Sweet Little Nothing

“Dad says she’s going to Central Valley.”

An uneasy feeling settles in my gut. Is it merely a coincidence for her to end up at the same school I’m doing my apprenticeship at?

It doesn’t feel like one.

No, it feels like a carefully planned step in Rob’s revenge plot.

This is his battle to wage, but something tells me I’m about to be drafted as an unwilling soldier.

Helping a friend wronged is one thing, being nothing more than a means to an end is quite another.

“What’s with the look?” my best friend asks, his voice infused with steel. His temper is hair-trigger, and I know from experience that I do not want to be in the line of fire when it goes off.

“Nothing, man. There’s no look.”

“You think it’s okay for that little bitch to get off scot-free after what she did to me?” His chest heaves as he struggles not to go full-on Hulk. “You think it’s no big deal she told everyone with a set of fucking ears that I raped her?” His volume increases with each unfounded accusation. He lunges at me from his stool, and I’ve had enough. “Maybe you fucking think—”

“What I think”—I bite out the words, fisting his shirt with both hands while holding him at arm’s length—“is you need to fucking chill. I’ve got your back, Rob. Always. I just need to make sure it’s in a way that doesn’t compromise my future.”

Rob slumps back down into his seat and hangs his head. “She compromised mine,” he mumbles under his breath.

It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him that being told you have to wait for the media shitstorm to blow over before being promoted isn’t quite the same as losing your job. But I digress.

“She’ll get hers,” I say, trying to reassure him.

He swings his gaze back up to mine, his face a blank mask, void of any and all emotion. “Even if it fucking kills me.”

His vow sends an arctic chill down my spine. I try to shake it off as Rob being Rob. As long as I’ve known him, he’s been a surly fucker with an attitude problem unlike any other.

Unfortunately, the older we get, the worse he gets. And at some point, I fear he’ll cross the line he’s been toeing and dive head-first into the darkness.

In the blink of an eye, he’s settled and calm, with his cool mask in place. “Will you make it to Levi’s party tonight?”

I bring my glass to my lips, sipping at my drink to buy myself some time. The way Rob can seamlessly move between personas is… unnerving, to say the least. “Unfortunately, no. I need to get on the road before the sun rises if I want to make good time.”

Rob cocks his head to the side, studying me, looking for the lie. Luckily, my words are as true as they are not, which is probably my saving grace.

“Right. It’s a long drive.”

Exhaling out a relieved breath, I nod. “Got a lot to do before the academic year starts.”

“I’m counting on you,” Rob growls, his dead eyes hard on mine. “Don’t fuck this up.”

“I’ve got your back, man.”

Again, Rob appraises me for a long moment before finally nodding.

Chapter Two

Emmy

“A fresh start.”

I mumble the words under my breath for what has to be the billionth time as I drive up the narrow, winding road that leads to the secluded Central Valley campus.

I’ve said and heard those three stupid words so many times over the past nine months, I almost believe they’re true.

God, I hope they’re true.

My breath catches as the campus comes fully into view. The brochure in the welcome packet definitely sold this place short.

Nestled into the side of a mountain, the campus is spread over a lush valley, perfectly hidden away behind a thicket of trees.

Honestly, it’s charming, which only fuels my hope of this place being my redemption.

The grounds are overflowing with students and their families, and laughter rings through the air as old friends reunite after a long summer.

If I had to sum up the Central Valley campus in one word, it would be happy. This place radiates happy and maybe… just maybe… all of this bustling life and laughter is a good omen of what’s to come.

I guide my Honda—while a nice ride to the average person, it may as well be a jalopy compared to most of the cars in this lot—into a free spot and kill the engine.

All around me are students decked out in the latest name-brand fashions. They look golden and shiny and untouched by the darker side of life. But I know, probably better than most, not to judge a book by its cover.

I manage to suppress my doubt before stepping out of the car, nearly hitting a passerby with my door. “Sorry—”

“Oh my God! Fucking watch it, you broke bitch!” the gorgeous blonde screeches as she shoves past me, effectively knocking me back into the driver’s seat.