Nine
SCARLETT
“ W e need to talk,” Ace demands, his voice deep and raspy making the hairs on the back of my neck stand as he follows close behind me. I don’t understand the effect he has on me but the more I try to ignore it, the stronger it becomes. That doesn’t stop me from trying.
“I have nothing to say to you,” I shout, quickening my pace hoping he’ll give up and let me go on my own. Yeah right. Around us students are rushing toward their classes, but slow down to give us a second look. Their glares cut through me as they see me disrespecting their king.
“Then you’ll listen.” He reaches for me, grabbing hold of my wrist, causing me to turn around angrily, shooting daggers at him with my glare.
“What the fuck is it with you Servite men that makes you think you can put your dirty hands on me? Let. Me. Go.” I utter, mouthing every word slowly as I try to pull away. It’s useless. At only five foot four, Ace towers over me, his body swallowing me whole as he stands above me.
“I won’t let go, not until you listen, and regarding my uncle putting his hands on you, I won’t let that happen again. Ever.” He leans in close to me, our lips again almost coming into contact and my breathing shifts slightly at the closeness of him. His eyes are dark and filled with anger or is it desire.
I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. The two emotions seem interchangeable when we’re around each other.
As soon as he catches himself staring down at my mouth as my tongue sneaks out to lick my bottom lip, he abruptly steps back letting go of my wrist.
I gently rub the sensitive skin where the touch of his calloused hands burned me, a slight red mark visible on my pale skin. Shifting his gaze down at wrist, I almost see a shred of regret cross his eyes for gripping me so tightly but it instantly vanishes as his body stiffens, his glare right back to being murderous.
“There is no need for him to dirty his hands with the likes of you,” he sneers, and there it is. The true reason behind his anger. Not anger, nor desire, nor jealousy, but disgust. Why would his uncle dirty his hands with lowly old me?
“Yeah, well, you let him know to keep his hands off me and frankly tell him to just stay the fuck away from me. Like I told you, the next time either of you, or anyone dares to put their hands on me will be their last.”
My fury makes him laugh, a mocking chuckle leaving his lips as he stares amused. “Now, now, Little Red, no need to be overdramatic. I still haven’t put my hands on you, not really. And you can be sure that when I do, you won’t be begging me to stop.”
“In your dreams, Ace,” I scoff, storming off as we reach the entrance of Westerly Hall, another large gray brick building surrounded by tall trees and a few tables and benches. No surprise there. Compared to the impressive size of the campus and the physical appearance and wealth of its inhabitants, the architecture of the academy is mediocre.
As I step inside, I look around and see students are no longer roaming the hallways. Hoping to find lecture room 2A on my own, so I won’t have to ask Ace for directions, I see it’s the second door on the right side. Unfortunately, just as I’m about to reach for the handle, the bell rings.
Fuck. I’m late, and on my first day. Way to make a first impression, Scarlett. Well, second impression, since everyone has already decided what they think of me without even knowing anything about me. Especially after last night at the party and this morning at the assembly. Poor, temperamental, possibly a criminal, but above all, unworthy of attending the prestigious Servite Academy.
I move to grab the handle of the door but pause when I sense a large body behind me. Again, my body stiffens at his closeness, a shiver running through me from the heat emanating from him. Get a grip, Scarlett.
“Didn’t I clarify I wanted you to leave me alone?” I sneer, not bothering or trusting myself to turn to him.
“Don’t flatter yourself, Red. I’m just trying to get inside my class.” I freeze at his answer. Fuck no. He’s in my homeroom class. “Any day now, Red. Need I remind you we’re already late, and on your first day.”
With a loud irritated grunt, I pull down the door handle nearly falling forward as the door screeches open. Inside all eyes turn to me including the man seated at the front desk. My eyes shift around the large room, which is not a typical classroom obviously, but a fifty-seat theater with individual desks and plush chairs. The walls themselves are a bright white, sterile color while the desks are a shiny, black wood, and the chairs lush and a deep burgundy color.
Each student has in front of them a brand-new MacBook open and ready to type away, but their glares are stuck on Ace and me at the front of the classroom. They are all impeccably dressed in the academy’s uniform and look every bit the part of pretentious prep school punks, unlike me who looks every bit the imposter I am in this getup.
“Miss Steele,” the man seated at the front of the class, who I assume is the teacher, says as he stands and faces us. He’s tall with broad shoulders, dressed in crisp black slacks, a white-collared shirt, and a dark red V-neck sweater. Dark hair combed perfectly in place, and dark eyes hidden behind black-rimmed glasses.
