“Technically, yes. But The Lawless are still in the tunnels. What they don’t know won’t…”
His words trail off when he looks at me. I get the impression he thinks I’ve left his side and joined The Lawless.“Don’t worry, Elias.” I pat his shoulder. “Your secrets are safe with me. Under one condition.”
His eyes perk up. “A condition?”
“Mhmm. You tell me why you stood me up yesterday. I waited for you at the library and you never showed up.”
Elias breaks eye contact, gazing past my shoulder. “Actually, I did show.” He looks back at me, an expression of indignation on his face. “Your boy, Jagger, sent me away.”
“He what?” I gasp.Jagger sent him away?
“Yup. Made me go fetch a keg for their party and bring it to their house.”
“Why would he do that?”
“Because he’s Jagger—a member of The Lawless—and they’re grade-A dickheads.”
Jagger isn’t usually a bully to the other students. He doesn’t order them around in the way that Crew and Neo do. It can only mean one thing…he was keeping Elias away from me.
He was either concerned for my safety, or he was jealous. And I don’t know what to do with either concept.
“I guess I have no choice but to forgive you and keep your secret then.”
“Good.” He beams. “Then what'd ya say we hit up the snack store and stuff our faces on the library steps like old times.”
“Oooh,” Riley beams, “that’s a great idea.”
I wince. “I don’t think that’s a great idea. Crew will be at the dorms to pick me up soon and I promised we’d be there. I don’t want him to worry. Not to mention, someone was attacked tonight. Shouldn’t we play it safe for a while?”
“Oh, come on, Scar,” Riley says, and it’s odd because she never calls me, Scar. “Live a little. We’re only seniors once and these guys already have you on a tight leash.”
She makes a good point. They have been keeping close tabs on me. I get it, but living a little sounds pretty damn nice.
Victor steps in front of us. “Let’s go, ladies. I’ve got orders to fulfill.”
“No worries,” Elias tells him. “I’ve got them from here.”
Victor laughs in a mocking tone. “Fuck that. I’m not pissing those guys off any more than I already have.”
“Vic,” I say, throwing an arm around his shoulders. “Can I call you Vic? We’re old friends, right?” He shakes his head, not liking where this is going. “You already broke one rule. You weren’t supposed to talk to us. Besides, Elias will make sure we get where we need to be.”
His shoulders slump, and he pulls away from me. “You’re gonna get me in a lot of fucking trouble. Ya know that?”
“I’ll make sure there is no trouble for you. Promise.” I’m not sure if he believes me, but he has to know I do have some pull with Crew and Jagger now. I do live in their house, after all.
“Fine,” Victor grumbles. “But if they find out and—”
“They won’t,” I assure him. My hands land on his shoulders and I spin him in the opposite direction, toward the boys’ dorms. “Go back to your room and everything will be fine.”
Against his better judgment, he leaves with a heavy sigh.Once he’s out of sight, Riley snickers. “Damn, girl. You really have a way with the guys here. I’m impressed.”
I laugh it off because while it may be true, Riley also has no idea why I have a way with the guys. It all comes down to the secrets we keep.
We’re walking slowly, side by side, while Elias and Riley hold hands and discuss Hannah and the attack. The sidewalks are eerily quiet since the students were sent back to their dorms. A lamppost flickers in the distance and a hair-chilling feeling washes over me.
Maybe it was a bad idea to send Victor away. I’m really doubting Elias’s ability to protect us, should this crazy guy come after one of us. Elias is a smart guy, but he lacks any brawn, and there’s no doubt in my mind he’d be overpowered by just about any guy at The Academy.
“We should just go to the dorm,” I spit out, interrupting their conversation. They both look at me, surprised by my outburst. “What if the person who broke into my room and attacked Hannah and Lucy is still out there?” I look around, getting the sense we’re being watched.