Chapter 6
SIX
RUELLA
“So, where are you from?” Corden manages to get out between bites of sushi. I have never seen anyone shovel in as much in one go, in my life.
I pick at my salad, buying time as I weigh how much to share, enough to get by, but not enough to give myself away. Corden and Deena are surprisingly easy to talk to, which only makes it harder to keep my tone light and friendly. What I really want is to start shaking people down for answers.
But I know better. I can’t charge in, all guns blazing. Still, if this is the pace things are going to move, I’ll be stuck here far longer than I planned, and patience has never been my strong suit.
“Just outside of London. You?”
“Not far from here but I didn’t get in the first few times I applied.
I went to St. Andrews until I could transfer,” He takes a swig of his can of coke and looks to Deena who is silently eating a yoghurt.
She doesn’t talk much and seems scared of the world, but there’s a fire to her that is similar to my own.
She feels familiar, like a kindred spirit.
“What about you?”
Her eyes lift and shift between the two of us. “Down the road,”
Corden chuckles. “There isn’t anything down the road. We are miles from the closest town,”
Deena shakes her head. “There’s a children’s home not far from here, it’s owned by Marrowton and technically on the same land,”
Corden’s smile drops as he shifts uncomfortably.
I don’t give her my pity as she looks like she gets enough of that from others.
“What houses are you in?” I interrupt trying to shift the conversation.
“Hastings,” They both say in unison and for the first time in a long time I feel relieved. Finally, a little luck. Today may have started out completely shit but things seem to be heading in the right direction.
Just as that thought pops into my head, the stars must decide to bring me back to reality.
My shoulder is shoved as I go to put a forkful of my Caesar salad to my mouth, making the sauce drop onto my black pull over.
“Slut,” I hear from behind me, and I snap my attention to the culprit.
Darcy.
She doesn’t acknowledge the act or even turn to me as she walks past.
“What the fuck!” Corden shouts after her as Deena retreats into herself, trying to be invisible.
“Leave it,” I whisper, wiping the dribble with a napkin. “She’s not even worth it,”
Corden turns back to me with a creased brow.
“You would think with all the money she clearly has she would do something about those split ends,” He says honestly and I can’t stop the laugh that bubbles up my throat.
It’s the second time today he has brought it out of me, and I can’t say it doesn’t feel good.
Even Deena snorts quietly beside me before settling back into her chair, more at ease.
Then it happens again, that hot, prickling sensation crawling over my skin. I don’t need to look to know who it is. I know what it feels like to have his eyes on me. Even after only twenty-four hours at Marrowton, I’ve learned to recognize his gaze like a brand.
I glance toward the massive double doors of the dining hall.
Or ballroom, really. That’s what it feels like, grand and excessive, with polished floors that gleam under the chandeliers and round tables scattered like an afterthought.
Buffet tables line the walls, each piled high with dishes from every corner of the globe.
If, by some miracle, they didn’t make what you wanted?
Just ask. The chefs will whip it up fresh on demand.
When the man in the white apron told me that, I laughed in his face.
What a bunch of pampered twats.
Technically, I’m one of them now, but only because I’m doing a job for my father. This world was never mine. Not really. Before this, the only gifts I ever received were hand-me-downs. Marlowe’s castoffs. And the knife from Silas.
Everything else I’ve worked for. Saved for. Fought for.
Except the dainty diamond Rolex glittering on my wrist. That, I stole.
Lifted it from Marlowe after she used my bedroom window to sneak off and meet a boy past curfew, knowing full well I’d take the blame. And the beating. She wanted me to.
So, I took the watch as payment.
Not that she noticed. With a whole glass case of them in her room, what’s one missing?
I continue scanning around the room for the source of my raise in temperature. I glance over the table where Darcy, and her collection of copy and paste girls sit, along with a group of boys I haven’t had anything to do with yet. Then I find him.
Darcy moves to the side, and I see him sat in the far corner of their table, hoody pulled on like the first time we met, eyes covered but I know they’re on me. I can feel them. I sit tall as I meet him head on, I refuse to cower like I know he expects.
Darcy is talking to one of the girls, overly gesturing with her hands, giving me the ick, I hate when girls do that. Making sure everybody’s focus is on them, and they are the centre of attention.
Everyone’s attention is on her. Especially the boys. All except one.
