Chapter 15
Sin pulls the car through fifteen-foot wrought iron gates attached to an arch that has the university crest in the center of it. I’ve learned on the drive here that SLU has four colleges under its name, and we’ll be attending Dacre Hall. The other three colleges include Emmanual Hall, Trinity Hall and Pembroke Hall. Apparently, there’s some ancient hierarchy and naturally Sin and the boys are enrolled in the college that is at the top of the pecking order.
As we head along the cobblestone driveway to student parking, I marvel at the ancient English, gothic looking sandstone buildings with their arched stained glass windows and carved stonework. There’s a cavalcade of black Range Rovers behind us and must look as though the King and Queen are arriving with their guard. Students in the parking lot all stare as we pull up and park and one by one the other Range Rovers slowly follow.
“Does anyone know where I go to register for classes?” I glance at Chaser who is busy texting on his phone.
Rome turns to look back at me, handing me a small black pencil case looking thing with the school crest printed on it. “Your ID card and badge are in there. We all do the same core subjects for first term, so naturally we made sure some of your classes are with us.”
“Great, I don’t get to choose which college I go to and now I can’t even choose what I want to study.” I unzip the pencil case and pull out my ID card and look at the terrible photo they chose for it. “Thanks for picking the shittiest photo you could find.” I roll my eyes and place the ID back in the pencil case. Running my finger over the four card suit symbols in the crest, I wonder what their significance is.
“You look that shit in real life so quit complaining.” Sin places his ear buds in before exiting the car and slams the door shut, striding off to who knows where.
“Don’t fucking listen to him. You can always update the photo. Sin had to find one quickly for Raphael so he could get you enrolled.” Chaser adds before climbing out of the car and taking my bag with him.
“Come on. We’ll be late for our matriculation ceremony.” Rome hops out of the car and opens my door for me.
Climbing out tentatively, I look around at the other students in the parking lot, and most of them look as terrified as I do. Only these buffoons I’m living with seem to not have a worry in the world as they exit their SUVs and head toward the main building.
Walking in step with Rome and Chaser on either side of me, I get a lot of dirty looks from other girls as we pass them. I ignore the stares and study the beautiful architecture of every building we pass. As we file into the main hall where we need to gather, we’re handed a tote bag adorned with the school crest and stuffed to the brim.
“What’s all this?” I poke around the tote bag trying to see what’s under the plastic covered puffy material.
Rome heads to the very front of the auditorium and I dutifully follow even though I’d rather sit right at the back out of sight. Chaser is close behind me when we walk past other students already seated and I notice they’re the students from the frat house. Sin is already sitting in the first seat of the row, looking like he owns the place. Rome leaves the seat next to Sin empty and takes the next one, pulling me down to sit next to him. I glance up at Chaser, who is chatting with someone in the row behind us, and as I turn to face forward again, I catch the glare of someone as they walk toward us. It’s the Queen of Spades, making her way to the open seat next to Sin.
She struts past me, throwing me a scathing look, before she gently sits down between Rome and Sin. I so badly want to give her the finger but instead I look up at the vaulted ceiling of the auditorium and at the paintings of past important people who have attended the college. Each one unsmiling in their pose and wearing the same badge on their jacket lapels.
Chaser seats himself next to me when a man in a long black cloak walks onto the stage. The students all hush and silence falls over the room.
“Welcome Dacre Hall students. I am Vice Chancellor, Lord Alex Broers, and I have been at Sable Lakes University since I too was a fresh young student. My time here has served me well and I believe you are about to embark on a pivotal turning point in your lives. You’ll either thrive or you’ll flail in this institution. Sable Lakes University is steeped in history, and we pride ourselves as a beacon of global excellence in education, research and sporting endeavors. Our rollcall of Nobel Prize winners, our gathered field of inventors and innovators, and our distinguished and accomplished alumni all speak volumes of our values and where we hold ourselves amongst society. It is here where we expect all our students to prosper, excel and exceed all expectations. Now, if we could all stand and take out our gowns, please.” He waits patiently.
