“Thought it might be fun,” she shrugs. “But if you don’t want to come... whatever. I’ll just invite somebody else.”
I glare at her, trying to discern whether she’s really being nice or just doing this to fuck me over again.
“I’ll think about it,” I mutter.
“Whatever.”
Adrianna rolls her eyes before handing me a flyer.
“Address is on there. See you, or not. I don’t really give a shit either way.”
As she waltzes out of the room, I close the door behind her and turn to face Luciana with an excited smile.
“Can you believe it?” I ask, unable to hide the undiluted excitement in my voice. “Our first party at the university!”
“Our?” Luciana asks, shaking her head. “I don’t think I’m invited, Francesca. Pretty sure Adrianna wants you there, but not me.”
I replay the other girl’s words. It’s possibly true – after all, she didn’t even acknowledge my roommate, save for judging the poster on the wall.
“I don’t think you should go,” Luciana goes on, nervously twisting her hands as she sits on the bed.
“That girl... she’s bad news. She wouldn’t have invited you unless she had an ulterior motive.”
I frown, trying not to let her words get to me.
“I’m not trying to be mean,” my new friend goes on, her eyes apologetic as they meet mine. “I’m just looking out for you, Francesca. I know the students here, and they aren’t kind people. Something tells me Adrianna wants to see you hurt tonight.”
“Maybe you’re just jealous because you weren’t invited,” I reply, flushing as I realize how low I’ve stooped. “Sorry, I just... I’m just desperate to meet some people here, make some friends.”
“I’m your friend,” Luciana mutters in a small voice.
“I know, but...”
My sentence hangs in the air between us unfinished. We both know what I was going to say, and I also know it hurts Luciana.
“No offense,” I mutter.
“None taken,” she replies, her voice tinged with fake cheerfulness. “I can understand why you’re eager to get away from me.”
“It’s not like that, I –”
“You don’t need to explain.”
She shakes her head, not meeting my eyes as she heads for the door.
“Anyway, I’m going to meet up with some friends at the library. You’re welcome to join us if you decide to skip the party.”
I nod mutely. Part of me wishes I could follow Luciana out of here and make some friends without agendas. But I also know what it’s like to be an outsider at a school like this, after having my first taste of it today. And I know I can’t handle the mean girls. So, I’ll just have to become one of them.
I tell myself this will help Luciana as well, even though I know it’s a lie.
But I don’t have time to worry about that. I have a party to get ready for.
5
JULIAN
“We hitting that party tonight, Bernardi?”
Bernardi. My new surname still feels surreal, as does my status.
But I don’t let that show. Instead, I face my best friend, Marco, with a smirk.
“Of course we fucking are. Where else would we get a good look at the freshmen?”
“That’s the fucking spirit,” my friend laughs out loud, smacking the ass of a blonde student to get her off his lap. “I knew you’d be down to party. Tonight’s going to be epic.”
Given my new status, I have to agree with him. I know coming to the university was supposed to be a punishment, but so far I’m having the time of my fucking life.
I put out the cigar I’ve been smoking and walk over to the balcony. This year, I’m living in one of the biggest houses on campus with a few other mafia heirs I’ve met at events before. I don’t know what Bruno was thinking, sending me here and thinking I’d become a better person. So far, The University has been nothing but partying. And that includes my little interrupted get-together with Miss Ricci.
I remember her now, how she felt in my arms and how beautiful she looked as she writhed beneath my touch. And yet, being near her made me feel fucking empty as hell. She’s so beautiful, but deep down, there’s nothing to the woman but calculation and the need to burrow out of the hole she’s created for herself.
I sigh, running my hands through my dark hair.
I should stay away from Miss Ricci. If Bruno found out I’m having an affair with a faculty member, he’d be even more pissed, and I don’t want to risk his wrath.
I don’t even understand why I’m doing everything I fucking can to piss off my adoptive father. After all, he’s done everything in his power to make sure my life is better. But his kindness fills me with cruelty and the desire to hurt something or someone that cares about me more than I care about them. Something in me is boiling, threatening to spill over the longer I have to stay here.