It must have been stolen when I was napping in class. I could kick myself for letting my guard down. Lucas is behind this somehow—either directly or indirectly, his influence is definitely at work.
I was stupid to think he was done with me.
As I enter the office, I collide with someone as he’s entering at the same time. I catch myself on the doorway.
“In a hurry?”
It’s Lucas and Devlin’s friend. The junior who is the varsity soccer captain. His angelic features distract me from my dilemma for a second.
“Connor, is that you?” Principal Bishop calls from his open door at the back of the hive of administrative offices. “Come in, your mother wants us to grab lunch together before the appointment.”
He’s the principal’s son? Brows raised, my gaze swings back. Connor winks at me and slips by, casting a solemn glance at the secretary desk. As he steps through to his dad’s office, he shuts the door behind him with a bang.
Shaking my head, I hurry over to the circular desk at the center of the room run by office aid volunteers and a rotation of secretaries.
“Devlin?” I blink. “I didn’t expect you to be here.”
Devlin props his chin in one hand and gives me a cheeky smile. “Why not?”
“I…I don’t know.”
“Don’t tell anyone,” he leans over and gestures me closer, “but office aid is the best elective. I get to flirt with the staff, eat donuts, and sneak into Principal Bishop’s office.”
“Uh, that’s great.” I tuck my hair behind my ear. “Has anything new come into the lost and found?”
“Misplace something?” A sly grin stretches his lips. “Or are you looking for good shit to steal?”
My lips press into a thin line.
“My bag is missing. It’s a messenger bag. Brown leather.”
Devlin shrugs and waves at the box in the corner.
“Have at it. I just got here.” He reclines in his chair and kicks his legs onto the desk, crossing his ankles. “Want me to make an announcement?”
I dig through the box, setting aside designer sunglasses, outerwear, and a few cell phones. For a second, a brown bag catches my eye, igniting my excited relief like a rocket, but when I drag it out, it’s just a backpack.
With a sigh, I drop everything back in the box.
“No luck?” Devlin spins in his chair, his dark hair fanning with each rotation. He tips his head upside down to meet my eyes. “What a shame. I’ll keep a personal eye out for it. Devlin’s on the case.”
“Thanks anyway.”
As I turn to leave, I find Blair in the doorway with a slip of paper pinched between her fingers. Her pretty brown eyes turn to slits when she zeroes in on Devlin.
“I was called to the office,” she says.
Devlin sits upright. There’s a cruel shift in his expression, his brows lowering and the corners of his mouth ticking up.
“Davis. You were caught stealing from the kitchens.” He twirls a pen around his thumb in a repetitive motion. “Put your paper in this tray while I fill out your ISS form.”
“Suspension?” I yelp. Surely this school can afford to spare some extra apples. “That’s not fair.”
Devlin flicks a disinterested look my way. Blair stalks into the office and crumples her paper before dropping it on Devlin. It ricochets from the desk and hits him in the chest. Grumbling under his breath, he swipes the paper ball and smooths it out.
“Better run along, Turner. You have a bag to look for, and—” Devlin pauses and points up. The second bell rings. “—you’re late for class.”
“Can you write us late slips?” I cross my arms and stand beside Blair. “We have study hall together this period.”