My phone dings on my nightstand, and stupid, naïve little butterflies erupt in my belly at the thought of finding his name lighting up my screen.
I hate myself even more when disappointment floods my veins when the inevitable happens.
Best bitch: Stop stressing. You’re going to kill it today. And if he has anything to say about it then… fuck him. Not literally—you’ll be in a school, remember. *winky emoji*
“Sound advice there, Jojo,” I mutter to myself.
Brianna: Thank you. He was so wasted last night, I doubt he’ll even show his face.
I squeeze my eyes closed and suck in a deep breath the second my thumb hits the send button.
Best bitch: You sure you don’t want Toby to tell everyone?
Brianna: I’ve got this. I can handle the wannabe bad boys.
Best bitch: Wannabe?
Brianna: Yep. Wannabe.
But even as I type that message out, I know it’s bullshit.
Those beautifully broken, corrupt boys rule that damn school. And if Nico doesn’t want me there, then I have no doubt that he’ll find a way to get me out very, very fast.
Hell, for all I know, I’m not even going to make it into reception to meet Mrs. Hendrix.
* * *
Istep out of my building, the brand on my thigh stinging, a reminder of everything I’m trying to forget, and scan my eyes down the row of cars that line my street, wishing that one of them belonged to me.
It would make this morning a hell of a lot easier. But as it is, I can barely afford my rent right now, so for the foreseeable future, I’m going to have to make the most of the public transport our city has to offer. And unfortunately, that means I’m walking down my street to the nearest tube station over an hour before I need to meet Mrs. Hendrix. I guess the only bonus is that the city is already buzzing with life, and as I make my way down into the underground station, I find myself surrounded by the eclectic people who make up my hometown.
It takes no less than four tubes to get even slightly close to Knight’s Ridge College, and as I emerge from the final station, there’s still a pretty decent walk.
I’d planned on getting a bus, but seeing as the one I need sails straight past the stop a few seconds before I make it there, I hike my bags a little higher on my shoulder and keep moving.
“Holy Jesus,” I puff out when I finally come to a stop beside the colossal gates that allow entry to the exclusive and elite private school. My skin is glistening with sweat, my bags heavier than I’m sure they were when I left my flat.
A car turns in as I stand there staring, questioning my life. It’s a Bentley. Of course it freaking is.
Schooling my features and stuffing down my apprehension and nerves—okay, pure unfiltered fear—I hold my head high and walk through those gates like I own the place.
Jodie offered to pick me up. She offered for Toby to swing by on his way and bring me in. But I don’t want to be piggybacking off them. And I also really didn’t want to be seen getting out of a student’s car on day one.
My connection with them is already going to make this placement harder than it needs to be, I’m sure. I really don’t want my mentor, my colleagues, for the next few weeks knowing I’m friends with the elite of the elite here from day one.
I know what they’d think if they knew.
That I was here for a free and easy ride.
My stomach knots tighter as I consider once again that this placement might not be the huge coincidence I first thought it to be, and actually the meddling of one of them.
Would they, though? Jodie aside, do any of them care enough to try?
One face flashes in my mind, and I can’t help but smile as I think about Calli.
She’d do this for me, but I’m not entirely sure she’s been thinking about anyone outside of her own drama right now.
For a moment, my own fear is forgotten as I think about her, Daemon, and the secret they’re hiding. Everything they’ve been through recently really helps to put my current situation into perspective.