Looking at both Rome and Chaser as they dig through their tote bags, pulling out black fabric before standing, I quickly rummage through mine and grab mine out. Standing up, I shake out the fabric to reveal a black gown. It’s not floor length like the Vice Chancellor’s and the other faculty members.
“Students, please put them on and remain standing.” His voice bellows through the speakers in the auditorium.
I slide my arms through the cape, and it reaches halfway down my calves, the fabric is soft and feels nice against my skin. I glance at Rome beside me in his gown and he looks so ridiculous that I have to stifle a giggle.
“Students, these gowns are to be worn at the weekly formal dinner and to all ceremonies and activities. Your pin will be always displayed with pride and visible at all times. If you need sizing adjustments, please see the uniform office and exchange it there, do not exchange with other students. Now, please take out your new sports jacket from its plastic sleeve.”
The rustling and movement of all the students has the Vice Chancellor grinning. I grab the puffer jacket out from the plastic sleeve and hold it up. It’s dark blue, squishy and I think I’m in love with it. I know this will be a staple in my wardrobe come the cooler months.
“As you can see, the school crest is proudly displayed on the right breast. You will take your new winter sporting jacket to the uniform office and have your initials embroidered onto the left breast. These jackets are for more casual events and for out of school social events if you so wish to wear them. They are not for selling and swapping with other universities as has happened in the past. They are also not to be worn by anyone who does not attend Sable Lakes.” He leans away from the microphone and coughs before walking to the table at the side of the stage and taking a sip of water, then returning to his post.
“If you look into your tote bag you will see items to help you settle in. I expect we are a mature bunch of young adults and I won’t find any items littered through the grounds. Now, please file row by row to the side of the stage to be called upon to state your oath.”
Sin leads us to the side of the stage before he ascends the few stairs and walks across the stage to the Vice Chancellor. He proceeds to grab the Vice Chancellor’s pinky finger and repeats hushed words to him and then leaves the stage, grabs his tote bag and exits, going fuck knows where.
I watch on in fascination until it’s my turn. Climbing the stairs, I make my way across the stage and stop in front of the Vice Chancellor. He smiles at me and holds his hand out for me to hold his pinky finger.
“Repeat after me,” he says. “I pledge my oath to Sable Lakes University. To uphold the values of the institution and to obey the laws set forth before me.”
I stare at him for a moment before I try to remember what he just said to repeat. “I pledge my oath to Sable Lakes University. To uphold the values of the institution and to obey the laws set forth before me.”
“You’ll do well here, Miss Monacelli.” His friendly smile does nothing to stop my heart from feeling like it’s about to break free from the cavity of my chest.
How the fuck does he know my real last name? I let go of his pinky finger as though it just zapped me and scurry off the stage back to my seat. I pick up the tote bag and hug it to me hoping no one notices my mild freak out.
“Hey, are you okay?” Rome wraps his arm around my shoulders and leans into me.
I swallow the golf ball sized lump in my throat and watch Chaser stroll across the stage, his gown billowing behind him as he makes his way back to us. “He called me by my real last name,” I barely whisper, not daring to speak too loudly.
I feel Rome stiffen beside me, his arm going rigid across my shoulders. “Are you sure?”
I nod ever so slightly, still in shock this information was handed over to the university.
“Maybe they needed to be told, seeing as it’s on your birth certificate.” Rome taps Chaser on the leg as he stands next to me chatting quietly to the students behind us. “Hey, dipshit, sit down.”
Chaser plants himself onto the seat and half on me. “What’s up?”
“Did Sin say anything about Monroe’s enrollment?”
Chaser looks at us in confusion, his gaze narrowing as he thinks. “No, why?”
“I’ll tell you later.” Looking around at the other three hundred or so students, I wonder how many have to hide their name in fear of the men who eradicated their family coming after them.
After the long ass ceremony to matriculate each student, we’re all ushered to the great hall for lunch and to mingle. This is where our weekly formal dinners will be held and we all must attend or it’s a mark against our name. I’m told these dinners are a formal affair where we have to dress accordingly. This university is so regimented and weird, the complete opposite of where I was meant to attend.
