Three
SCARLETT
I turn toward the girls who follow Leighton to the right side of the campus toward another large brick building.
“Servite Academy is co-ed, meaning you will have classes with the boys, but our housing is separate. There are ways around sneaking in and out,” she says winking as she leads us to the girls’ house.
“Who were those guys?” Jade asks as we turn toward where they stood to find they’ve disappeared out of sight.
“They are the Four Horsemen. Beckett Masters, Aleksander Smoak, Sebastian Silver, and their leader Wallace Servite.”
“The Four Horsemen, really?” Ruby mocks.
“They’re the kings of Servite Academy. They make the rules and enforce them, and we follow their every command, no questions asked. No ifs, ands, or buts. Their leader being the son of the Headmaster, of course.”
Wallace Servite. That’s the name of the one whose stare was burning a hole through me. The Alpha. The leader of their wolf pack, or in this case their herd of wild horses. I wonder if his glare had anything to do with his uncle’s connection to me. Does he know he brought me here? Does he know about my mother and Chaz?
“They seemed like jerks to me,” Jade sneers, rolling her eyes in annoyance.
The warm breeze picks up, twirling some fallen leaves in a spiral around us.
“Yeah, well, we all heard you were coming. The troubled teens from the foster home in the slums of Pleasant Hills. Rumor is Ace, Wallace Servite, had an argument with his dad, Headmaster Servite, about his little pity program to bring you guys here. Seems they’re not too happy with your arrival. Most of the school isn’t.”
Jade scoffs, turning to Leighton as she speaks. “Great, it’s not like we asked to come. They literally gave us no other choice. Either come here or get transferred to who knows where,” she says, crossing her arms at her chest.
“Yeah, I’d steer clear of them, anyway. I’d be grateful for their nonchalance. A problem with them is a problem with everyone. Their followers follow their every move blindly, and if you don’t, you’re punished,” Leighton says nonchalantly, as she continues to walk.
“Like what, they beat the shit out of you?” Ruby asks playfully, though I hear a hint of curiosity in her tone
“More of a social exile. Everyone will look down on you. Nobody will want to associate themselves with you. Your entire future and any prospect of a career will be over before it can begin. Your public banishment will disgrace your family, worse than any physical pain they are very capable of instilling. They’re feared more than they’re loved, and the female population of Servite adore them. And well, if I’m being honest, with the glares they were throwing your way, you three aren’t off to a great start. Those guys you girls came with, however, they’re fine,” she adds, and now it’s the three of us throwing death glares in her direction.
“And off limits,” I sneer .
She laughs and keeps walking, giving us the rest of the rundown on the academy as we arrive at the senior girls’ house. Apparently, there is one for every class year.
“This is the Dahlia House, for the senior girls. There is Hyacinth for freshman, Azalea is for sophomores, and Primrose is for juniors,” she says, pointing to the three other buildings to the right. We enter through the front door and she takes us up by elevator to the third floor.
“The houses are comprised quarters, set up as mini apartment suites, with four bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a living room,” she says as the elevator doors open.
“We get our own room, sweet,” says Ruby as we exit into the long hallway.
“How many apartments are up here?” Jade asks, as Leighton walks us toward one door. She stops right before opening it and turns to us.
“Well, like I said, there are four houses, Hyacinth, Azalea, Primrose, and Dahlia. Each house has four floors, each floor has four quarters, and each quarter has four rooms. Except for the fourth floor which has only one large quarter with four large rooms. That brings us to fifty-two rooms. That means fifty-two girls in our Senior Class. The boys’ houses are set up the same.”
“Who lives on the fourth floor?” Ruby asks curiously.
“Well, just like there are four kings, there are four queens, and they reign supreme over the senior girls’ house. Carrington Prescott, Wynter Servite, Alexandrea Smoak, and Kinsley Carlyle.”
“Another Servite,” I scoff, rolling my eyes.
“Wynter Servite is Ace’s twin sister and Drea Smoak is Alek’s twin. But their supreme queen is Carrington Prescott. She and Ace have been a thing since middle school. They’re not technically a couple but nobody interferes and lives to tell the tale. Ace hooks up with different girls all the time but apparently Carrington sends them a message when she finds out,” Leighton says as she opens the door .
