Four
SCARLETT
I wake up startled in a strange bed not quite remembering how it is I got here. The room is dark with gray blackout curtains and stark gray walls. The surrounding furniture is all black wood with dark red and gold accents, and a bright white comforter underneath me made of the softest material.
It takes my eyes a moment to focus on my surroundings and I quickly remember where I am. In my new bedroom at Servite Academy.
I hadn’t realized how tired I was, but once I laid down on the super comfortable bed, I must have passed out. This “apartment,” which I now live in, is huge and almost double the size of the mobile home Jade and I lived in as kids, and this room is nothing compared to the small room Jade, Ruby and I shared at the Grayson’s. I turn to the bedside table on my right where a digital clock reads 7:00 p.m. Fuck, I slept for almost four hours.
I groggily get up and walk over to open my bedroom door, when I notice the door to Stella’s room is slightly ajar. I walk over to it and I can hear laughing coming from inside. I slowly peek inside to see what’s going on, and find Ruby, Jade and Stella laughing with an array of swimsuits laid across Stella’s bed. I push the door open slightly and all eyes turn to me.
“Morning, sunshine,” Jade says mockingly as I stand by the open doorway. She holds a beautiful teal green, one-piece swimsuit against her body, as she stands in front of a full-length mirror hung on one of Stella’s walls. Stella’s room is a replica of mine, however hers looks much more lived in. Her walls are a lighter gray, almost blue color and the accents on her black furniture vary from a deeper red to a blush pink and gold. She has various picture frames hung on one wall and a few art pieces on the other near a blush pink couch that sits by the window overlooking the campus below.
“That’s hot, Jade. It will totally match your green eyes,” Ruby says from beside her.
“Ruby complimenting Jade and saying something is going to look good on her, I must have entered an alternate universe.”
The two of them roll their eyes before going back to perusing the clothes laid out. These two have been at odds since Jade and I arrived at the Grayson’s. I was more forgiving of Ruby’s insolence and chalked it up to her being the only girl among the three boys and not knowing any better. Five, if you count the older two, Kayden and Micah, who left shortly after our arrival. She had a chip on her shoulder and thought she could push us around because she’d been there first. But Jade wasn’t so sympathetic.
Everything between her and Ruby was a competition. From helping Grayson and Sarah run errands, hanging with me and the guys at school, to even fighting over Jaxon at one point. Of course, Jade wasn’t really interested in him, it was more about having something Ruby wanted. Jax is too vanilla for Jade. She prefers the bad boys. She likes them dark and broody. Cocky assholes with loads of issues. It’s one of our similarities .
“Go on, try it on,” Stella says, motioning for her to try on the swimsuit.
Jade heads over to the closet, closing the door slightly as she steps inside.
“What’s going on?” I ask, confused at the scene before me. Three girls, two who rarely get along and are constantly arguing, and a third they’ve just met are all looking like they’re the best of friends.
“We’re just trying on some swimsuits for the party,” Stella answers as Jade emerges from the closet dressed in the teal one-piece. In the middle of the suit is a cut out revealing her upper abdomen and belly button ring, and hugs her curves perfectly, fitting like a second skin. The top is a triangular halter, and the back of the suit is low cut in a V shape, ending just above her ass leaving every single one of her tattoos exposed.
“That’s a lot of tattoos,” Stella says, admiring the ink on Jade’s back. In the middle of her back is a large portrait of a white wolf with bright green eyes, resembling those of Jade herself. Since she was a little girl, Jade’s been mesmerized by wolves and what they represent. It was her brother Roman of course that gave her the nickname she still goes by “White Wolf.” He always used to say that white wolves were the purest, as they weren’t yet tainted by life. He called himself “Gray Wolf”, after the color of his stormy gray eyes. Jade is the embodiment of a fierce wolf, a protector. Courageous and loyal. A lone wolf who found her pack in me and the guys from the foster home, after losing her alpha and the only wolf she cared for, her brother Roman.
“It was a pastime at the house to get inked. Kai, one of the guys, has his own ink gun, and he’s tattooed pretty much all our ink. Before him it was Kayden, one of the older guys. He gave us all our first,” she says, pointing to the tree branch going up her left side.
