Chapter Two
Carly
Classes usually move as slowly as a turtle for me because I dread every second of them, but it’s different this morning.
I actually want classes to go by slowly because I don’t want to spend a single moment with The Fiend.
Why oh why did I volunteer to help new students settle into the academy?
I’m normally a good, kind person, but when Ryder Bennett is involved?
He makes me turn into the worst version of myself.
But eventually, the bell for lunch period rings.
I sit in my desk for a few extra minutes as the students around me grab their stuff and rush to lunch.
Would Principal Harrington really be upset if I didn’t show up?
I can handle detention, and she’ll be forced to ask another student to show Ryder around.
I mean, she wouldn’t actually kick me out for something as silly as that, would she?
Fine, I’m being ridiculous. It’s not worth getting detention or possible expulsion. As if I’d let him have that much power over me. I stand and throw my backpack over one shoulder, marching out of the classroom with my head held high.
My stomach releases the loudest grumble I’ve ever heard in my life. Ugh, I’m starving. I can’t believe I have to sacrifice my lunch for a dude who doesn’t deserve for me to give him a second of my time.
My eyes survey the area. Harrington didn’t tell me where to meet Ryder. But would the obvious place be in the hallway? We were supposed to meet at his locker this morning, so I decide to head there.
I stop dead in my tracks when I catch sight of the guy standing at his locker.
I almost don’t recognize him because…well, I’ve never seen him in a uniform before.
My cheeks heat up as I take in how handsome Ryder looks in the black pants, white shirt, green blazer, and matching tie.
He’s pretty buff because he plays football.
As much as I hate the guy, even I have to admit that he’s one of the best-looking guys I’ve ever seen in my life. He has these really pretty brown eyes that light up when he laughs, and his blond hair that he’s starting to grow out frames his face in this sexy way.
He’s surveying the masses of students flitting through the halls. When his eyes land on me, a lazy smile spreads across his lips and he says, “Enjoying the view, kid?”
I blink and tear my eyes away from him. With a scowl, I march over. “You wish I was staring at you.”
He chuckles softly as he smooths his hands down his blazer. “I do clean up nicely, don’t I?”
As much as I try to stop them, my cheeks catch fire again. Because he sure as heck cleans up nicely.
Rolling my eyes, I say, “Maybe in Ryder’s World. Population? One.”
He chuckles again as he tilts his head to a girl, a senior, who waves at him as she talks with her friends. “I think Rachel would very much want a one-way ticket to Ryder’s World.”
“Grr,” I groan as I spin around and slam my arms over my chest. He always has a comeback—it’s been like that since we were kids.
“Don’t feel bad, kid,” he says as he moves closer and pats my shoulder. For some reason, I feel a spark and I stumble away from him. “You’ll always have a special place in my heart.”
I twist around and glare at him. “Will you quit calling me ‘kid?’ I’m not a little kid.”
The truth is, I technically was never really a “kid” to him because he’s the same age as me.
Blake is one year older than me, and he and Ryder hung out all the time.
I always wanted to hang out with them, too.
That annoyed Ryder, and he would convince my brother to leave me behind.
When I complained to my mom, she forced them to include me in their games and adventures.
“You’re wasting my precious time,” I snap at him. “You think I don’t have anything better to do than be your tour guide? I’m sacrificing lunch because of you.”
“You were the one who didn’t show up before classes,” he reminds me. “I waited for you for half an hour.”
“Poor baby.”
He nods. “Poor indeed.” He steps back and studies me. “Hey, you look cute in the uniform.”
I gape at him as my heart nearly shoots out of my chest. “What?”
“Is this the first time I’m seeing you in the school uniform?” he muses. Then he shrugs. “You look really cute.”
What…where…how…What the heck did he just say?
“Anyway, can we start the tour? My roommate showed me around a bit yesterday, but there’s still a lot I didn’t see. And I got lost, too,” he adds with a laugh.
I just continue to gawk at him like I’ve never seen a human before in my life. What exactly is he getting at? He thinks he can ruffle my feathers and throw me off my game by tossing a compliment my way? The audacity of this guy…
He studies me with a raised brow. “You good, kid?”
I throw my hands up. “What did I say about calling me ‘kid?’”
“It’s a free country. I can call you whatever I want.”
“Jerk,” I mutter.
He laughs softly. “Not as much as you paint me to be, Simmons.”
There are so many things I want to say right now, but I force my lips shut and turn on my heels, storming toward the exit of the building. I stop and look over my shoulder. “Are you coming or what?”
For the next half hour, I give him the fastest tour I’ve ever given a student in my life.