“That’s some twisted shit,” Ruby adds as we step inside.
“That’s Carrington for you. You’ll meet them all on Monday at the welcome assembly. For now, let’s get you into your apartment and I’ll give you your schedules. Your roommate can give you a tour of the quarter and show you the uniforms.”
“Roommate?” we ask in unison, but Leighton ignores us as she continues to walk through the “quarter” as she calls it.
“Welcome home,” she says as we step out of the foyer and into the living room.
She wasn’t kidding when she said it was an apartment suite. The room is massive and bright. Vivid blue walls lead to a living area complete with two couches, a coffee table, and a television media unit. To the right is a small dining room table with four chairs around it and a small kitchen that only has a sink, refrigerator, and some cabinets.
“This is insane,” Ruby says, as she and Jade head over to sit on the couches.
“Yay. You’re finally here!” squeals a petite girl with strawberry blonde hair, large gray doe eyes and a huge smile, appearing from one room. She’s dressed in a light blue summer dress and nude wedged heels.
“And who the hell are you?” Ruby sneers as she stares at the poor girl.
Her smile immediately turns into a frown.
“Sorry about her, Ruby doesn’t play nice with others,” I say, which receives a grunt from Ruby.
“No problem, I’m just so excited you guys are here.” Her enthusiasm makes me laugh. Who is this girl?
“You didn’t answer her question though,” Jade reminds her.
“Oh duh. I’m Stella Silver, your roommate.”
Ha, this is going to be interesting to say the least. This girl is literally the complete opposite of the three of us. And although she doesn’t seem that bad, it’s going to take some getting used to .
“Well, I’m Scarlett, the blonde’s Jade, and the bitch is Ruby,” I say, making Ruby grunt once more.
“Fuck you, Steele,” she snickers.
“And that’s my cue to leave. Here are your class schedules. Stella has the rest of your things and she can take over from here.” Leighton hands me three envelopes I hadn’t noticed she was carrying. “Good luck, new girls. You’re gonna need it,” she says as she closes the door and takes off.
“Well, she’s a bitch,” Jade says once she’s out of sight, not that she would have held back if Leighton was still here. She and Ruby laugh loudly when Stella’s eyes go wide from Jade's comment.
“Oh, Leigh’s harmless compared to the other girls in this school. Which is why I was so excited to find out you three were coming,” Stella squeals excitedly once again.
I lean on a counter behind me as I look toward her curiously. “Why?” I ask, raising a brow. “According to Leighton the school isn’t thrilled about our arrival.”
“That’s because the school is full of nothing but spoiled, privileged assholes,” she says, laughing slightly.
“Um hello, but you go here,” Jade answers confusedly.
“Yeah, but I’m in on a favor, kind of like you guys.” When we don’t answer, she clarifies. “My uncle took me in when my parents died four years ago, thus granting me entrance to the academy,” she adds.
“Silver, you said, as in Sebastian Silver?” I ask, walking over to the couch where Jade and Ruby sit.
“So, you’ve met them, the Four Horsemen?” Stella asks, following behind me.
“Does everyone seriously call them that?” Jade asks, putting her feet to rest on the coffee table in front of her. “We kind of ran into them when we got here, but they seemed to not care.”
“Let’s hope. My cousin Sebastian and his friends, well they’re a big deal,” Stella mutters as she joins us .
“So we’ve heard,” the three of us utter annoyed at the same time.
“Yeah, pretty sure Leighton gave you guys the rundown about the kings and their condescending queens.” Stella sits on the couch across from us, crossing her legs as she leans forward.
“I take it you don’t like them?” I ask, taking my seat beside Jade.
“I may be a Silver, but I’m not in with the ‘in’ crowd. I’m an outsider. Kinsley, one of the queens, and my cousin were together last year and well, I found out she was cheating on him and kind of anonymously sent him a picture of her and the other guy. Bass went berserk and broke up with Kinsley. I don’t know how she found out it was me, but she did, and let’s just say I haven’t been able to live it down.”