“You all have them?” Stella asks, not judging but surprised. It’s unheard of for such young teens to be covered in tattoos, but Grayson thought it was better than having us out in the streets getting into trouble or the harder drugs that flood the streets of Pleasant Hills. Smoking cigarettes or weed and drinking were the only things we could get away with, if we were careful that is. And honestly, unlike all the kids at our school, we weren’t interested in anything else.
“Scarlett has more than me, Ruby only has a few,” says Jade as she checks herself out in the mirror.
“This body is too sacred to treat like a coloring book,” Ruby says, garnering laughs from all of us. With that she grabs a bright red bikini and heads to the walk-in closet where Jade went to change.
“So, which one do you want, Scarlett?” Stella asks, turning her back to me and pointing toward all the swimsuits displayed on her bed. They’re quite beautiful but I’m not really feeling in the party mood.
“I’ll pass, I’m fine with what I’m wearing,” I answer, and instantly receive scowls from the two of them.
“Come on, Scar, don’t be a Debbie downer. This one will look bomb on that sexy body of yours, sis,” Jade says, holding up a two-piece, high-waisted, black bikini. The top is a simple triangle top with thin straps, and the bottoms look high-rise and cheeky. Something I’d probably wear any other day but for some reason don’t feel comfortable wearing today.
“You’re sisters?” Stella asks, turning to me.
“Stepsisters,” Ruby interjects, walking out in the skimpiest red bikini showing off her banging figure. On anyone else it would look sleazy but on Ruby it looks like it was made for her. “Her dad married her mom,” she says, pointing to us. “Well, I don’t think they ever got married. Point is they’re stepsisters, came to the house together.”
“I’m trying to convince Scar to wear this,” Jade says to Ruby who is of course now checking herself out in the mirror. Jade’s right, Ruby has the least amount of ink out of all of us and only has a few small pieces scattered around her hip bones, breastbone, and lower back. They’re small and mostly quotes she lives by.
“We’re not taking no for an answer.” I raise a brow at Ruby, and she steps toward Jade grabbing the bikini and then turning toward me. “Come on, Scar, you’re not gonna make us late. Take this and go shower.” I scoff as she shoves the black bikini toward me.
“You can wear your shorts over it,” Stella says, hoping to change my mind.
I sigh, rolling my eyes but giving in.
“Fine,” I scowl, taking the swimsuit from Ruby.
I head over to the bathroom Stella and I share, grab a towel from the closet in the hallway and take a quick shower. After I’m out, I head to my room to try on the black bikini and get ready for this so-called party. I really don’t want to go but at least I’ll be able to meet up with Damon and the guys. I’m fairly sure they’ve heard of the party by now.
I put the bikini on and look in the full-length mirror on my closet door, admiring what I see in front of me. I must admit it fits me perfectly. I’m fairly small up top which makes the barely there top not look so revealing, and the high-rise bottoms make my ass look good. Like fantastic. They're high enough on the sides to expose my hip bones and all the tattoos splattered across them, so I decide to slip on a new pair of jean cut-offs, slightly shorter than the pair from earlier. Taking my wet hair out of the bun I pulled it into after coming out of the shower, I let it fall down my back. No time of use in doing anything to it. To finish my look, I apply some black mascara to my already fake looking lashes and a tinted red gloss on my perfect pout. Minimal effort but it’s pretty much all I need.
My mother’s beauty is fortunately the only thing I inherited from her. Lilith Steele is a natural beauty and has this somewhat exotic look to her. Dark brown hair, perfectly tanned, glowing skin, wide hazel-green eyes, and a perfect figure that comes from genetics because she has never worked out a day in her life and still maintains a perfectly toned body. I know nothing about her parents, my grandparents, but I can’t imagine they’re only American. She always reminded me of the supermodel Irina Shayk in her youth, that was before all the alcohol. Maybe we’re part Russian. However, last I saw her she looked more like an anorexic Angelina Jolie, still gorgeous but you can tell she’s no longer in her prime. She’s still young having had me at only seventeen but she’s lived a hard life, by choice. Thankfully, I’m still looking more like a young Irina, but unlike my mother, I have pasty white skin, not the glowing tan she carries, my hair is darker and my eyes are a deeper blue like my alleged father.
