Savage Little Lies (Court Legacy 2)

No one would know that more than him. He was well aware I’d had my free period with Mayberry this hour. He and his friends had planned to kidnap her and make that video during the time.

They’d obviously ended up doing something else, and Ares watched me under a more than observant gaze when I crossed the room. The way he eyed me, one would think he thought I’d shoot him.

“Right,” he said, finger tapping his sketchpad. The thing was huge, and he had a piece of charcoal in his hands. I recalled him saying he liked to do art, but this boy wasn’t in any art classes. I took like all of them, so I’d know.

“What are you doing in here?” I asked.

He gave me a look like it was obvious. I supposed we were in an art room, and he did have a sketchpad.

He eased into his hoodie after I said it, and I wondered if he was using it to hide his face. Good tactic really, as hoodies were allowed as long as they had the school’s insignia. His read Windsor Prep Football and happened to have the king on it, the large gorilla that was the school’s mascot.

Catching a glance of his face, I noticed it wasn’t as bad as the last time I’d seen him, the bruising more yellow today.

“Was trying to get some work done,” he snipped, and I rolled my eyes. This guy just couldn’t help but be an aggressive ass. Always had been. He ran the charcoal over the sketchpad. “I usually swipe shit from here, charcoal and pencils. It helps it’s quiet too.” His brown eyes lifted. “Usually.”

I laughed, mostly because he was just such a dick. I folded my arms. “Well, don’t let me bother you.”

“I won’t.” Even still, he eyed every move I made. I dropped my bag on a chair, then headed over to the easels. My series was paintings, and I’d brought one in to work on at school. I got my paints together.

Ares studied me for a while before he found me arranging my stuff and putting on my smock boring enough to get back to what he’d been doing. He smirked after a beat. “Calc one?” he questioned, and I noticed he eyed the books falling out of my bag. He tipped his chin. “That’s a junior class, little. You that far behind?”

My eyes lifted to the art room’s rafters.

“It’s actually for Bru,” I said, tying my apron. “And I thought you liked it quiet.”

He made a noise with his mouth, like he was over me and over it all. This was typical of him. I mean, he was writing me off right now with the whole Dorian situation. His presence was definitely a reminder of the dark prince, which made me more than annoyed. I came in here not to think about him.

“Why you got the kid’s books?” he asked, though he barely looked up from his work. His fingers on his pad had slowed, so he was actually interested.

I swallowed at that situation, wetting my lips. “He’s sick. Something I guess you would’ve noticed if you actually cared about him?” I eyed him. “I thought you guys were friends. Or did you not notice he hasn’t been around at school?”

“I noticed.” He swung a glance in my direction. “And sick?”

“Yeah.” Though I definitely didn’t want to talk about that.

He nodded. “I’m sure he’ll be fine, though.” He put one of his shined leather shoes up on the chair he’d used for his legs. “You and your brother have that sweet setup. I’m sure your guardian’s been taking real good care of you. Probably called out a doctor and everything for the kid.”

How did he know? I supposed he could assume. Especially if that’s how his own parents handled illness. Rich kids didn’t go to hospitals. Hospitals came to them.

But my brother and I weren’t rich kids. We weren’t like them. We might have currently had some of the perks, but that wouldn’t be forever. This situation with Callum was nice, but it definitely had a clock on it.

Ares moved his lips. “So is he?”

“What?”

His chin jutted at me. “Your guardian. He’s taking care of you. Bru?” He dropped an arm over his leg. “What is it that Montgomery does again?”

My eyes narrowed. “Why?”

“Just curious.” Ares passed that off with a shoulder shrug. “Smaller town. Just call us some nosy fucks.”

I shook my head. “He’s in business.”

“What kind?”

“He’s an entrepreneur, and is there a reason I’m being interviewed right now?”

“Nah, little. You good.” Though I noticed his stare didn’t let up. “Just trying to clear up some blanks about you. You came into this town all mysterious and shit. You, your brother, and your guardian.”