“That’s crazy, it’s not your fault the slut was cheating,” Jade yells defensively.
“Yeah, well, they didn’t see it that way. Bass still hasn’t forgiven Kinsley, and I’m still on the outside. Which is fine, it’s not like I like those girls.”
“And your cousin doesn’t stand up for you?” I ask her as she looks down at her hands twitching nervously on her lap.
“Yeah, I’m sure he would, but the guys don’t get involved in what the girls do unless it directly affects them or their reign. But like I said, it doesn’t matter. I try to stay out of their way. Which is why I’m glad you’re here. I can use some new friends,” she says, looking up at us.
“Well, count me in,” Jade replies as she walks over to sit beside Stella.
“Not sure why, but I kind of like you, Silver,” she says, patting Stella on the shoulder.
“Yeah, whatever,” Ruby says as she stands and heads toward the left hallway where there are three doors. “Which one is my room?” she asks.
“Oh yeah, duh. Well, the quarter has four rooms and two bathrooms. To the right is my room, a bathroom, and your room, Scarlett. To the left is Jade, another bathroom and Ruby’s room.”
Ruby opens the door to her bedroom and steps inside as we follow behind her.
“All the rooms look the same. A queen bed, walk-in closet, desk with an Apple Desktop, Mac Book, and iPad, a dresser vanity and a couch or chaise.”
“This room is ridiculous,” Ruby says as she throws herself back on her bed.
Stella walks over to the closet and pulls out a garment bag.
“Your bag with your clothes and stuff was brought in here but this is what you’ll wear during the week.”
She unzips the bag holding out that hideous uniform Leighton was wearing.
“That’s gross,” Ruby says, making a disgusted expression.
“Yeah, but it makes choosing outfits easier. There are some variations to it, a red and black plaid skirt, white knee-high socks, a white-collared shirt both sleeveless and long-sleeved, and a black blazer. On Fridays we get to wear our red school polos, black for the boys, and black shorts. Both the polos and blazers are embroidered with the school crest. We also get to wear the polo and black spandex shorts for gym class, that is, if you’re not in a sport.”
I frown, already overwhelmed by what Stella is saying. “That’s a lot to remember.”.
“We just have to wear the uniforms for class and any other school-related activities. Other than that, we’re free to wear what we want. Most girls wear heels, but any shoes in black work.”
“Well, it’s going to be sneakers or boots for us, because that’s all we have,” Jade groans, looking down at the black combat boots on her feet.
“That’s fine, I don’t wear heels either,” Stella says as we walk out of Ruby’s room and into the hallway. “Anyway, Jade, your room is through that door and that’s the bathroom. Scarlett, if you want to come with me, I’ll show you to yours. I’m sure you guys want to get some rest before we hit the party tonight.”
“Party?” we all ask in unison, our interest clearly piqued.
“The end of summer party. It happens every year before school starts. Tomorrow is the assembly so tonight we party. There’s a party pretty much every other weekend, so tonight we’re heading to the private beach on the outskirts of the academy. It belongs to the Servites, but it’s mainly Ace’s party pad. There are some beach houses down by the private beach owned by the prominent families of Hillcrest and well, it’s summer. I got some extra swimsuits in case you guys didn’t pack any.”
“Party by the beach, sweet. Count me in,” Ruby says as she heads back into her room.
“After the shit of a day I’ve had, I can use a drink,” Jade says as Stella turns to me.
“Sure, whatever,” I say, heading out of the room and over to where Stella said my room was.
“This is us, my room, our shared bathroom, and your room. I’ll be in here if you need anything. Party starts at eight, so I’ll see you then. I’ll pull out some swimsuits to give you guys options.”
“Stella,” I say, and she looks up at me slowly. “Thanks, you didn’t have to be so nice to us, but at least not everything about coming here sucks.”
“Don’t thank me yet. I’m taking you to a Servite party tonight,” she says nervously.
“We’re fucked up orphans straight from the debauched slums of Pleasant Hills. A couple of privileged, entitled assholes don’t scare me.”
Oh, but they should have.