The great hall reminds me of some of the ancient castles in Scotland. Vaulted ceilings with wooden beams, wrought iron candelabras adorn the walls and polished dark mahogany floorboards give this hall a medieval feel. I’m starting to like this place, even with its rules.
Long tables are set up at the front, covered in crisp white tablecloths, with an assortment of grazing options to choose from. The attention to detail that has been put into making this welcome both elegant yet casual is meticulous. There’s free flowing champagne for the ladies and top shelf whiskey for the men.
Standing on my own away from the crowd to get my bearings and allow myself a few minutes to settle in, I spot a student heading toward me. Her long chocolate locks are loosely curled and she’s also wearing jeans and a t-shirt under her gown.
She grins at me as she gets closer. “I think you have the best spot in this place.” She blows out an exasperated breath. “Hey, I’m Josephine.” She holds up her champagne glass for me to clink.
“Hi, my name’s Monroe.” I clink my flute to hers as she settles beside me with her small plate of nibbles.
“How ridiculous is all this?” She throws an olive in her mouth.
“I thought it was just me. It’s a bit over the top,” I agree with her statement and we both have a little chuckle.
“Which dorm building are you in?” She pops another olive and stares at me intently.
“I um, I live in the Spades Fraternity house.” I take a sip of my champagne to break up the silence that has surrounded us.
“Oh my God! Are you their queen?” Her eyebrows shoot up and her mouth opens into an O.
“Fuck no! I’m just forced to live there. That’s their queen.” I avert my gaze to Charlotte who is making small talk with one of the faculty members with Sin by her side. I wonder where he disappeared to earlier?
Josephine follows my gaze and glances at me with a knowing look. “Doesn’t surprise me. Look at her, she looks like she has a stick up her perfect ass.” She laughs at her assessment. “Glad to hear you’re not their queen, because we would have had to stop being friends right here and now.”
“Zero chance of me being queen, so our friendship is safe. Because I’m a nosy bitch, what exactly does the queen do? What is the point of the fraternity king etc?”
Josephine links her arm through my elbow and drags me away from the crowd further into the corner of the room, far enough away from listening ears. “Girlfriend, I can only tell you what I know so far but rumor is that the current king and two jacks ridded the Spades Fraternity of the reigning king and jack and forced the queen out of the university,” she whispers so low I need to lean into her to hear.
Dread drops into my stomach, a knot forming instantly, knowing exactly what they did. It takes me three short seconds to put two and two together. A heavy beat passes through my chest before I pull the mask of ignorance down over me. “What the hell?” I don’t know what else to say without incriminating my two best friends and Sin.
“Right! And apparently the queen is there for their needs. If you know what I mean.” Josephine waggles her eyebrows at me. “I mean, they’re fucking delicious, so I wouldn’t complain either.”
Throwing back the rest of my champagne, I try not to choke on it as her words make me feel nauseous. “Interesting,” I manage to say and nod at this new information. “Is this the same for all the frats?” I ask curiously and I hope her answer is yes, because Sass would lap that shit up and own it.
“I think so.”
“My bestie is the Queen of Diamonds Frat and I think this will be right up her alley.” I grin.
“Some have all the luck.” Josephine bites off the end of her breadstick roughly. “So, how did you get forced into living in a male only, apart from their queen, frat house?”
This was the question I was hoping to avoid. “Sin’s parents adopted me when I was five and Rome and Chaser are my besties.”
“Get the fuck out of here!” She nearly spits out the sip of champagne she just took. “You’re kidding, right?”
“I wish.” I offer a small smile and hope she gets that I don’t want to talk about it.
“You’ve struck the goldmine, girl. Look, I get that look you’re giving me, and I won’t ask any questions and your secret is safe with me.” She places her hand over her heart. “But if you ever need to vent, I’m all ears.”
“Thank you. It’s going to be hard separating myself from them, but I’m determined to get through this college experience on my own.” I eye the students all being social and mingling.
“I don’t know a soul here either, but I arrived about a week ago, so I’ve been getting all the goss seeing as I’m in one of the bigger dorm buildings. You should come by and hang out, get away from that house full of guys.”
