, playing the queen bee act like she always does, while Jacob’s leaning against the pillar, looking far too relaxed for my liking.
I send another text before I head over there.
Me: Come to the west wing main building by the music room
I start walking towards them, my jaw clenched. Whatever this little gathering is, it’s ending now.
Halfway there, I’m stopped by a random redhead girl who gets in my path, twirling her hair between her fingers, flashing a smile I have zero interest in. I can throw up just looking at her. She’s nothing compared to my angel. No one is. So I don’t know why they all still try.
“I’m Chelsea. I was wondering—”
“Fuck off.”
The urge to shove her head into a locker flashes through my mind, but I have bigger things to deal with. So, I simply step around her without a second glance.
When I finally reach the three of them, the tension is thick. Skye looks like she’s about to bolt, and Jacob straightens, his eyes locking onto mine. Catalina? She just looks entertained, like she’s waiting for the drama to unfold.
I address Skye first.
“I don’t know what’s going on here,” I say, my voice low and cold, “but I do know one thing—you’re not going near Amelia anymore.”
Skye’s eyes widen, and she tries to explain, her words rushing out. “Blade, it’s not what it looks like—”
“Stop.” I cut her off, stepping closer. “I don’t care what it looks like. You’re packing your shit from her dorm, and you’re leaving this campus. Tell her your parents are sick or something. She’s not having snakes in her garden, ready to bite at any moment. I’m stopping the bullshit before it happens.”
She freezes, her face pale. Then, slowly, I see her shoulders tense, fists clenching at her sides. She’s getting angry. She’s getting angry at me . The fucking audacity.
“Well, it’s not fair!” Skye yells. “I’ve been trying to get in with that stupid group for over a year! Amelia’s been here for two months, and she gets you? She hit the jackpot! And I get stuck with some low-life boyfriend who’s a lapdog and does whatever you say. I deserve privileges on this campus! I deserve a fancy sports car, a filthy rich boyfriend! Why does she get everything, and I get nothing?”
“Oh, now the real bitch is coming out.”
She crosses her arms. “I’m not leaving. My dad would kill me if I lose my scholarship.”
I lower my voice and step towards her. “If you refuse to leave, I will pluck off your family members one. by. one. Then, you will lie awake every night wondering when I’m coming for you too, until I eventually do. Your dad being mad at you will be the least of your fucking concerns. Got it?”
Her tough act crumbles instantly. She nods, her head bobbing like a broken bobblehead, before running off.
“Now that that’s out of the way.” I turn to Catalina. “Walk with me real quick.”
“Okay.” She perks up cheerfully.
Turning to Jacob, I say, “Stay here. Be back in two minutes and we can talk.”
Without waiting for a response, I grab Catalina by the arm and lead her towards the music room. She’s about to get a taste of her own medicine, and it’s going to be extra strength.
“So you did miss me. Maybe I should be absent more often. They say absence makes the heart grow fonder.” She smiles, leaning in to kiss my cheek, but I block her at the last second.
“Drop the fucking nice act. Skye told me about all the mean shit you did to Amelia during cheer practice. So, how can you be so nice to me, fake smile and all, and a raging bitch to her?”
Her smile drops like it was never there. “You always looked at her like that from afar when I’m clearly the better option,” she sneers. “Why does she get all of the privileges? Just like Skye said. She gets to skip the lunch line, get better meals from the exclusive menu, go into any shop and get anything she wants without paying, special privileges with some of the professors, priority parking—”
“You don’t have to list every damn privilege she gets from wearing the necklace, I already know them. So let me get this straight. You knew I liked her, so you planned to pick on her so you could, what? Destroy her self-confidence so she’d never go for a guy like me. Is that it?”
She looks down, her expression shifting to a mask of guilt as fake as her smile. Everything about her is fake.
“You see Catalina, that’s why I stopped dealing with you.”
Her head snaps up to me. “But why? I can fix it.”
“You’re snobby, you’re rude, you sit at the lunch hall with your mini-me friends and harass people so you can feel better about yourself. Just a full-on bitch. And that would be fine, and I would’ve just stayed far away from you. But then you went and messed with the wrong girl, so now you have to pay.”
As if on cue, Rhys spots us and walks over, his brows furrowing as he shifts his gaze back and forth between the two of us.
“Just in time,” I smirk. “Rhys here is going to teach you a little lesson about bullying. Let’s see how you like it.” I nod in the direction of the empty music room.
“What? No! I thought we were going to hook up!”
Rhys grabs her, hauling her into the music room, and after I make sure they’re inside, I make my way back to Jacob.
When I reach him, I don’t waste time. “For being Amelia’s childhood best friend, why the hell are you fraternizing with her bully? Surely if you wanted to rebuild a friendship with her, you wouldn’t do that.”
“Catalina is just pussy.” He sticks his hands in his pockets and leans against the pillar.
I don’t believe him. Either way, I play along. Sometimes you have to keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
“Really? Cause she’s not that good of a lay. Of all the girls in school you decide to stick your dick in your friend’s enemy, just for trash pussy?”
“She’s willing to try any kink at least once, that makes up for it.” He shrugs. “But you’re not here to talk about my sex life.”
“What are your real intentions?” I have a bad feeling in my gut about him.
His jaw tightens, and there’s a long pause before he speaks. “A little thing called revenge,” he finally admits. “And I’m going to hurt you if it’s the last thing I do. Physically or mentally, I don’t care which one.”
“Revenge for what? You left on your own, remember? It’s not my fault the Serpents kicked you out for good after you made that decision. Just be lucky they didn’t kill you.”
“I’m not worried about being in the fucking group. You couldn’t pay me to work for John again. Not after he made you kill my brother.”
“Didn’t know you had one. But you’ll have to refresh my memory. I kill a lot of people.”
A half sigh, half chuckle leaves his mouth, but this time it sounds more defeated than smug. “Does Eli ring a bell?”
I knew it.
I knew he didn’t come back just to catch up with Amelia, his so-called childhood best friend, as he claimed. Revenge is what he wants, not Amelia. I don’t know if that makes me feel better or worse.
I start to gather information from him. “If Eli was your brother, how come you didn’t have the same dad? I heard his high ranking was because of his dad’s ranking.”
“We’re stepbrothers. But we grew up together as brothers, so I’m still going to destroy you.”
I chuckle. Does he think his threat is supposed to scare me? I haven’t felt fear in years. “I’m only going to say this once. Hurt me all you want. But if you hurt her, I will kill you.”
“Speaking of her, how is her pussy these days?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know how it is,” I bite out.
“Oh, I don’t have to wonder. Just ask her who took her virginity. Maybe I should dip back in, it was pretty good the first time. Oh yeah, and the second and third time too.”
I take a step forward, my fists clenching. “If you don’t keep your hands to yourself and off what’s mine, I will break them. And then kill you. Then that’ll be two sons your parents have to bury. So your best bet is leaving this college altogether.”
“You’re not usually the territorial type, Aiden.” He chuckles. “Mad that I’ll always be her first?”
“Don’t fucking call me that again,” I growl, gritting my teeth. “And I don’t care if you were her first because I’m going to be her last.”
“Why shouldn’t I call you that? Isn’t that what your mother named—”
I don’t let him finish. My knuckles collide with his nose, immediately drawing blood. The force of the punch whips his head to the side, sending him crashing into the pillar. He stumbles, trying to catch himself, but the impact is too much.
Before I walk away, leaving him laid out on the ground, I warn again, “As I said, you’re best off leaving this campus.”
Well, at least now I’ve killed three birds with one stone.