“Thanks.” I drew in a deep breath. “You guys should get to class. You could be late if you don’t leave now.”
“It’s just homeroom first period,” Trina said. “Ms. Schiffer is nice. She doesn’t care if we’re a bit late.”
“What about you, Adam?” I asked.
“I hate to play this card,” he began. “But my family basically built half of this school. I could be late every single day of the year and I still wouldn’t face any consequences. So I’m staying with you.”
I forced a smile. “I really appreciate it, but I heard what you said earlier. If you guys stay friends with me, you’re screwed. We’ve only known each other for a day, so it’s not worth getting you in trouble. I’d feel horrible if anything happened to you.”
Trina arched an eyebrow. “Hell no. I’m not leaving you. I know we’ve only known each other for five seconds, but I really like you.”
“Me too,” Adam chimed in.
My eyes widened. “Why?”
“You know when you meet someone and you just click with them? You feel like you’ve known them all your life?” Trina said. “That’s how it is with you. So I’m not ditching you over some dumbass blacklist.”
I shook my head. “Please... I really don’t want either of you to get hurt.”
“We won’t.” Trina folded her arms. “Honestly, they can add me to the fucking list for my insubordination if they want. I don’t care, because I know you haven’t done anything to deserve it. I can tell. So I’m sticking by you.”
“Same,” Adam said. “Besides, Hunter is the head of the Princes. He wouldn’t let them or anyone else do anything to his own brother. Especially since….” He trailed off and rubbed his jaw. “Look, you’re stuck with us whether you like it or not. Got it?”
“Are you sure?” I asked.
“Yup,” they said in unison.
Both of their phones suddenly chimed at the same time. They pulled them out and frowned at their screens.
“What is it?” I asked, stomach churning.
“Someone’s made a blacklist group chat to discuss you. Where you are, what you’re doing, and so on,” Trina said softly. “They’ve added every single student in the school.”
“Except me,” I whispered.
Adam nodded, fingers flying over his screen. “I’m saying ‘fuck this’ and leaving the chat,” he said. “There. Done.”
“I think I should stay in it,” Trina said. “Just to see what they’re saying. I know most of them aren’t dumb enough to say anything too bad on a permanent chat, but some of them might be. So if they’re planning anything against you, I can find out and help you avoid it.”
“Shit, I should’ve thought of that,” Adam said. “Good idea.”
My phone vibrated multiple times in my pocket. My heart raced as I pulled it out and switched on the screen.
I had at least twenty messages on my Messenger app from students whose names I didn’t recognize. All of them were calling me a bitch, a slut, a stupid cunt… or worse. They were set up in the ‘secret message’ section of the app, so they disappeared as soon as I read them. No evidence to show the teachers or headmaster.
Not that it would make a difference.
“It’s already started,” I said, slipping my phone back in my pocket. “I just got a shit-ton of abusive messages.”
“Ignore them,” Trina said soothingly. “It’s only words.”
I knew that was just a line to make me feel better. Words could hurt just as much as physical attacks. Sometimes even worse.
“I can’t believe this is happening,” I said. The tears were stinging my eyes now, threatening to spill out at any second.
Like a house of cards in a gust of wind, my newfound acceptance into the halls of the elite was gone. Destroyed with a simple black paint job.
I should’ve known yesterday was too good to be true. I should’ve known I could never truly fit in here.