Shit, are all adults here this young and damn good looking? No wonder the students here actually pay attention in class. I would have back at Pleasant Hills High if our teachers looked like they belonged on the cover of GQ Magazine. Instead, they all looked like they belonged in a convalescent home, or worse, six feet under.
“You’re late,” he utters as he steps in our direction. “Not sure how things were at your previous institution, but here at Servite Academy and specifically in this class, tardiness is unacceptable.”
Before I try to explain myself, Ace pushes past, almost knocking me over.
“Sorry, Macallan, it’s my fault we’re late. Little Red here was lost, you know her first day and all in a big new school. It can seem daunting for someone of her background,” he jabs making me roll my eyes at his dig. “Good student that I am, I had to show her that Servite Academy hospitality and show her the way,” he adds, winking at me.
God, he’s good. Of course, he knows exactly what to say, his effortless charm just radiating off of him.
“Of course, Mr. Servite, I understand,” Macallan, as he called him, says with a nod. “You did well. Please, if you’d now find your seat. Miss Steele, I’m sure you can find your own seat, next to Mr. Servite of course.” He smirks up at me with a lewd stare that makes me all too uncomfortable.
And there it is. Just like every other male here, breathtaking exterior, rotten interior .
I walk over to the empty desk beside Ace, dropping onto the plush chair, and open my bag, setting my MacBook on my desk. I really hope I can figure out how to work this thing out on my own, so I won’t have to ask for help. I have used a computer before back at the Grayson’s house and at the library at our old high school, but this is something entirely different. It’s innovative and full of programs I’ve never seen before. I’ll have to get Stella to give me a crash course on this unfamiliar technology.
“So, as you all know my name is Professor Macallan and this is English Literature 400, but most importantly your homeroom class. This year is essential to shaping the rest of your future,” he says, interrupting my train of thought.
I decide to just open a blank document and begin typing away as Macallan speaks.
“This class will be unorthodox compared to your previous English Lit classes. We will focus on the Romanticism literary movement of the late 1700s to mid-1800s. This period of literature focused on emotions and symbolism, among other topics. Though our focus for the first part of the course will be Lyrical Ballads by Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth. The lyrical ballads are believed to begin the Romantic movement in English Literature. We’ll also analyze much of the work of Edgar Allen Poe and the eccentric symbolism of his work.”
The next few classes go by rather quickly, each professor only going over their syllabuses and expectations for the courses. After English Lit with Professor Macallan, I had US History with Professor Hastings, Honors Biology with Professor Grant, and Algebra 2 with Professor Mortimer.
To no surprise, all teachers were just as condescending as Macallan.
The stares and whisperings continued to follow me around but at least nobody was bold enough to talk to me. To no surprise, Ace and I have had the same classes thus far.
Coincidence? My subconscious snickers. I don’t believe in those.
Although Ace has sat next to me for every class, at least he’s kept his snide comments to himself. Though now as the next bell rings informing us it’s lunchtime, I’m afraid he’s going to approach me.
Instead, he quickly exits the classroom before everyone else and disappears into the crowd. Finally, I can breathe without having him so close to me. Apparently, every professor is on board to sit me right next to him. Again, coincidence?
I follow a crowd of my classmates to the main courtyard in the middle of campus where Stella mentioned the dining hall and other school restaurants were located. I’m relieved I can finally meet up with everyone, since I have had none of them in my classes so far.
Heading toward the center of the courtyard and into the large dining hall, I make my way over to Stella, Drake, and Jade who are waiting by the door. They look over and see me approaching.
Stella waves me over enthusiastically. “Scarlett, finally,” she says, pulling me into a hug.
“I headed straight over,” I say, confused at her surprise.
“Yeah, it’s just we haven’t had you in any classes yet. Luckily, Jade and I have you for the last two classes. I think Kai might be in there too.” She turns around and I see Kai, Jax and Ruby already in line for food.
“Let’s go get some food,” Jade says, pulling me with her while Stella and Drake follow right behind us.
The dining hall is no ordinary cafeteria, instead resembling a five-star buffet with about six different types of food. There are signs for Italian, Asian, Greek, Mexican, a Sushi bar and American food. At the end of the room, there is a whole drink station and next to it a dessert bar complete with a chocolate fountain.
The amount of food in this place is insane .
We catch up to the rest of the guys and I grab a few things from the Italian food section. Jade and I grew up on nothing but frozen foods and processed meats, and rarely even had an appetite, so honestly anything here is a gourmet meal compared to that. But the pasta, above all, looks absolutely delicious.
After everyone’s gotten their lunch, which apparently, we don’t have to pay for, we walk outside to the quad and find a table as far away from the section Stella said is reserved for the Horsemen and their Queens.
