Wicked Liars (Windsor Academy 1)

“I don’t have time for this.” I roll my eyes and start walking forward, deciding to just push through them.

“Not so fast, slut,” Peyton sneers. “Too bad your precious kings aren’t here to protect you now, isn’t it?”

Each girl moves in freakish harmony to form a human wall. On the inside, my nerves are frayed but I do my best to project a cool surface.

I scoff. “I don’t need them to protect me.”

“I think you’ll be singing a different tune by the time we’re done with you. Unless...”

“Unless what?”

My phone is vibrating like crazy now.

“Unless you stay away from Kingston,” she replies. “We’ll let you walk out of here if you promise you won’t go near him ever again.”

“And Bentley,” Whitney adds.

“And Bentley,” Peyton echoes.

I meet her hate-filled gaze dead on. “What are you going to do if I don’t? Beat me up? Break my nose, maybe? An eye for an eye? Is that it?”

I know I’m about to get my ass kicked, but I’m sure as fuck not going down without a fight. I curl my hand into a fist, positioning my thumb over the first two fingers.

A genuine grin stretches across her face. This psycho is actually enjoying this. “It’s a good place to start.”

The bathroom door starts jiggling, someone’s fists pounding on the other side. “Jazz, are you in there?”

Oh, thank fuck. Ainsley can get a janitor to unlock the door. Hopefully I can hold these chicks off until then.

“I’m locked in—” I start to scream.

“Jazz?” Ainsley repeats, panic evident in her voice. “Are you okay?”

Peyton lunges for me, knowing her window is closing, but I dodge her punch.

“Grab her arms, you idiots!” she screams.

It takes four girls to properly restrain me but when they finally do, Peyton bitch slaps me across the face before she punches me right in the stomach, forcing me to double over. Damn it, that hurt. She must have been watching YouTube videos on how to properly throw a punch.

As I’m gasping for breath, the door slams open, several girls grunting as they’re jostled forward violently. Unfortunately for me, their forward momentum causes my head to slam into the wall.

I groan as spots flicker before my eyes. “Jesus.”

I glance toward the doorway and see Kingston, Bentley, and Reed, each staring at the girls with pure fury in their gaze.

“Get out,” Kingston says without any inflection whatsoever. I don’t know why, but his quiet tone makes him seem even more dangerous.

The crowd scurries as all three guys step into the bathroom. Before Peyton can get away, Kingston steps in her path.

“I’ll deal with you later,” he promises.

Peyton blanches. “Baby, it’s not what it looks like. I—”

Kingston’s fists clench as he takes a step toward her. “Save it, Peyton. Get the fuck out of my face before I do something that can’t be undone.”

Her eyes widen before she too, runs out the door.

I flinch when Kingston approaches me and gently runs a finger over my cheek. He frowns as he inspects what I’m sure is a Peyton-sized handprint.