I blanche at the thought. God, this town is really messed up. To pick a man like Mr. Rogers over an innocent girl... Then again, who here is really innocent? Even I've fallen prey to their evil schemes.
Mr. Rogers goes on to say we'll be working in teams of three for the next segment of the class. I groan inwardly when he puts me in a team with Easton... and that girl Audra.
We push our desks together and Audra and I stare at one another with cold gazes as Easton seems to relish in the suddenly cool room. Finally, he laughs out loud, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Booth's really got you wrapped around his little finger," he mutters. "Two hot girls vying for him. How lucky."
Am I imagining it or is there a note of sarcasm in his voice?
"By the way," he mutters under his breath at me. "You're fiddling with that ring so much it's driving me crazy. Why not just take it off?"
"I..." I knit my brows together.
Yeah, why don't I?
Maybe because I don't fucking want to. Because the ring is the only thing giving me any kind of power at Prep now that Dexter's disappeared God-fucking-knows where.
"You know, I'd give you a prettier ring," Easton murmurs. "That one's just a show piece. We have family jewels at home. A sapphire or a ruby engagement ring would look so much prettier on you."
I flush while Audra barks at us, "Are you done with your private conversation? We have work to do over here."
"Watch your tongue," Easton snaps at her, and she instantly bows her head. "And don't forget your goddamn place when you're talking to a fucking Firstborn, Audra."
"Yes, I'm sorry," she whispers, shooting me a pissed-off look as if this is all my fault.
I roll my eyes and open one of the books we're supposed to be reading. I start taking notes in neat, small handwriting in my notebook. Someone's got to do some work around here, otherwise we'll get in trouble with Mr. Rogers.
"So, where is fiancé dearest, anyway?" Easton speaks up again, making me glance up from the pages of my notebook. "MIA again?"
"I'm sure you'll understand Dexter has other things to attend to," I tell him, trying to keep my true feelings in check.
"Yeah, sure," Easton laughs. "As if he doesn't have a dozen people working for him like the rest of us."
"Well, I'm sure he has a good reason," I argue. "Otherwise he'd be here now."
"Oh, so you don't actually know where he is, do you?" Easton smirks at me. "You'd think he'd leave his fiancée in the loop... I guess you're not as important to him as you think you are, princess."
I want to argue with him. Tell him just how much I mean to Dexter - even though it's most likely not true. But I don't want to start a fight. Instead, I just keep meticulously taking notes from one of the books. Easton starts talking to Audra, flirting with her in the same easygoing way he did with me. It makes my blood boil. I hate that girl so much.
I start listening in to their conversation and am shocked to find Easton's not flirting at all. Instead he's teasing, torturing Audra while she tries in vain to defend herself.
"You think he keeps someone like you around because he's into you?" He smirks at her devastated face. "Dream on, little girl. The only reason you're still part of Dexter's circle is because he wants that hole between your legs. And you offer it up so freely, he's bound to get sick of it soon enough."
She looks like she's about to talk back, but Easton wags a finger at her with an amused expression.
"I told you to watch that mouth of yours, Audra. Remember who you're speaking too."
She looks at me for backup, and for the first time ever, I see she's in the same kind of mess I've gotten myself into. Tortured by the Firstborns, being made into their plaything and messed with for their amusement. I could help her right now. I could use my power here to make her life easier.
&n
bsp; My mouth sets in a thin line and I look away, as if I hadn't seen her at all. I don't wait to see her reaction.
While I'm still working on my notes, the girl gets up theatrically, knocking over her water bottle in the process. The liquid spills everywhere, soaking my notebook and making a mess of the book I'd been working on.
"Are you fucking serious?" I cry out, looking up into her smug face as I jump up before the water can soak me as well. "You just ruined my notes!"
"Oh, did I?" she laughs in my face. "Oops, sorry. Although it's a lesson for you. Maybe you should offer your help next time."