Drake of course sits right next to me with Jade on my left and Stella beside her. Kai, Jax and Ruby sit across from us in that order. We eat rather quietly, since it looks like none of us woke up in time to come down for breakfast. Between bites we briefly talk about how our classes have been so far and I find out apparently all professors are just as patronizing as Macallan was this morning. I can sense Drake is tense, so I place my hand on his thigh squeezing slightly. He turns to me and I tilt my head up slightly, asking him what’s wrong.
“I still can’t wrap my head around why that sick fucker Servite thinks he can keep harassing you like that. And Ace, that little bitch thinks he can have what’s,” he stops himself as I raise my eyebrows.
Mine. He was going to say what’s his. Not a chance, Dragon.
“Think carefully about what you’re going to say next, Dragon,” I reply, taking another bite of my pasta.
“There’s just something about him, Scar. You need to be careful around him. I don’t like the way he looks at you.”
“Like I said before, he’s harmless. Just a cocky asshole with a giant ego who needs to be taken down a notch. We walked in here not giving a shit about their hierarchy and his ego took a blow. Once he sees we are indifferent to him and his friends he’ll leave us alone, leave me alone.”
“I’m not so sure, Scar. He wants you… I can tell when he looks at you.” He sighs, obviously frustrated .
Voices all around get louder with every minute as more and more students join us out on the courtyard.
I lean in closer to Drake so he’s the only one who hears me. “My eyes are on you, Dragon Man. He can look at me all he wants but you’re the one I’m looking at,” I tell him and his demeanor relaxes. He smirks at me and his smile makes me weak in the knees. I lean into him, our lips almost touching just as we’re interrupted by a group of dimwitted blondes.
“Aww how sweet is this, Wyn? The whore’s got herself a thug and they’re getting nice and cozy in our house,” Carrington spews as she steps behind us.
“Fuck off, Carrington,” I mutter, turning to meet her vicious stare.
The four girls stand behind us, arms crossed over their chests, pushing up the fake cleavage that's already popping out of their barely buttoned shirts. Of course, their uniforms are the same as ours just somehow the skirts are shorter and shirts tie around their midsections baring their tanned and toned stomachs.
Carrington stands with her hands resting on her hips. “Not until I show you who the queen around here is. That stunt you pulled the other night, will never happen again.”
“Care to wager?” Jade asks, with a sarcastic mock in her tone as she stands to meet Carrington’s glare but she simply ignores Jade and turns to me.
“Of course, Ace came to my rescue. He’ll never allow you to disrespect me like that again. We’re practically betrothed to each other, have been since we were born.”
I stand up and step toward her, catching a glimpse of worry in her eyes before she shrugs it away. “Is that what that was? Because to me he seemed to enjoy you being knocked around.”
As if knowing that was going to tick her off, Jade moves right beside me as Ruby hops over the table to stand with me as well. It amazes me how willing my girls are to back me up. Jade’s my sister but even Ruby, who can barely tolerate me, is ready to back me up against these pretentious mean girls.
“You need to keep your filthy, little, whorish self away from the Horsemen, specifically away from Ace. Haven’t you heard, bitch, he’s the king of Servite and I’m his queen.”
The three of us laugh in unison clearly further pissing the bitch off.
“You think she’s joking,” the petite blonde Stella mentioned as Kinsley Carlyle, joins in. “The Horsemen are the kings around here. They rule the halls of Servite Academy. You should do your best to remember that.”
“That they call themselves the ‘Horsemen’ makes them pretty pathetic to me,” I say mockingly, dropping air quotes around the word Horsemen.
Carrington’s gaze flickers behind, clearly checking the guys out. “Don’t get me wrong, your little thugs are pretty hot themselves, but they lack what Ace, and the guys have.”
“Oh yeah, and what’s that?” Drake asks, standing up beside me.
“Class, power, wealth, status,” she says, getting closer to Drake with each word she says. “The list goes on.” She dares to lay her hand on Drake’s chest and that’s where I draw the line. I’ve just about had it playing nice.
Stepping between them, I force Carrington to stumble back. Of course, they’re all wearing ridiculous five-inch heels. Who wears heels in high school? I push her back, further separating her from Drake and catch a sudden glimpse of fear in her wide blue eyes.
“Yeah, well, they may be your kings, but Drake, Kai, and Jax are ours. So back off,” I say, but not a second later as if sent down by the big man himself to save his little bitch from getting her ass beat, the Four Horsemen arrive.
Ace of course walks a few steps in front, but his three boys looking equally powerful, are right on his tail. Again, the crowd that’s formed disperses to make way for their kings.
