Chapter 4
Chapter four
Bexley
“I thought you were meant to be resting.”
Pausing, I turn around in the hallway, finding Arch leaning against a locker with a judgy cocked eyebrow.
“I did rest. I slept a full four and a half hours last night.”
His eyes drop down to the extra-large coffee in my hand, eyebrow somehow darting up even higher. “Bexley...”
“Archer.”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I. There’s nothing caffeine can’t fix.”
Okay. Maybe the doctor did say I should spend a few days at home before returning.
But the doctor doesn’t know that Dean Lannister is lurking around these hallways, clutching attendance numbers, and threatening my graduation.
That asshole wouldn’t miss the chance to rub salt into the wound, and I’ll be damned if I let anyone take advantage of this very minor, not-at-all traumatic setback.
Especially since the call is coming from inside his own fucking academy.
It’s already bad enough that it’s all but formally confirmed we’ll be at Willowbrook until graduation, never to roam our Cedar Heights halls again. I have no desire to make things worse or let the twat rockets who did this get away.
Arch has been on lookout duty for me, but from what I’ve heard, everyone seems pretty spooked. Still, I wasn’t born yesterday. Someone here knows something. People talk. It’s only a matter of when before someone slips up. And I need to be here if I want to catch them.
“If you get an infection…”
“I have my silver ointment in my bag to keep the werewolves at bay,” I tell him, patting the backpack for good measure. “And spare bandages. Arch, I’m fine, really. Besides, I need some normalcy right now. Like, really need it. And if all that fails, I have floaty drugs on hand too.”
Finally, he seems to accept that, nodding.
I feel like I can breathe a sigh of relief at his acquiescence.
Truthfully, part of me would love to stop for a moment and hide from the world.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve felt tension in my bones, burying deep into every inch of my soul.
I can’t even imagine what it must feel like to not have that weight riding on my shoulders.
To just breathe without worry, to exist without fear of consequence.
I would love to know what it feels like to simply just be me without the stress that the world might fall apart if I suddenly stop holding it up for everyone.
But I don’t think that version of Bexley Spencer exists. Maybe only in my dreams.
The bell ringing drags me away from my thoughts and I wave Arch off, watching as he disappears into a nearby classroom before I make my way to Mr. Hardwood’s torturous History session.
As usual, Tai is waiting for me, a shit-eating grin splashed across his face as he pats the vacant seat next to him.
“Look what the wildcat dragged in,” he says playfully as I slide into my usual spot.
“Tai, it’s Monday morning. The sun is barely even up. How are you already thinking about pussy?”
“I think about yours a lot. Specifically, you riding my face again.”
Groaning to hide the fact that my thighs have clenched together on their own accord—which I’m blaming on the painkillers again—I take a sip of coffee, attempting to appear unfazed. “Good to see your hair is still green. It looks like a leprechaun shit all over your head.”
“Ouch.” He grabs his chest. “Wounded, Bex. I ruined the perfect shade of silver for you. Show a little respect for the hair.”
I can’t stop my lips from twitching, a smile fighting its way through the weary exhaustion. “Okay, maybe I’ll ride your face later. If you’re lucky.”
Tai grins excitedly, some witty remark on the tip of his tongue begging to break free. It’s cut off by Mr. Hardwood and his toupee, his drawling, monotonous voice telling everyone to be quiet before he dives into his usual rambling.
After History, Tai and I part ways before meeting up again for third period with Rylan and Lannister. For someone who just escaped death with me, you’d never know it.
There’s still a fierce hostility in his glances toward me, and part of me starts to question if I hallucinated our moments together in the stage room.
Perhaps I blacked out earlier than I thought and none of it was real.
That’s the only reasonable explanation since he still looks as though I’m nothing but an inconvenience dampening his Monday agenda.
“I’ve been asking around to see if anyone has heard anything, but so far, no dice,” Rylan mumbles, leaning back into his plush leather chair.
Trust this academy to go all out on library furniture.
I have no idea why we’re in a very open, public setting.
We stand out like dogs’ balls here, even if it is largely deserted.
I had suggested the rooftop where Rylan and I made our truce, but that was shot down by Lannister.
Apparently, it would draw too much attention to his father and the power-tripping assistant that resides in his rectum twenty-four-seven.
I will admit, though. The librarian has made herself oddly scarce since our arrival, and I have no doubt that it’s not a coincidence.