I nod and grin at her invitation. “I might just take you up on that offer.”
We spend the rest of the afternoon chatting with faculty members, other students and some alumni who were invited to give us newbies tips on college life. On the drive home, everyone is silent, and I use this time to look through my tote bag. The puffer jacket is my new favorite possession, its material is soft like butter. Pulling out a small packet of mints, I offer one to Rome who sits beside me, his hand lingers on mine for a moment longer than normal. Or am I imagining it? Maybe I’m exhausted.
My phone buzzes and I unlock the screen to see a text from Sass.
“Who text you?” Rome is quick to ask.
“Saskia. Why?” I glance at him quickly and see he’s looking over my arm to see my phone.
“No reason.” He looks back out his window and stays that way until we get home.
“So, do I get the keys to one of these beasts seeing as we’re not allowed our own cars here?” I ask as Sin parks the car in the garage.
“Not a chance, Mono.” Sin places his ear buds in before climbing out and heading inside.
“Fine,” I sigh.
“I’ll drive you wherever you want to go.” Rome grins at me.
“I don’t need a chaperone. No one is coming here to stalk me.” Climbing out of the car, I slam the door extra hard and storm inside, up the stairs and straight into my room.
Me: Can you come pick me up?
Saskia: Fuck yes! I’ll give you thirty to get changed. Wear something fucking hot that will make those boys wish you were their Queen??
I smile at her response. Always my knight, that girl. I’d kill for her if she needed me to. I jump in the shower and quickly wash the day off me, making sure I don’t wet my hair. Yes, I’m one of those girls that wears a cute pink shower cap like a grandma. Wrapping my towel around me, I go into my walk-in closet in search of something revealing to show off my curves. I find a short black dress with a heart neckline and two slits at the side. I think it’s Saskia’s and is meant to be loose, but on me, it sits nice and snug. I pair it with my black patent leather Opyum YSL sandals and matching YSL clutch. Throw on some bronzer, extra lashings of mascara and my go to Dior brown lipstick.
My phone lights up with a text from Sass that they’re here at the front. Racing down the stairs in the hopes no one sees me leaving, I come to the bottom to face the entire house staring at me, jaws to the floor, and a stillness that will bug me for days to come.
“Where the fuck do you think you’re going?” Sin’s voice vibrates through the silence.
Watching him, Chaser and Rome make their way through their roommates toward me makes me want to laugh. It’s absurd.
“Out.” I hop off the bottom step and walk to the door, opening it to see Saskia standing there like the goddess she is, flanked by three hot as fuck, tattooed up guys.
“Oh my God, I missed you!” Sass squeals and launches herself at me, hugging me into her, no doubt showing everyone behind me more than they needed to see with my dress riding up. “You look fucking edible. Well played,” she whispers so only I can hear.
Letting go of me, she grabs my hand and pulls me out the door, but not before I notice the sudden tension between her friends and the three still inside the doorway. I glance at Rome and notice the tick in his jaw on his otherwise cool expression as he and the other two move to stand on the threshold.
“Axton. Damon. Hunter. You know you aren’t permitted here unless invited.” Sin’s blank glare is the perfect mask for his unhinged rage.
“Monroe invited me to come pick her up seeing as you three assholes are keeping her hostage and not letting her drive one of your precious cars,” Saskia says. Her matter of fact attitude impresses me.
“Don’t stress, mafia boy. We’re not staying.” The blonde guy with the neck tattoos says coolly. His disregard for the malevolence rolling off these three is refreshing.
“Let’s go before Sin bursts a vein.” Sass salutes the three before she drags me toward the car they arrived in. A midnight blue Range Rover. Do all the frats have their own color coding?
Sneaking a look back at the guys, I see the three of them standing just outside the doorway, menacing glares in place and arms crossed over their chests. I have no idea what pathetic conflict they have with these three but I’m sure it’s grinding their gears that I’m leaving with them. I wave as I climb in after Sass and one of the tattooed guys closes the door for me. The car pulls away down the long driveway and I can’t help but think about Charlotte living upstairs amongst the three of them. It makes me feel irrationally jealous and I hate that I feel like this.