Queen of Hawthorne Prep

When I fail to respond, her blue eyes glitter with malice. After all the confrontations we’ve had over the last month and a half, she’s loving that Kingsley is finally hers. What she doesn’t understand is that she won by default. As tempted as I am to tell her, I keep the ugly comment to myself.

She closes the distance between us before whispering, “I knew you wouldn’t be able to hold on to him.”

“You must feel vindicated,” I say, unwilling to get dragged into a pissing match, “now he’s all yours.”

A haughty expression settles over her face. “That’s the thing, Hawthorne, he was always mine.”

“So…he was out on loan? Kind of like a library book?” I ask sweetly. There’s only so much of Sloane’s bitchy behavior I can take before losing it. Like Kingsley, this girl knows how to push my buttons to provoke a reaction.

Anger flashes in her eyes.

“Should I let you in on a little secret?” Before she can respond, I continue. “Enjoy him while you can, we both know he’ll slip through your fingers before you can blink.”

Heat slams into her cheeks. “You’re nothing more than a jealous bitch,” she snaps.

“Please, girl, that’s more your MO.”

Before Sloane can slap back at me, Everly cuts in, making a shooing motion with her fingers. “You’ve delivered your message like a good little lap dog. Now run back to your owner. I think he might have a treat for you.”

Sloane’s mouth gapes before she snaps it shut and straightens to her full height, glaring in Everly’s direction. “You better shut your damn mouth before I do it for you.”

Not the least bit intimidated, Everly rises to her feet. “Why don’t you try it and we’ll see what happens?”

Clearly not expecting the snappy comeback, uncertainty flickers across Sloane’s face before she presses her lips into a tight line.

There’s a beat of silence as Everly’s brows rise. “Well, I’m waiting for you to shut my damn mouth.”

Holy shit!

Did she really just say that?

A gurgle of laughter escapes from my lips before I clap a hand over my mouth to stifle it. Sloane turns glaring eyes on me. There is so much hatred blazing from them. It’s enough to singe me alive.

“Fuck off,” she growls. “Neither of you are worth my time.” With that, she stomps away.

I stare after the blonde, enjoying one of the few victories I’ve managed to claim before turning to Everly with a mixture of amusement and awe. “You’re kind of a bad bitch.”

A reluctant smile quirks the edges of her lips. “The best thing you can do with a bully is put them in their place.” Her gaze flicks from me before settling on something over my shoulder. “And that bully has just been knocked down to size.”

Clearly.

“You realize that you’ve made an enemy today, right?” If Everly had escaped Sloane’s notice thus far, that’s no longer the case.

“I have no problem with that.” She shrugs as her gaze settles on mine. There’s not an ounce of regret in her eyes. “That girl can kiss my ass for all I care.”

The image has a slight smile tugging at the corners of my lips. There’s more fight in Everly than I first suspected. It’ll serve her well at Hawthorne Prep. If I’ve learned one thing, this isn’t a place where the weak thrive or survive.

More like the opposite.

I gnaw my bottom lip as my mind turns to the reason Sloane sauntered over in the first place.

Kingsley.

Maybe Everly was able to chase Sloane away easily enough, but that won’t be the case with the dark-haired boy. There’s a cost to defiance, and I’m not sure if I want to pay the price.

“He can’t make you do anything,” she says, as if reading my thoughts. “He doesn’t own you.”

Her words echo hollowly in my head.

He doesn’t own you.

I want to laugh. Or maybe cry. The sad truth of the matter is that he does. Kingsley’s family does own me, but how can I explain that to Everly? I can’t imagine the look of horror that would flash across her face if I were to reveal the truth.

“Fuck him!” she growls when I remain silent.

“I wish it were that easy,” I mumble.

“I’m serious, Summer.” Her eyes darken with impending storm clouds. “He can’t make you do anything. Just ignore the big jerk.”

Not only is Everly new to Hawthorne, she obviously doesn’t understand the social hierarchy that exists here. She doesn’t realize the power Kingsley and his family wield. I’ve had a little taste of it, and it was more than enough to last a lifetime.

Remorse rushes through me. I hate that I’ve dragged her into a situation she’ll likely regret three months down the line. She doesn’t understand how formidable these enemies are or how long these people hold on to grudges. This is not a forgive and forget type of crowd.