I don’t want to think about that, or the litany of stupid jokes that already follow me to every class that somehow end with my humiliation as the punchline.
From the way Rafael acted that first day, I thought I’d have ended up as a human sacrifice by now. After all, who would notice if the new kid went missing? The scholarship kid. The nobody.
Or, at least, that’s what Jasper, Heath, and Beck like to make me believe.
All things considered, it’s not so bad being The Brotherhood’s “bitch”. Certainly no one’s attempted to murder me, anyway. In all honesty … I’ve been bullied worse by my own brothers.
Maybe it won’t be so hard to settle into Bleakwood after all.
We’re about to reach the classroom without incident when Beck comes hurtling out of it and smacks my books straight out of my hands.
“Oops!” he yells over his shoulder as he runs past, his blonde hair bouncing as he runs. My textbooks and folders spill out of my arms. Loose paper flutters out and one of my notebook skids down the hallway.
I sigh and bend down to start picking things up. “Go ahead in,” I say defeatedly to Rafael.
He crouches down next to me. “I can at least help you with this.”
I give him a tired smile. Between the two of us, we get my things gathered up quickly and shuffle into the classroom. Rafael and I settle into two desks right beside each other and as far away as possible from The Brotherhood.
“So, are you going to the big meet-up tonight?” Rafael asks, brushing some dust off his desk.
I blink. “Meet-up?”
He thumps me on the back and I almost slam face-first into my desk, managing to catch myself at the last second. Ahead of us, Jasper turns to shoot me a scowl. I avoid his gaze.
“Not so loud,” Rafael sighs. He sounds like a father who’s ‘not mad, just disappointed’. “It’s not exactly … kosher.”
“Please tell me it doesn’t involve more weird rituals,” I grumble, keeping my eyes on my paper no matter how badly I want to just take one teensy glance up at the back of Jasper’s head to see if he’s looking my way again.
“Not like that. The girl’s school, Grandview. Some of the guys are sneaking out for a little rendezvous.”
I think back to Olive, and the little heart-embellished note. It’d really be best if I avoid running into her again. I’m already on Jasper’s bad side. I don’t need to add more fuel to the fire, so to say.
I bite my lip. “I didn’t exactly get an invitation,” I say, noncommittally.
“And if you keep waiting for one, you’re going to die boring and alone,” Rafael says.
I glance up at him in surprise. “You think I should go?”
He nods. “Yes, little bean. You should.”
“But The Brotherhood …”
“Is going to be there. As is anybody who’s anybody. The only thing worse than being picked on is being picked on because you’re a genuine loser.” He lets out a sigh again and glances down at his notes. “And lord knows you seem determined to set up shop in loser town.”
“Then … yeah, fine. I guess I’ll go,” I concede, even though my gut’s telling me it’s a bad idea. I try not to think about it as I rearrange my books on my desk and the professor takes his place at the head of the class. Beck comes hurtling back in and plops into his seat between Jasper and Heath.
“Right on time, I see,” the professor says, eyeing Beck.
“Had to use the bathroom, Professor.”
I don’t think he likes being talked back to, but he starts class anyway. I pull out my notebook and flip to the last page I used. It’s filled with mathematical equations and doodles. Mostly doodles.
Rafael gently nudges me. I start to look up, but he hisses for me to stay still.
“Jasper’s sending a note back to you,” he whispers.
“Why?”