I’m nearly done getting ready when I hear a soft knock on my door.
“Come in,” I say, as Stella opens the door dressed in a light pink bikini with a white crochet cover up and tan wedge sandals.
“I have an extra pair of sandals. If you need them.” She holds up some cute black crisscross sandals, but I shake my head slipping into my VANS knockoffs.
“Thanks, but I think I’ll just wear my sneakers.”
“The girls are ready when you are,” she adds, walking towards me. “You look great by the way, Scarlett. The bikini fits you perfectly. And your tattoos make you look like a total badass. Carrington’s not gonna know what hit her, she’s gonna lose her shit when she sees you,” she says, clapping her hands like a giddy little girl.
I grab a black and blue plaid flannel and tie it around my waist in case it gets cold tonight. Not sure how long the party will go or if it’ll be indoors at all.
“Scarlett Steele, you look smoking hot, sister,” Jade says as Stella and I step into the living room.
“So do you, babe,” I say, walking over to where she and Ruby stand, both looking sexy as hell. Jade’s dark blonde hair is down in her natural loose curls. She’s applied a dark teal eyeliner to her eyes to match her suit, a pink lip gloss on her plumped lips, and is wearing jean cut-offs over her swimsuit as well.
Ruby stands by the counter in the small kitchen, pouring shots of Patron into four glass cups.
“Where’d you get the tequila?” I ask, leaning against the countertop. Ruby wears black shorts and a mesh top over her bright red bikini, her lips painted in their classic ruby red color, and her winged liner elongates already long almond-shaped green eyes.
“Part of our roomies’ little stash,” she says, nodding her head up at Stella as she hands us each a cup.
“Let’s get this party started,” Jade says with a wink and raising her cup up in a toast.
“To new beginnings in this ritzy, pompous school full of egotistical pricks and snobby bitches,” Ruby cheers, and we all laugh.
“Cheers,” we say as we head out of the quarter.
Outside the quarter, girls in their teeny tiny bikinis and ludicrous heels fill the halls, all looking like they walked off the cover of Sports Illustrated, or better yet out of the Playboy mansion. We take the elevator down with a group of girls who’ve already had way too much to drink. They’re snapping selfies of themselves barely able to keep their eyes open, their snotty looks showing obvious distaste, but too afraid to say anything to us. When we exit the building, I’m relieved to see Drake, Kai, and Jax waiting for us at the front steps. The girls around us eye them wantonly but the guys keep their gazes glued on us.
“Damn, Dragon, that bikini’s fucking smoking,” Jax says as he wraps his arms around Ruby’s waist, nuzzling his face in her neck. These two are the king and queen of PDA and I can hear Drake scoff from beside them. He hates that his best friend is fucking his sister, but he knows he has no say in what she does. If you tell Ruby not to do something, well she’ll do it even more. I just hope things between her and Jax don’t end badly. That would suck for all of us.
“Dragon?” asks Stella, confused by the nickname Jax calls Ruby .
“Ruby and her twin brother Damon Drake,” says Jade, looking at Stella and then pointing to Drake who now stands beside me. “They’re the Dragon Twins. This is Malachi Saint, also known as Kai, and Jaxon Wylde, a.k.a. Jax. I’m Jade Wolfe, or just Wolfe, and you’ve met Scar,” she says, clarifying our nicknames for Stella.
“And who’s this beauty?” Kai asks, licking his lips as he looks over at Stella clearly checking her out. Stella is gorgeous in that sweet, innocent, girl-next-door kind of way. Her strawberry blonde hair is in perfect waves atop her shoulders, and the light pink bikini showcases her petite body.
“This is our roomie, Stella Silver,” Jade says, wrapping her arm around Stella’s shoulder.
