Chapter 3
THREE
RILEY
T he car pulls up to the gate at the end of the road and I stare up at the open wrought iron with its intricate design.
The school crest bends and swirls as it stands boldly in the middle.
Yesterday the gates were closed when Leah and I tried to enter, but this must be easier for the move-in days.
The guard lets us pass after checking for my name on his list of students and tells James where to go.
I glance around at the sprawling landscape and lush grass.
It’s still warm, but the nights in northern New Hampshire are cooling quickly.
Winter will be here before we know it. We drive further and further up the road and it’s apparent this place doesn’t allow just anyone to walk around the campus.
Unless you belong here, you’re not coming in.
Aside from going out with Leah, I spent my last night of my freedom scrolling through Reddit, searching for information, but I only found more rumors.
Threads were closed shortly after being opened, and the newest one was from two years ago.
No one seems to have any clear-cut answers as to what this school is, or how the acceptance process works.
No graduates have offered the information either.
There’s not an online application, yet this place is always full, with a waiting list.
I reached out to the administration using a fake name and email address inquiring about applying, but I received a blanket statement back stating they were not accepting new students for this year and to reach out next year for more information.
Fat lot of good that did me. I looked through the contract I had to sign and nothing seemed out of the ordinary except for the line that read, students willingly enter into this contract and agree to complete the entire academic process. No exceptions.
What if I flunk out of my classes? What would they do then? Or what if I die ? Are they planning on raising my dead body from the grave to make me come back? My lips twitched up in a smirk, imagining me coming back as a zombie.
The only good thing is there was no NDA clause, so Leah’s brilliant plan of revealing the inner workings of this place seems like a genuine possibility.
But it still begs to differ; why isn’t anyone else talking about it if there are no rules against it?
I guess I have a lot of work to do. Acting won’t be in my future, and my poker face needs work, but I have a solid personality.
I need to make friends and start casually asking questions.
“Riley, we’re here,” James says as he puts the car into park.
Yes, good ole dad couldn’t take the time to drive me to my first day in my new prison .
He gave me some bullshit line about not wanting to be recognized and to not cause a PR frenzy.
Although, if I’m being truthful, I’m kind of happy it’s James here instead.
Things aren’t much better between dad and me at home, and we avoided each other my last two days at home.
I stare out the window, looking at the large dark stone building next to me.
Students are milling around, laughing and watching as fresh blood gets dropped off.
Maybe if I just sit here, James will take me back home and I can pretend this isn’t happening.
“Riley?” He asks quietly, a touch of sadness to his voice as he turns to look at me. “Are you going to get out?”
I look out the window again and notice a tall boy with dark hair glaring at me.
No, he’s no boy, he’s all man. He looks nothing like the boys from Stonewall Academy—where they’re awkward; he appears so sure of himself—confidence radiating off him as he stands unwavering.
Muscles strain against his dark collared shirt, and inky tattoos run up and around his forearms in an intricate pattern.
He crosses his arms over his chest and my heart picks up a notch.
What would those muscles feel like wrapped around me? Gentle or aggressive? I don’t even know why that thought hits, but I can feel my face flush.
I lick my lips, tucking my bottom one in and biting on it, then take an unsteady breath as his stare lingers.
Goosebumps pebble my skin as I drag my gaze over his body and back up into his eyes.
From this distance, I can’t tell what color they are, but I know, without a doubt, he’s not someone I want to cross.
I can’t stop looking at him. Finally, I pull my gaze from his and glance at the two guys on either side of him who are staring at me as well.
One has light hair, and the other has dark.
Both are as menacing and strong as the first. Looking closer at the one with dark hair, I’m not one-hundred percent sure, but I think that’s the guy from the diner.
I guess Mr. Sexy is off the list of potentials.
I’ll have to let Leah know. The three of us locked in a stare down until James touches my knee, causing me to jerk and look away.
I take a deep breath, closing my eyes for a moment to restart my heart.
When I open my eyes, I see his concern etched across his features.
He presses his lips into a thin line, almost as if he’s keeping himself from saying something he shouldn’t.
I nod at his earlier question and he slides out from the driver’s seat to get my bag out of the trunk.
I push open the door to get a good look at my new home for the next four years.
Stone buildings, a beautiful landscape that must cost a fortune, and secrets waiting to be unveiled.
If I didn’t know any better, I’d say this was a prestigious university.
I risk a glance back to the spot where the boys were moments before, but they’re gone. After a split second of disappointment, relief floods me and I let out a shaky breath.
What was that all about?
There is a large sign for orientation check in to the right and James hands me my single suitcase before pulling me into a hug, and placing a kiss on the top of my head.
“Be good, Riley. And stay out of trouble. Keep your head down and do what’s asked of you and you’ll be fine.”
“James, do you know something I don't know about this place?”
He offers a sad smile, then kisses the top of my head, and places his hands on my shoulders. “Don’t trust too easily.”
If that's not a little cryptic, I don’t know what is. I open my mouth to ask more and he gives a subtle shake of his head. He points to the small line of new students and when I turn to get in line, he slides back into the car and drives off. I watch him until he’s down the hill and out of sight.
“Next,” the girl sitting at a desk calls out to me.
I drag my bag behind me as I step up to the table. “Hi. I’m Riley Whittier.”
“Hi, Riley,” she smiles at me. “I need your signed contract and identification, please.”
I dig both items out of my messenger bag and hand them to her. She flips through the pages until she reaches the last page and when she’s satisfied that the signature belongs to me, she hands me back my ID, along with a stack of papers.
“Welcome to Pointebreak,” she starts, and the rest of what she says hardly registers.
The hairs on the back of my neck stand at attention.
Subtly, I look out of my peripherals to see the same three watching me with disdain.
I literally just arrived. What could I have possibly done to piss these three off?
Fingers snap in front of my face, and I blink as she comes into focus again.
“Earth to Riley,” the girl says. She follows my line of sight and smiles widely, wiggling her fingers at the guys in greeting.
They give her a courtesy glance, but otherwise pretend they haven’t seen her.
“Girlfriend, let me tell you they are way out of your league. That’s Julien Azarian, Zander Fedorov, and Wesley Bastian.
The Kings of Pointebreak. They’re in their third year, and don’t have time for anyone.
Julien’s in big with Zander and Wesley. He has his sights set on the prize.
He doesn’t date.” She pauses, and a smile splits her face.
“But what I wouldn’t give to be tag teamed between the three of them.
” She says it almost to herself, a wistful look in her eyes.
And what prize is that? The question sits on the tip of my tongue, but I’m not sure I want the answer. “He doesn’t seem to be ignoring me, does he?” I mumble.
She shrugs like it’s nothing. “New meat. Shiny toy. Whatever euphemism you wanna use.”
I look all around me and casually gesture at the other students checking in. “So are all these people. Yet they’re ignoring them.”
“You’re one who most wouldn’t expect at a place like this.” She shrugs one shoulder and looks past me. “Next.” And just like that, I’m dismissed. Does she mean because of who my father is? Does everyone know who I am?
I drag my suitcase behind me, trying hard to ignore the eyes glued to my back as I search for my dorm building.
She handed me a map of campus with the path to the dorms clearly marked.
Tension has me wound tight. My shoulders and back ache as I wander with my heavy bag.
Campus is much bigger than I imagined and the lush grass, trees, and stoned pathways make it appear inviting.
I’ll have to walk around later today after I find my dorm and unpack.
Not knowing the weekend dress code prior made it difficult to pack clothes, but I made sure I had enough to get by for the first semester, anyway.
Plus, dad said he would have items shipped.
I’m sure if I reached out to him or James, they could put together a care box for me of more of my stuff.