Darcy says something I can’t hear but it looks like it is aimed at Asher, he doesn’t respond.
As everyone on their table turns to him, they must see his focus elsewhere because every face turns towards me. I still don’t give in.
Darcy and the others glance between us like they are at a tennis match, and I smirk at the anger brewing beneath the blonde’s surface from where I can see her in my peripheral.
Our hold is broken however when Darcy reaches out to pull Asher’s jaw towards her and places a kiss, with a little too much tongue if you ask me, over his mouth.
He looks away and I grin with the fact I won our staring match.
Ruella 1 Asher 0
“What was that?” Corden says peering between the two tables amused.
“What?” I reply then shovel a mouthful of salad into my mouth.
A shout from over the other side has us snapping our head over to Asher again.
Darcy is stood shouting at his retreating form, but he ignores her and storms out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
The rest of the room is silent as she picks up her bag and chases after him, red faced and tears fighting to stay between her lids.
“That!” Corden continues pointing to the exit. “What was that between the three of you?” I shrug. “Wait, did you get with Asher or something?”
“How do you know him? I thought you just transferred?” I ask trying to change the subject.
“I did. But everyone knows who Asher Vander is! His family practically owns every business in the UK in some way,” He looks at me like I’m mad.
“He’s a Vander?” I ask. I truly had no clue. It’s not like my father gave me time to research people before dropping me off in the middle of nowhere.
“Err, yeah,” Corden scoffs. “So, spill,” He demands.
I sigh. “Honestly there is nothing to spill. He cornered me this morning trying to intimidate me, and his girlfriend got the wrong impression. Now I’m a boyfriend stealing slut,” I smirk. “Now, Deena,” I say casually, “do you mind if I ask where I could find student records?”
Her brows pull together, suspicion clouding her face. “Why?”
“Mr. Chapman mentioned something odd about my file. I just want to check it,” I lie without flinching.
“So… are you planning to ask for it?” she presses. “Or take it?”
I hesitate. She seems like the kind of girl who might run straight to a faculty member, but there’s something about her, something quiet and sharp, that makes me pause. She might be more than she lets on.
Corden, meanwhile, is grinning like this is all a game. His eyes dance with mischief, definitely not someone who has a problem bending a few rules.
“Take it,” I admit finally, lowering my voice. “only a quick peek at my own. There’s some information I’d rather not have floating around the staff,”
Deena studies me for a long moment, clearly weighing the risk. I can practically see her running through the consequences in her head. My stomach knots. Maybe I’ve misjudged her. Maybe this was a mistake.
“One condition,” she says at last, surprising me. “I want to come with you. I want to check my own file,”
Shit. How am I supposed to hunt down Marlowe’s records with her breathing over my shoulder?
“Me too,” Corden pipes up. “There’s nothing in my file I wouldn’t want out there, but I’m curious. Plus, no way am I getting left out of this,” He flashes a grin like he’s already halfway down the hallway.
I groan. For fuck’s sake. Who knew making friends would be this bloody tedious?
Still, I weigh my options. A partner is one thing. Two is a liability. But... two might also get me access I wouldn’t otherwise have.
“Fine,” I say, exhaling. Then I turn to Deena. “Do you know where it is?”
She nods. “Basement. But it’s locked with a keycode. No idea who has it,”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. Of course. It wouldn’t be like my last school; with a flimsy padlock I could pop in seconds. No, my father had to send Marlowe, and now me, to a bloody fortress.
“I might be able to help with that,” Corden says with a grin showing his perfectly straight white teeth. “I may or may not have some special skills in the area you are looking for,” He wiggles his brows as I feel the hope build within me.
“How quick could you make it happen?”
“Give me a few days to set up my stuff and then have a little poke around,” He reaches into his back pocket and puts his phone on the table. “Put both your numbers in here,”
I glance to Deena who looks a little nervous. I really hope I haven’t fucked up by bringing her into this.
I quickly type in my number then watch as Deena does the same.
“I’ll put us all in a group,” Corden mentions before pushing his plate away to stand. “I have to run to my next class. Catch you later in the common room?” He asks.
I nod along with Deena. “See you later,”
He surprises me by placing a quick kiss on Deena’s cheek who immediately goes red like a beetroot. Then he does the same to me.