Press Prep was fucking huge. I pulled into a random parking spot and stared at the massive campus where I would spend my senior year. My phone chimed, and I grabbed it from the cup holder.
Mac and I had exchanged phone numbers at the end of that horrid party. I deemed him acceptable, and if I was to survive Press Prep, I knew I would need an inside man. Someone to tell me how everything worked so when I inevitably fucked it all up, it would be somewhat intentional.
Mac: Did you just arrive at the school?
Keegan: It’s really creepy that you know that.
Mac: Not at all. I’m the student council president.
I shook my head. “Still weird as fuck.” I was about to send a message back when some movement out of the corner of my eye caught my attention.
Fighting my natural reaction to jerk and take a better look was one I’d learned to suppress a long time ago. Instead, I pretended to look through my purse while discreetly looking at the rearview mirrors.
Relief flooded me as a familiar smile aimed my way. I opened my door and glared up at Mac. The sun made his dark brown skin have a golden glow to it. His smile was just as genuine and inviting as the night we met. Even if the night was a nasty nightmare that pissed me off just remembering it.
“You know you could have told me you were here.”
“That wouldn’t be fun now, would it?” Mac said, laughing.
I sighed, grabbing my purse and slinging it over my shoulder. I hated carrying the thing, but I needed to play a part.
“What are you doing at school anyway?” I asked.
“I’m here to give you the tour. Not to mention, I have paperwork to go over before the new year starts.”
“Already?”
“You will learn here at Press Prep, things are done differently.”
“You don’t say? I thought all schools hunted other students in the woods like deer.”
Mac stared at me, and I sighed.
“Sorry, sarcasm becomes my default when I’m uncomfortable.”
Mac nodded as if he understood, and maybe he did. “That was just this year’s game, but no. What I mean is everyone here has a place. Socially, economically and so forth. These four years are spent making the proper connections and building on what you have or maintaining it in some people’s cases.”
We made it further into the huge building. Mac pointed out the senior sections along with classes. A huge courtyard was in the middle of the school. Trees created the best-shaded areas, and there were benches, tables, and lounge spots all over.
“Wow.”
Mac walked a little ahead of me as I admired a large garden of varying colorful flowers. “The grass is literally greener on the other side.”
“Yeah, it’s the best money can buy,” Mac said.
I glanced over my shoulder at him. He was staring out at the sky, seemingly lost in thought. I gave him a moment, taking in more of the campus yard. It was more like a community college than a high school.
“Hey, Keegan.”
“Huh?” I stood up straighter at Mac’s tone. I didn’t know him all that well, but I could tell something was bothering him.
“You met the kings, right? Or at least remember that night?”
I groaned. “Unfortunately.”
Mac’s mouth opened, but he said nothing at first. He cleared his throat. “There is an order here at Press Prep, and the kings are at the top.”
“So, what does that mean? Everyone, even the teachers, bow to them?” I joked because that sounded absolutely insane.