Maverick Riley walks out of the door, flicking his messy brown hair out of his eyes, swagger on point like he’s walking a fucking runway. If it wasn’t for the twisted grin on his face, I’d think he was actually in trouble; but when the principal shows his sweaty face, I know that’s far from the truth. “It was good doing business with you, teach. Just remember the rules, and this year will go just fine.”
That’s when he sees me, and his twisted grin turns to nothing. His dark brown eyes look at me as if he can see all the way through to my very soul. If my icy wake up call this morning hadn’t already chilled me to the bone, his look would freeze my black little heart. “You’re back.”
I roll my eyes because, well done, Sherlock Holmes. “Obviously.”
“I didn’t think you’d be brave enough to actually do it. Not after the way you ran away,” he says, his empty voice giving me goosebumps as he looks me over. I try not to react to the boy who was my best friend once upon a time. Well… one of my best friends. Especially when I have no idea what he’s going on about. “Guess I’ll be seeing you, princess.”
His dismissal stings as he saunters out of the office. His tall, lean form shouldn’t be so fluid and graceful, yet somehow he pulls it off with an insane amount of swagger.
I didn’t expect things to go back to how they were, but to be treated like we have no history? Yeah, that cuts deep.
The office door closes behind him just as the older woman returns to her desk. I brush off the interaction, instead taking note of the principal retreating back into his office. That only holds my attention for a second because I can’t get Maverick off of my mind. Why was he so cold in the short period of time we were in the office together? And what did he mean that I ran away? None of it makes any sense to me. I guess being friends with the guys is off the table, but that’s fine. I don’t plan on sticking around in Echoes Cove long enough for it to matter too much.
I hope.
My phone buzzes, so I slide it out of my pocket as the office lady shuffles through some papers.
Unknown: Welcome back to Echoes Cove, Miss Royal. We look forward to seeing you soon.
Yeah, because that isn’t weird at all. Nope.
I delete the message with a decisive shake of my head. It’s probably just an automated prep school message or some shit. No one really knows that I’m here, especially not anyone who has this number anyway. Though knowing my delightful family, I’m sure Blair probably has it. And considering her feelings toward me, anyone here at Echoes Cove Prep could have it too.
Fuck my life.
“Here you go, dear,” the woman finally says, offering me the stack of papers she’s been shuffling around on the desk. “Your schedule is as was pre-approved with your guardian. As you know you were a late enrollment, so your guardian picked your classes with the guidance counselor—I know that your old house manager was consulted about your prior education since no one else seemed to have any answers. It’s all locked in now, so let’s hope it’s all okay.” She smiles at me softly, but it doesn’t bring me joy. I look down at my schedule and roll my eyes. AP English, Business, AP Music, Stats, French, and Gym. This structured schooling thing is going tohurt.I can feel it already. But at least Gym is at the end of the day, I guess. “Your locker combination and a map of the school are there too, along with the Code of Conduct, and a few other things. Just have a quick read, sign them, and drop them back here before the end of the day. I’ve also included your login for ReachMe, it’s the school's social media site. Students aren’t permitted to use wider social media without permission from a parent or guardian while attending the school, for your safety and the safety of the other students. You will just need to reset your password once you log in. If you don’t have any questions, hurry along. You don’t want to be late for your first class.”
“Thank you.” I smile at her, standing with a wince as my skin pulls against the cold leather, and grab the papers before leaving the office. She couldn’t be more wrong. I’d love to be late for my first class and every class after that too. Hell, I’d like to just leave and never come back. If it wasn’t for my dad's insane demands via his will, I’d be out of here in a heartbeat, but the thought of giving up my dreams keeps my ass in this school. There's nothing quite like the possibility of my dreams going up in smoke to keep me on track.
I head to my locker. Thankfully, it isn’t too far from the office, but unfortunately it is in the main freaking hall as you enter the school. I shove my bag inside before checking my schedule.
“Well, well, well, the princess really is back to grace us with her presence.”
I groan into my locker, stomach jumping at the sound ofthatparticular voice behind me. I am so not ready to deal with this bullshit right now, but I guess if I get it all out the way now, the rest of my year should be clear. Right?
I turn around to find Maverick standing with Lincoln Saint and Finley Knight. The three guys who were once the closest people in the world to me are now glaring at me like they would prefer it if I’d died along with my dad—and I have no idea why.
“Do you guys have something important to say? I have to get to class,” I huff, refusing to show them just how rattled I really am that they sought me out, especially like this.
After Blair’s cruel taunts and my run-in with Maverick earlier, I didn’t exactly expect a warm welcome from them, but at least when I left here, we were friends. Sure, it’s been a minute, but the icy chill coming from them feels like a little much, though it does match the theme of the day.
Despite the chilly reception, I can’t help but give them a quick once over. Lincoln still looks just as dark and broody as he did as a kid. All the way from his jet black hair down to his dark gray eyes, he still looks like a permanent storm cloud. His smile never quite reaches his eyes. And Finley… well, he bulked out more than I would’ve imagined from when I knew him before. He must live at the gym in his spare time. His blond hair falls into his icy blue eyes as he stares at me, and the wave of chilly energy coming off of them makes the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.
They don’t say anything. I expect it from Finley; he’s always been the quiet one. Lincoln, though, he’s always been the leader of their little Three Musketeers boyband. He sneers at me as Blair and her merry band of bitches appear to stand with the guys. I guess this is the royal court of Echoes Cove Prep.
“Little Miss thinks she’s better than all of us. I mean, really, look at those shoes. Maybe her having access to her inheritance is a lie. Who would wear those ratty excuses for shoes? Maybe she’s just a gold digger here to snatch up a rich husband.” Emma—one of my old friends, now seemingly attached at the hip with Blair—taunts, but I turn back to my locker and sort out my books that were already waiting for me. Got to love private school, I guess.
“I think whoever ordered her uniform thought she was skinnier, look how fat her ass is. It’s practically hanging from her skirt. What a whore.” I don’t know which of them said it this time, but I grit my teeth, trying to ignore the comments and the giggling.
I turn back around to face the three boys who were once my whole world, standing among the snarling girls who look like they’d happily smother me in my sleep just for returning.
The guys still don’t say anything, and their silence almost stings more than I imagine their words could. Once upon a time, they would have never iced me out like this or let others speak to me this way. Once upon a time is starting to feel like a lifetime ago. So I slam my locker closed and head toward my first class, feeling their stares burn into the back of my head the entire way.
Stares don’t bother me. Those I’m used to, so I shut it all out and keep my head held high.
This is just another day in the life of Octavia Royal.
Chapter Two