“It’s nice to meet you guys,” she says shyly. I turn to Kai whose eyes are glued on Stella. He turns to me when he feels me staring and winks. I raise a brow at him shaking my head, but he scoffs, turning his attention away. Kai is a good guy, and any girl would be lucky to win him over, but Stella, well I think he’d eat her alive. She’s too sweet and innocent, and I wouldn’t want to see her get hurt. With Kai, there is only one outcome, and I’m afraid it isn’t a happy ever after.
“Stella here’s a fan,” Ruby mocks, rolling her eyes.
“I’m just glad you’re all here. It’s a nice change from all the cocky assholes I’m usually surrounded by.”
“Stella’s a bit of a loner so we’ve adopted her. She’s an honorary orphan.”
I smack Jade on the arm glaring at her as she speaks.
“Oh shit! I’m sorry, Stella. I didn’t mean to,” Jade cries out embarrassed.
“No, don’t worry about it, it’s fine.” The guys look over to us, confused by my actions. “My parents died four years ago,” Stella clarifies, looking down at her feet nervously.
“Well, welcome to the tribe, Silver,” Drake says, extending a hand to her. Stella looks up slowly at Drake and then to his hand. She shyly takes it and smiles when he nods to her. That’s my Dragon, always making everyone feel like they belong no matter what.
After a moment, Jade and Kai follow Stella toward the edge of the academy where the party is being held. Ruby and Jax take off to the right together, unable to keep their hands off one another, meanwhile, Drake and I follow behind them disgusted by their public displays of affection.
“You look good, Scar,” he tells me as his eyes roam my body. “Really good.” He winks and I can’t help but laugh.
“You don’t look so bad yourself, Drake,” I say, eyeing his ensemble. He’s wearing black basketball shorts and a black muscle shirt that exposes his tattooed arms, chest, and neck. He catches me staring as my gaze lands on his silver lip ring.
“Not sure I can keep my hands off you tonight though. I know we said we’d hide our… well, whatever this is, but...” he adds, biting his lip.
“It’s not like they don’t already suspect Drake. But I’m not sure now’s the right time. I mean our lives just got flipped upside down,” I add, and his face stiffens.
“About that,” he says, grabbing onto my wrist. “What was up with that Agent Servite guy?” he asks, a deep scowl now covering his face.
“What do you mean?” I ask, pulling my wrist from his hold.
“I saw the way he was looking at you. Like some dirty fucker who was thinking of, well fuck if I wanna know what he was thinking, Scar. But he was looking at you like he knew you, like he wanted you. And then they held you and Jade back in the office and that fucker cornered you alone again. What’s his deal, Scarlett?” His tone turns dark and controlling.
“Look, it’s a long story, one I’d rather not get into right now, alright? Tonight, I just wanna forget everything that went down today and prepare for whatever fucked up shit is to come. As for Servite, don’t worry, Dragon Man, I’m a big girl, I can handle my own shit. ”
“That’s not what I’m worried about, Scar, and you know it,” he says, rolling his eyes.
“Look, Drake, I don’t get what his deal is, okay? Maybe he’s just used to getting that kind of attention from the girls that go here. He’s hot for a man his age but you don’t have to worry about me. I know how to handle myself. I ain’t into the whole sugar daddy trend.”
Suddenly, we’re startled by loud hollering and even louder music blaring from speakers around us.
“We’re here,” Stella shouts as we all turn to see what the fuss is about. I use this as an escape from Drake and his questioning as I walk up to where Jade, Stella, and Kai stand. There are about 200 plus teens spread out across the sandy area in front of us, the water a bright blue, almost clear color extending for miles. Jade and I spent hours at the beach living on the West Coast but this beach, well it makes the one we visited back home look like a muggy swamp.
We make our way down the path at the edge of the beach and look around at the enormous houses around us. The private beach is huge, complete with six beach house mansions all in a circle surrounding the sandy area in front of the water. Each house is stunning but none more impressive than the massive white mansion at the far end of the property. It has three-stories and floor to ceiling windows all around the bottom floor. A large porch wraps around the lower level of property while a large balcony wraps around the entire second story. It’s beautiful and I know this one has to belong to the Servites. It’s over the top and demands to be seen, just like the Servite men.
“This is insane,” I say, turning to Stella.
“Welcome to Servite Academy,” she says with a wide grin.