Lawless Kingdom (Reign & Ruin 1)

Why the hell were they moving so slow? My bladder was about to explode. I only needed to pee, but sometimes gas came out and I refused to have an audience for that.

“Stop trying to be cute. Slap that pad on and get out!”

There was a snort and then loud laughter. “Riri?”

I tried to withhold my own laugh and lost the battle, relieving myself in the process. When I stepped from the stall, Brianna was already at the sink, still laughing under her breath.

“You know we have to be cool now, right?”

“Is that so?” I questioned jokingly, moving to one of the open basins.

“Yeah, that’s going down as one of the best, So, how did you two become friends? stories.

I laughed as that played out in my head.

“Look Rhiannon, I promise I’m not a stuck-up bitch.”

I flicked my gaze towards her in the mirror’s reflection. “You’re being serious?”

A nod.

Since the sink was one of those sensor types, I stepped back and moved to the automatic paper towel thingy.

There was a hand blower, but I’d seen a documentary once and was still traumatized about the germs inside those things. I took the time drying my hands to contemplate this peculiar request. I knew this girl didn’t have a shortage of friends.

“Why do you want to be my friend so bad?”

“Do you have something against them? Friends, I mean.” She ambled up beside me to get her own paper towels. “I know it seems suspect, but all I’ve had is the guys this whole time. You’d be the first real friend I get to have. And keep. You also have a vagina instead of a penis, which is a much-needed bonus.”

Woah. So much to analyze with that. “And you can be friends with me because…? Does this have something to do with Judas?”

She shrugged.

“He’s part of it, but I can tell you’ve got a cool personality. You aren’t superficial. And you’re prettier than—”

“Hey! No ass kissing,” I laughed, cutting her off. I studied her, not seeing anything malicious or picking up ill intent.

She was just a girl who wanted a friend. I’d never deny a person that. We could all use someone.

“Fine, we’re cool. K?”

She beamed at me and I braced myself in case she tried to go in for a hug, relaxing when she didn’t.

“So, now what?”

A different kind of bell than the one from this morning chimed, interrupting us. She waited until it was finished and then grabbed my hand.

“Now, we go to lunch.”

“How do you know I have lunch this period?”

“Judas,” we said at the same time, entering the hall now bustling with activity.

“I don’t know what you did to that boy, but he’s so smitten. I will never let him live it down. It’s so damn cute.”

Cute? She called what he was ‘smitten?’ I frowned at the back of her dark head. I guess Bri would be joining Judas and me in therapy.

“I gave it up to him in a shed. Not sure that counts as anything mind-blowing.”

I kept the confession nonchalant, doubting she knew the truth of that night. She glanced over her shoulder, a grin on her face and sparkle in her dark brown eyes.

“You and I are going to get along just fine, Riri.”

Any and all comebacks dissipated the moment I saw Pesadilla’s food court. It was the only area Judas had failed to show me. I’d smelled the various foods a mile away. No joke, I was a bloodhound for some carbs.

“Oh, my god.”

“Amazing, right?” A familiar voice came from just behind me.

I looked back, silently rejoicing when I saw my soulmate standing there with a smug grin. I was happy as hell I got her for even a small part of the day. She’d never said a damn thing about how awesome her school’s cafeteria was. Could be because no one cared about food as much as I did.

“I can feel my ass getting fatter already,” I exclaimed loud enough that a few jocks heading for one of the tables laughed.

Brianna shook with silent laughter beside me. “You know what you want?”

Everything. “Whatever you’re getting. Take the choice away from me.”

“Good girl,” Audrey joked.

“Come on then.” Brianna nodded towards the left side of the room.

Audrey fell in step beside me as Bri led us to wherever she wanted food from.

This place looked like a mall food court, not a school. All the best spots were set up inside. We grabbed some subs and drinks, then I stupidly followed Brianna to a table. Reality clicked when I saw who was already seated there.

“I’ll catch up with you later, Brianna.”

“Don’t make a scene. You can either sit at the table or I’m planting that ass on my lap.”

Audrey looked at me with her brows raised. “You have so much explaining to do,” she mumbled.

“You too, Dollface.” Another deep voice joined Judas’. If it were possible to see steam coming out of someone’s ears, now would have been that moment. That was clearly directed at Audrey, who to my knowledge had never been called that by anyone else.