2. Kinsley
KINSLEY
As I look down at my outfit, I want to vomit all over my Dr. Martens.
No one informed Monarch University that uniforms in college haven’t been a thing in decades.
I feel like I’m wearing a costume in the green and black uniform.
The black tie sporting Monarch’s green viper mascot wraps around my neck like a noose.
I consider tying the black blazer around my waist to hide the hideous plaid skirt, then dismiss the idea.
Instead, I hike up the skirt so I won’t be confused for the librarian.
My phone dings with a text from Luca:
Good luck today!
Thanks, I’m going to need it
I type back and follow the scent of fresh-brewed coffee into the kitchen. Uncle Trey sits at the high top.
“Good morning,” I mutter. I toss my backpack on the chair. From the fridge, I grab the orange juice.
His steaming mug of coffee is halfway to his lips when he pauses mid-air. “Hey, you— Whoa!” He slowly sets his mug on the counter. “When you said good night last night, you did have blonde hair, right?”
“Yeah, you’re not going crazy,” I tease.
“Good to know.” He wipes his brow. “Don’t get me wrong, I like the black and all, but what happened to the blonde girl I’ve known since the day she came into this world?”
I comb my fingers through my hair, still in awe of the long, dark waves around my shoulders. “I just wanted a change,” I say, offering a quick shrug.
“It’s a change all right and a bit of a shock.” He smiles. “One I’ll have to get used to.”
“Yeah, you and me both,” I mumble as I fill a glass with orange juice. “I’m going to get going.”
“Don’t you want something to eat before your big day?”
The toast smeared with avocado on his plate looks delicious, but I don’t have the stomach for it. On any other day, I’d have sat down and eaten. Today, my nerves have climbed to new heights. I’m not nervous. It’s more of an anxious, get-this-over-with feeling.
“Nah, I’m not hungry. I’ll grab something at school. From what I read on their site, I’ll be eating like a queen.”
He must hear my sarcasm because he says, “Monarch is a great school. Give it a chance.”
Monarch is a legacy school. Students attend because it’s their birthright to shadow their parents, and most of them don’t have a choice.
They begin their education at Monarch Preparatory, then flow into the university.
Rarely does anyone apply or transfer to Monarch University.
The moral of the story is that everyone knows everyone, and the hierarchy and cliques usually don’t change.
It doesn’t help that I’m starting the semester two weeks later than everyone else.
Monarch accepted me because my mom agreed to pay double the yearly tuition.
The cost could probably buy a modest-sized home.
She doesn’t know my true reasons for wanting to go to Monarch.
And she didn’t care, so long as it made me happy.
Since my dad died, there’s nothing she wouldn’t do to see even a sliver of a smile on my face.
The school is known to be overflowing with assholes who think they’re entitled to anyone and everything because of Daddy’s money.
Yeah, not my scene. Besides, I won’t be here long enough to give it a chance.
Monarch serves one purpose: my gateway to Venom.
And since they’re the elite who overshadow everyone and everything on campus, they shouldn’t be too hard to find.
Then I’ll zero in on which one delivered the fatal blow that set my life on a new course.
Uncle Trey slides off the stool to stand. “I’ll be at the dojo when you get out of school. If you want to come by, we can get some kicks in. Maybe do a little weapons training.”
My head isn’t anywhere close to making plans for after school. I have three goals today—navigate my way around campus, find my dad’s killer, and try to stay invisible.
I grab an apple from the fruit basket on the counter and toss it into my backpack. “Yeah, sounds good.”
“All right, have a good day, and kick some ass.”
“Thanks, sensei. You too.”
Uncle Trey laughs as he closes the door behind me.
By design, it’s still relatively early when I arrive at Monarch.
Only a few people are in the parking lot.
Fewer people equals fewer stares. Most students reside in the dorms or off-campus apartments.
I pull into the spot just outside the entrance and then shut off the engine of my Ninja motorcycle.
I hoped the ride here would calm me, but my nerves still vibrate with tension.
“Get a grip.” As much as I want to believe this year and my plan will be a piece of cake, I’m not banking on it. As I recently learned, very few things go as planned. And for something as big as what I have in store, shit is bound to happen and screw things up.
Taking a few deep breaths behind the protection of my helmet, I fold my arms over the gas tank and close my eyes.