“Fuck, she’s been here not two full days. I hope you won’t make this a habit. You know I’m no knight in shining armor to keep coming to your rescue, Carrie,” Ace says, walking up between us. I don’t brush away the fact that he actually sounds a bit annoyed.
“It’s just… look at her, Ace. I can’t help it if I feel the need to protect our image from being tainted by this filth. Someone needs to take out the trash,” she whines in a pathetic damsel voice.
And I’m just about ready to pounce on her, when Drake wraps his arm around my waist holding me back. I immediately notice the cowardly way she hides behind Ace instead of stepping up to me and fighting back.
“One day, Barbie, he won’t make it in time to save you, and you’ll be mine to take out,” I growl.
“Now, now, Little Red, no need for useless threats. Wouldn’t want someone to call campus security on you. We all know my dear uncle would be ready and willing to take you in were something to happen to Carrie here,” Ace says smirking like he’s won.
I turn my glare on him ready to give him a piece of my mind but Drake beats me to the punch.
“I already warned you to keep that son of a bitch away from her. He puts his hands on her again and she won’t be the only one taken in by security,” Drake shouts, stepping between Ace and me.
“You threatening my family, Dragon Boy?” Ace sneers, moving in until her and Drake are chest to chest.
“Did I not make myself clear, or is your head so far up your uncle’s ass you couldn’t hear me?” Drake doesn’t cower down instead meeting his every move.
“You’ve got some nerve, Dragon Boy. But you’ll get what’s coming. You all will.” Ace steps back slightly, shifting his attention to me.
Placing a hand on Drake’s shoulder I step around him so that I’m back between him and Ace. “Just get your skank away from us. You call yourself kings around here, but your bitch keeps stepping out of line. Maybe it’s her that needs to be reminded of her place.”
Ace’s face hardens, and he’s instantly fuming at my assumption he can’t keep his bitch in check. How dare I question the legitimacy of his reign? A king is only as strong as his most loyal servants, yet somehow, I keep challenging him in front of them without even wanting to.
Ace Servite brings out the worst in me.
I’m usually more of a keep out of the limelight kind of girl. I stay out of everyone’s business and that ensures they keep out of mine. Ever since I stepped foot in this place, I keep putting all the attention on myself. He eyes me curiously, the anger in his eyes slowly fading away.
Not sure if it’s just around me but Ace seems to always be on edge, yet somehow stays in control. It’s baffling, and not something I’m used to. You see us poor kids from the slums; we have loads of issues. We’re used to losing our temper, losing control. It’s why we constantly crave it. But Ace, he has this dominating magnetism. It only makes me want to find out what’s underneath that cloak of self-control.
Possibly even make him lose it.
“My place is beside Ace, looking down on dirty whores like you,” Carrington coos, reminding me she’s still here hiding behind Ace.
I laugh at the panic I see in her eyes. Her talk is tough, but her actions reveal the coward she really is.
“Oh, sweetie, didn’t anybody tell you. There’s no room for a queen at a king’s side. She stands behind him, beneath him, at his feet ready and willing to come only when he deems her necessary.” I step around Drake, moving to meet her head on.
“And let me guess, you stand beneath your Dragon King?” she sneers, and I laugh harder at her remark as I step into her, ignoring Ace, who’s scowling beside her.
“Haven’t you heard… a real queen doesn’t need a king to become queen.” It’s my turn to look at Ace now as I move toward him. My eyes meet his and I immediately regret getting so close to him, but I can’t lose focus now. I must prove that I am not to be to yed with. “But a king, well he needs a queen to be crowned king.”
Ace’s eyes darken, an almost unnoticeable twitch of his lip giving away his small amused smirk. His body stiffens as I feel Drake’s body behind me. Ace’s glare meets Drake’s and I see a pang of what I can only assume is jealousy glaze over his eyes. His knuckles fist at his sides as he watches us, Drake’s hands moving to grip my waist, in an obvious show of power. But just as quickly, the jealousy fades, and a wide grin takes over his scowl. He finds us amusing.
Well, I’m not here for your entertainment, Horseman.
I turn away from him and push Drake back signaling it is time for us to leave. He turns and glares at Ace as he drapes his arm around my neck, grinning before turning back around. Jade, Stella and Kai are quick to follow, but Jax stays back taunting the girls a bit more.
However, Ruby is quick to pull him away and they both follow us away from the courtyard. Ruby and I haven’t always been the best of friends. Sometimes I don’t even know if she’d even consider me a friend, yet somehow, we’re family. We have the Graysons and the boys in common, and we’d both do anything to protect them. So even though we can hardly stand each other I know she would rather stand by my side, then with those snobby bitches.