Tai nods thoughtfully. “I’ve started trying to access the camera footage to see if I can pinpoint the person or persons who made the comment that Bexley’s friend heard.”
“It shouldn’t be too difficult,” I tell him. “We know the location and rough time.”
Lannister lets out an irked sigh. “It’s more complicated than that,” he scoffs, condescendingly. “The admin staff can see when we access camera footage and it’s flagged for their attention. We’re trying not to alert them to our actions.”
He says it as though it’s the world’s most obvious fact—like I’m an idiot for not already knowing this information.
Immediately, any feelings or concepts of warmth I had temporarily developed for the man dissolve in a pool of acid. “You clearly accessed the feed to wipe the footage of your ass glued to the desk. How is this any different?”
Hunter scowls at me. “Because that was damaging to my reputation. Therefore, the Dean’s. At present, our fathers are jointly looking into this. We’ve been advised to keep out of it.”
“Oh, so harmless pranks are damaging but not arson or murder attempts? Got it.”
“We don’t care about your poor excuse for an academy, Duchess. It has nothing to do with us.”
“Except it does,” I argue back. “Were you not in the damn building with me, Lannister?”
His silence is awfully telling. I gape at him, dumbfounded. “Are you keeping that information under wraps? Like nearly dying with me is some dirty little secret?”
A hand on my knee drags my attention away from Lannister. I look at Rylan, narrowing my eyes.
“We don’t want to panic everyone,” he says quietly. “If people think someone is targeting both academies, we risk it spiraling into chaos. We can’t control the situation if it does. We’re not at the point where we can show an alliance at that level yet.”
Shamefully, all I can do is stare at him, completely lost for words.
“So, your solution to this is to just let everyone believe this was solely an attack on Cedar Heights? On me? And according to everyone, Lannister was supposedly elsewhere?”
At least he has the nerve to look embarrassed. Asshole.
“Babe,” Tai coos, like he’s placating a child. “We just want the Willowbrook students to think everything is business as usual. Keep them comfortable enough so they talk.”
“It sounds like you’re just throwing me under the bus,” I point out.
“What bullshit story have you given to explain Lannister’s injuries then?
” I nod my head toward his arm. His jersey hides it, but I know there’s a bandage underneath from what I’ve been told.
Plus, he was apparently in the hospital too for a couple of days.
Lannister rolls his eyes. “Mechanical assistance. My cousin is able to back up my story.”
“And you think everyone will believe you got your hands dirty under the hood of a car? Please be so for real, Lannister,” I snort.
His gaze darkens. “People believe what I tell them to believe, Duchess. That’s how this works.”
I snatch up my bag and stand. “This was a waste of time,” I mumble, irritably.
“I should have known better than to trust the three of you with an important task like this. It might just be some bullshit entertainment for you, but that place is everything to me and the other Cedar Heights students. It’s our home. ”
Rylan quickly reaches for me, guiding me back down into the chair. “Bex—this is part of the plan. Trust me.”
Trust me. Not us.
Leaning forward, I lock eyes with him. “Astor, I don’t have time to waste.
Arch’s dad said basic repairs are pretty much out of the question now.
They have to fix structural issues. We don’t have that type of money, even with state funding.
Unless I can prove this was deliberate and provide a name with concrete evidence to back it up, we’re screwed. ”
He nods, seemingly understanding. “I know. Just like we know how Willowbrook operates. I just need you to trust me. Please.”
And there’s that word again. We’re apparently just throwing it around for good measure.
There’s a begging to his tone, and regretfully, my resolve starts to waver. Damn baby blues.
“Fine,” I huff. “But surely you can get your hands on the footage somehow. That would help speed things up.”
Tai strums his fingers on my other knee. “We’re working on using Elizabeth’s credentials. Or Marcus’.”
My eyes flit over to Lannister. “Really?” I remark sarcastically. “Your father’s login details?”
He sneers at me. “It’s the only way it won’t get flagged and brought to their attention. We’re waiting for him to commence that part of his own inquiries so we can fly under the radar.”
I can’t help but dryly laugh. “He’s not going to bother, Lannister. You’re wasting time on a miracle that’s never going to happen.”
“Election campaign,” Rylan points out. “They have to if they want to save face.”
“Oh, of course,” I mock. “They need to be the heroes saving the poor disadvantaged Cedar Heights students.”