Chapter 22
“Everyone’s staring,” I whispered.
Colt winced but didn’t let go of my hand. “Sorry about that. They’ll get used to seeing you with us. Promise.”
Every step twisted my stomach tighter. I could feel the gazes of everyone grating over my skin.
I did my best to scan the room without making eye contact with anyone.
The space itself was gorgeous, with dark wood paneling on the walls and tall, arched windows.
The school had to be old, just brought into modern times with refurbishing.
The dining hall wasn’t like any sort of cafeteria I’d ever seen.
There was an array of stations on the far side of the room.
I could see one for sandwiches and paninis, sushi, Italian, and an elaborate salad bar.
The options were endless. But the idea of putting food in my stomach was out of the realm of possibility.
Colt guided me through a sea of tables, and I tried to get a good look at each one. If there was one thing you could say about Castle Prep, it was that the students were beautiful. Almost unnaturally so. Maybe they’d all had cosmetic surgery. They could definitely afford it.
I caught sight of Connor at a table with guys who were all almost as large as Ronan and Declan. He grinned and waved. A few of the guys stared at me until a girl sitting in their midst elbowed one and smacked another on his chest.
There was a table of girls and guys who studied me as if I were a science project, whispering to one another as we passed.
My steps faltered as we neared a table with a familiar face. Damien grinned, leaning forward. “Hi, Leighton. It’s so good to see you again.”
He made an exaggerated show of pulling air into his nostrils and then reared back. Anger flashed in his eyes, and his head jerked in the direction of a table at the center of the room. His gaze locked on Dash.
I’d rarely seen Dash with anything but an easy smile on his face. I’d definitely never seen him angry. But right now, he was glaring daggers at Damien.
Colt dropped my hand and wrapped his arm around my shoulders. “You’ve been warned,” he growled in Damien’s direction.
The guys sitting at his table stiffened as if braced for a fight.
Crap. That was just what I needed on my first day.
Colt guided me onward to that center table. Dash, Ronan, and Trace were already seated.
“That was the worst of it,” Colt promised.
“Yeah, right,” Trace muttered.
Ronan shot him a warning look, then turned back to me. “How was your morning?”
“Fine.” I hurried to sit in the chair Dash pulled out.
Trace snorted. “You certainly know how to make an entrance. People won’t shut up about you.”
I scowled at him. “I wanted to keep a low profile, but your friend here wasn’t having any of that.”
Colt shrugged as he took the seat next to me. “Better to get it over with. The sooner people get used to LeeLee being one of us, the better.”
Trace shook his head, his jaw working back and forth.
Dash cleared his throat. “How did you like your morning classes?”
“Who the hell likes their classes?” Ronan muttered.
Dash frowned. “I do.”
“That’s because you’re a genius of freaky proportions,” Colt shot back.
“I really liked my English class,” I hurried to say before anyone could make Dash feel bad for enjoying school.
He brightened at that. “What are you guys reading?”
“Crime and Punishment.” I tapped my fingers against my knees. “I’ve got a lot of reading to catch up on, though.”
“We can have an epic study session after school. Baldwin always makes the best snacks to keep us fueled up.”
I smiled what felt like my first genuine smile of the day at Dash. He had the kindest heart. “Thank you.”
Conversation around us quieted, and I was instantly on alert, scanning the room. I fought a groan as Chloe strode toward us, with Mimi and Grace on either side of her.
“Please tell me you guys aren’t friends with them.” Icy claws of dread dug into me as I realized that they could be dating these girls.
“I’m definitely not,” Dash mumbled.
Chloe tossed her glossy brown locks over one shoulder as her eyes narrowed on me. “Who are you?”
Ronan let out a low growl. “Don’t start, Chloe.”
She huffed out a breath. “I think I have a right to know who the strange girl is sitting with you.”
Nausea rolled through me. There was a proprietary ownership in those words.
Trace leaned back in his chair. “You don’t have rights to anything. It’d be good if you remembered that.”
Color hit her cheeks. “You know I do. And The Assembly wouldn’t be happy with you treating me with anything other than respect. Especially for this…trash. God, Trace. How low are you stooping these days? Her hair’s like a fire engine, and she doesn’t even know how to put on makeup.”
“Repeat that. I dare you.”
The words were growled with such ferocity I swore the table shook. My gaze jerked up to the owner of the voice. Declan’s gray eyes had gone molten silver, and he struggled to keep his breathing under control.
Chloe whirled. “D-Declan.”
His nostrils flared. “Repeat it.”
She shot a nervous look at her friends. “I was just stating the obvious.”
“Maybe if you’re delusional with a side of batshit crazy,” he snapped.
“Let’s not forget jealous,” Dash added helpfully.
“There’s definitely that,” Declan agreed.
Chloe’s face reddened further. “Fine, you’re protective of the new girl. Whatever.” She sent me a death glare. “But don’t forget that I’m the one you’ll all need.”
My brow furrowed at that. Need for what? A daily dose of bitchiness?
“Leave,” Declan barked.
The girls scurried off as fast as their legs would carry them.
Declan glanced down at me, his expression gentling. “You okay?”
Warmth spread through me. As much as I despised being the center of attention, I appreciated that he had my back. “Been through way worse than a bitchy airhead.”
He frowned, concern sweeping across his face.
Shit. That was the last thing I should’ve said. “I’m fine,” I hurried to add.
Declan jerked his head in a nod and then lowered himself into the empty chair at the head of the table.
“What are you doing?” Ronan gritted out.
Declan locked gazes with him. “I guess I’m eating lunch. Unless you’re going to try to steal that from me, too.”