The most important thing I need to remember at this school is that I’m here for one purpose and one purpose only—revenge.
Don’t get me wrong, leaving with my life would be beneficial. But revenge first.
In a whisper, I repeat, “Revenge. Revenge. Revenge.”
While I try to etch this vital info into my brain, a deep voice crashes into me, knocking me off-kilter. “You lost?”
Opening my eyes, I glance over my shoulder.
Through the tinted face shield of my helmet, I see four guys in a black, muddied Jeep.
All of their stares are locked on me. The Jeep blocks any cars wanting to pass.
Either they aren’t bothered or are too busy glaring at me to notice anything or anyone else.
My guess is the latter. As if there’s a giant target on me, the driver’s piercing eyes shoot darts of annoyance and curiosity directly at me.
So much for staying invisible.Any remnants of calm I just achieved dissolve into unease.
It’s difficult to look away from his compelling gaze until movement to his left catches my eye.
The guy in the passenger seat peers around him to get a look at me.
His full lips are slightly open as if he’s about to speak, but he says nothing.
Instead, a stream of smoke seeps out of his mouth.
Shifting my attention to the right, I’m met with the faces of the occupants in the back seat.
They’re identical replicas of the same beautiful mold.
Only their hair makes it easy to tell them apart.
One is short and intentionally messy, while the other is longer and so unruly that it has the potential to become dreadlocks. Both of them are grinning like fools.
I turn away from them, giving them a view of my back. I think about staying on my bike and ignoring them. Or better yet, turning the engine back on, kicking it into gear, and hightailing it out of there.
Heaving a sigh of defeat, I remind myself why I’m here.
I press down on the kickstand. The bike leans and steadies.
I want nothing more than to turn around and see the space behind me Jeep free, but I know better.
I slowly ease my leg over the seat and stand.
After taking off my helmet, I set it on the motorcycle seat.
The fresh black waves fall to my lower back.
“Fuuuck… me… now,” the guy with the wild hair drawls through the open window.
His twin opens the back door, hops out, and then heads toward a girl waiting on the sidewalk.
“Did you hear me? Are you lost?” the asshole driver repeats.
Ignoring Asshole’s and Crazy Hair’s comments, I look around and pay particular attention to the oversized viper statue in the center of the fountain near the entrance.
The sight of it shoots determination down my spine.
Water cascades down its coiled body and around the sign at its base, Monarch University, Home of the Vipers .
I focus my attention back on the driver. “Nope, definitely not lost.”
His straight, dark hair falls forward, landing on the peak of his defined cheekbone. He narrows his eyes. His stern gaze adds to his undeniably gorgeous face. “I’ll be more direct. You’re in my parking spot.”
Needing a moment to catch my breath while I force out the images and heated sensations this jerk has spontaneously inspired, I bend over and adjust my black knee socks.
After a few short breaths, I feel confident enough to face him with renewed control.
His lethal expression remains in place. Acting like a bitch probably isn’t the best way to make friends on my first day, but I refuse to let them think they can bully me.
“Well, it doesn’t look like it’s your spot today.”
The twin scoffs out a laugh and slaps the driver on the shoulder. “Damn, Edge, she ain’t taking your shit.”
The driver—Edge—doesn’t flinch. His cold, slate eyes never stray from mine.
I sweep my hair to the side, drape it over my right shoulder, and then hang my backpack off the other.
With a mocking, sympathetic expression, I take a few steps toward the Jeep.
The scent of men’s cologne, weed, and exhaust fumes mingle in the air around me.
Edge is even more striking up close. His face is smooth and flawless, except for the scar that cuts across the right side of his chin.
Some of the dirty, heated images surface again before I can suppress them.
Jesus, Kins, you’ve been here five minutes, and already you’re losing focus. I mentally slap myself back into submission.
When I’m only a few feet away from his window, I say in a sickly sweet voice, “Aw, don’t be offended. It’s not just you. I don’t take shit from anybody.”
Without waiting for a response, I turn and take off toward the enormous wooden doors of Monarch University.
Still feeling those storm-clouded eyes burning into me, relief begins to surface the farther away I get from him. Sucking in a huge breath, I step into the viper’s den. Just as the doors shut, the Jeep’s engine grunts and roars as it takes off.