Partly because I want to have time to eat lunch, but mostly because I want to get this over with.
Ryder is purposely being irritating by asking the most ridiculous questions, and the more annoyed I get, the more he seems to enjoy himself.
“I showed you the most important parts of the school,” I tell him. “I’m sure you’re smart enough to figure out the rest on your own. Now if you don’t mind, there’s this yummy pasta dish that’s calling my name.”
I turn to go, but he grabs hold of my arm and yanks me back to him. “Just a minute, tour guide.”
I groan impatiently and look at him. “What?”
“Don’t you want me to thank you for the tour?”
“What’s there to thank? I only gave you the tour because Harrington forced me to.”
His eyes widen in surprise. “Is that the only reason?”
“Duh? I mean, I normally welcome new students to the school, so I’m just doing what I’m supposed to be doing.”
I swear I can see a hint of disappointment pass over his face. But it disappears in a flash. “And here I thought I was so special to have the Queen Kid herself show me around,” he says with a teasing grin.
“There’s nothing special about you, Ryder Bennett.” I yank my arm out of his grasp. “My duty is done. See you…hopefully never.” I narrow my eyes at him and march away.
I run into the dining hall faster than a cheetah and pile as much food from the buffet tables as I can onto my tray. Then I dash to the table my friends and I always sit at and plop down, wasting no time shoving bite after bite into my mouth.
“Slow down, Carly,” Raven says with a laugh. “You’re going to choke.”
“Starving,” I say between bites as I shove more food into my mouth. When I glance at the clock on the wall, I see I only have ten minutes before the bell rings.
“Sorry you have to gobble down your food,” Addie says. “I hope the tour went well, at least.”
“Ugh,” I mutter, grabbing my Coke and taking a sip. “He was so infuriating! He kept asking me the most annoying questions just to get under my skin, and he even had the audacity to say I look cute in the uniform.”
They all gape at me, even Caleb.
“Wait, what?” Sophie puts her finger on her book to keep her place and then looks up at me. “Your number one enemy said you look cute in the uniform?”
“Don’t think too much into it, Sophie. He was just riling me up.”
“Oh wow, he looks good in the uniform, too,” Raven says as she stares at the doorway. We follow her gaze and find that Ryder has just walked in. He fist bumps the guy who showed him the rec room the other day—I guess he’s his roommate? And the guy leads him to the jock table.
“No surprise there,” I say. “He’s a football player after all.”
“He’s joining the team?” Addie asks.
“I don’t think so.”
“He’s limping a little,” Raven points out.
We study him as he makes his way to the jock table. Huh. I guess he is limping a little. The jocks welcome him with cheers and fist bumps and pull out a chair for him.
“Can we not talk about him?” I grumble. “Who cares? As far as I’m concerned, he’s wallpaper. Anything else going on I should know about?”
“Well, in case you haven’t noticed, Clarissa Thomas isn’t here today,” Addie says.
I glance at the popular table and realize that she’s right. Her two minions, Luna and Jemma, are there, but her chair is empty. The two sheep look lost without their master. It’s kind of hilarious and pathetic at the same time.
“Was she expelled?” Sophie asks with wide eyes.
Addie shakes her head. “Suspended. My grandfather put enough pressure on the school to do it. Can you believe her parents were trying to make her out to be the victim? That I stole the boy she was in love with and she was so heartbroken that she abandoned me in the middle of nowhere in the middle of pouring rain.” She rolls her eyes.
“I’m glad your grandfather is taking care of it,” Caleb says as he slides his hand into hers. “She and her friends need to be held accountable for what they did to you.”
“I know. I just don’t want them to hate me more, you know?”
“Too late,” Raven says with a scoff. “People like her will never admit when they’re in the wrong. Clarissa is so self-centered she doesn’t care who she hurts to get what she wants. Just forget about her. And Warner, too.”
“Don’t worry,” Addie assures her. “Warner takes up no space in my brain whatsoever.”
Warner is one of the biggest jerks in the world. He pretended to be into Addie just to mess with her.
“Forget about those rotten people,” Sophie says as she turns a page of her book. “We’ll always have each other.”
“And this food,” I say as I continue to dig in.
At that second, the bell rings.
“Darn it!”
I shove whatever food is left into my mouth and follow my friends out of the dining hall, nearly knocking into someone. “Sorry,” he says.
“It’s my bad—” I start to respond, but then I realize it’s none other than the bane of my existence. Seriously? Out of all the students in the school, it had to be the one who is not supposed to exist?
Ryder waggles his brows. “Missed me that much, kid?”
“You’re wallpaper,” I say before storming away.