The halls are still relatively empty due to the time of day.
But my plan to arrive early and potentially avoid any drama backfired.
The campus isn’t that large, but I have no idea where I’m going.
I may have seemed confident as I walked through those enormous doors, but no.
I’ve never stepped foot on this campus. I bring up the map on my phone.
My first class is fine arts, painting. The map on my phone says I’m not even close to the arts building.
While navigating the halls, an arm wraps around my shoulder, and I’m tugged hard against a slim body.
My captor laughs as he pulls me down a side hallway.
“Girl, you’re either crazy or stupid. Either way, I want to be best friends.”
What in the actual…?
I duck out from under the stranger’s arm. With confusion, I turn to see a handsome enough guy, clearly on the nerd spectrum, who knows fashion better than I ever have or ever will, even in a uniform.
Noticing someone else has joined us, I turn. A girl with faded, cropped blue hair takes a swing at my captor’s head. Her flimsy canvas bag makes contact, causing him to yelp.
“Ow! What was that for?”
She yanks on his plaid scarf, lowering him to her height. “You already have a best friend!”
Apparently, I just unintentionally stepped into a pile of BFF crap.My agenda for the day is already going to shit.
The guy who wants to be my new bestie pulls himself free. “Damn, girl! You know I’m not replacing you, but this diva just told off Venom. And not just any viper of Venom—but the Viper.”
Well, shit me. Knowing I truly and ultimately fucked up, I want to cave in on myself.
In the span of five minutes on campus, I managed to become prime prey for the ones I intended to stake out and take down.
I really suck at staying invisible . The slight unease that ate up my calm from earlier is now pleasantly feasting on the fraying ends of my nerves.
Still gushing over my lapse in judgment, the guy says, “Eden, you should have seen it. It was the most epic thing to happen in this place in, like, forever.”
“I didn’t have to see it. She’s the topic of every conversation I pass.” She turns to look at me. “If I were you, I’d keep your head down and don’t talk to a soul as you head to class as quickly as your Docs can carry you.”
“I’m Bryce, by the way,” the guy says. He nods toward his so-called bestie. Dropping his voice, he whispers, “That’s Eden. She comes off as a rather bitchy nerd, but she’s cool.”
I stifle a chuckle. “Thanks for the heads-up.”
Eden goes to slap him again but pauses, hand in mid-air, as a small woman approaches. “Ah, Ms. Bass.”
“Eden,” the woman with a silver high-set bun says. With the added frown on her thin red lips, she clearly didn’t miss Eden’s intention of assault.
“Yes, ma’am.”
The way in which Eden and Bryce back down, the no more than five-foot woman, is packed with intimidation. She turns to me. With a soft voice, she says, “Have a good day, dear.” Then, she shuffles away.
“Thank you,” I mutter.
“I’m out, too,” Bryce says. “See ya later, new girl.” He hands a paper bag to Eden. “Breakfast. It’s your favorite, a blueberry muffin. And not that I should have to say it, but you’ll always be my first bestie.”
A thin smile cracks along Eden’s mouth as she takes the bag. To me, she asks, “Where are you headed?”
During my short run-in with Bryce and Eden, the halls had come alive. Most everyone is too caught up in their own circle of friends and passing around the gossip about the girl in the parking lot to take notice of me. “Fine arts building.”
Eden nods. She’s more guarded than Bryce. That’s probably why they get along. They balance each other out, like Luca and me. However, Bryce seems to be a fan of my untamed mouth.
“Your class is on the way to mine. I’ll show you where it is.” She doesn’t look upset, so I consider this a good sign. “I’m Eden,” she offers.
“I kind of caught on to that from your BFF.”
She gives a small laugh. “Bryce is a great guy, a bit eccentric, but great. We’ve been friends since third grade.”
“Anyone who brings you breakfast is golden in my book.” I grab the pack of gum from the front pocket of my backpack. Unwrapping a piece, I put it in my mouth, then offer the pack to her.
“No thanks.” Eden tucks strands of blue hair behind her ear, which is lined with studs, and holds up the paper bag. “I’m going to eat?—”
Her words are cut short when an already familiar voice sounds behind us. “Hey, Ninja.”
I slow my pace and turn to see the Venom crew heading right toward us.
Ninja… cute nickname. He has no idea how perfectly it fits me .