“Like what?” The evil smile lingers.
I sigh. “Like you’re about to tell me something that’ll piss me off, but you’ll find funny.”
“It’s not that bad. I promise.”
I spin the combination to my locker. “Please stop messing with me and just tell me who it is.
“Oh fine. Ruin my cruel fun.” She teasingly pouts then grins again. “It’s Hadley Harlyton.”
I start to open my locker but freeze. “You’re friends with Hadley? Like, the Hadley who lives next door to me?”
She nods. “Yep.”
I’m not sure what to make of what she just told me. Not that I think Hadley is a bad friend to have or anything. But Scarlett, while I love her and everything, can get into a lot of trouble. And sometimes that trouble spreads to the people around her.
And since Hadley is a magnet for trouble herself, their friendship could be a disaster.
“When did this happen?” I play it cool, not wanting to upset her.
She shrugs. “Well, I started talking to her the first night they moved into the house when I warned her about pissing you guys off.” I open my mouth to scold her, but she talks over me. “I also told her about the dual racing thing.”
So, that’s how Hadley found out about that.
It also reminds me that I never told her the favor I wanted done today. That’s fine by me. I’d feel like a jerk if I made her do stuff for me only hours after her father beat her and her sisters were taken away from her.
“We also made plans to go to lunch today.” She studies me with her head tilted to the side. “I can’t tell if this is bothering you or not.”
“It’s not.” A partial lie, but I’m not about to be the one responsible for stealing the first smile Scarlett has had in a long time. “I’m just wondering how it happened without me knowing about it.”
“You say that like you know everything about our next-door neighbor?” she teases. “Have you been spying on her or something? I mean, not that I blame you. She seems interesting and she’s really pretty.”
“I’m not spying on her … but I have spent some time with her and I…” I trail off as Scarlett stares down the hallway, her smile faltering.
I cast a glance behind me and instantly frown myself.
“Hey, Blaise. I’m so glad I ran into you.” Amelia steps up, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear and batting her eyelashes.
“The feeling isn’t mutual,” I say flatly as I yank open my locker.
“See you later,” Scarlett mutters then makes a beeline for the bathrooms.
My jaw ticks, knowing her quick exit and frowning is due to Amelia’s presence. While Scarlett has never flat out said it, there’s been an incident or two where Amelia has tried to make Scarlett’s life a living hell.
“Aw, I think your little sister doesn’t like me.” Amelia sulks, pouting out her lip.
“It’s a shared trait amongst the Portersons.” I exchange my books, bump the locker shut, and start down the hallway.
“Wait a second.” Amelia’s heels click against the linoleum as she strides after me. “I have something I need to tell you.”
I keep walking. “No thanks.”
“Blaise, you can be so infuriating sometimes,” she scoffs, jogging to catch up with me. “I just want to invite you to a party I’m having on Saturday.”
“Yeah, I think I’ll pass.” I weave around a group of cheerleaders then turn right to duck inside the classroom of my next class, but she grabs hold of my sleeve.
“Come on; just come. I swear you’re invited.”
I give her a bored expression. “I really doubt your father is going to be cool with me attending a party at his house.”
“Actually, I got a place of my own so it doesn’t matter what he thinks.” She traces her fingers up my arm. “I’m going to invite Rhyland, Alex, Jaxon, and Scarlett too.”
“Please don’t.” I pry her fingers off me. “Besides, they won’t go.”
“Well, that’s a shame.” Her lip juts out farther. “Am I really that unlikable?”
“Do you really want me to answer that?”
“You’re awful, Blaise Porterson. You really are.” Despite her words, amusement sparkles in her eyes.
She’s getting off on this—toying with me, trying to fuck with my head. It’s what she’s done for years now.
“Fine, I guess I won’t invite them.” She gives an innocent shrug then starts to spin around to leave but pauses. “I should probably tell you that I already invited Hadley Harlyton and she’s agreed to go.”
My pulse falters. No. There’s no way Hadley agreed to go to her party or that Amelia even invited her. No, this is about something else.
“Why would I care if Hadley was going?” I feign dumb.
She shrugs. “I just assumed that you cared about her.”
“Why would you think that?” I question. “I barely know her.”
She raises her shoulders with a malicious grin on her face. “I just assumed since you were doing a favor for her this morning by coming over to her house and getting her car so she could avoid dealing with William.” She places a palm on my chest, her eyes darkening. “What I’d really like to know is why.”
My heart rate is all over the place and I’m sure she can feel it.
“You’re wrong.” I step back, pissed by how frazzled she
’s gotten me. How did she know what I was doing this morning? Were they watching me and Hadley after I thought he left? “I wasn’t doing Hadley any favors this morning. I don’t do anyone favors.”
“Except for your brothers and sister, right?” She glances over at the bathrooms that Scarlett ran into.
“Leave her alone,” I warn. “I mean it, Amelia.”
“Leave who alone?” She bats her eyelashes at me. “Scarlett? Or your sweet next-door neighbor?”
I snort a laugh. “Sweet next-door neighbor? Are you shitting me right now? Hadley could—and would—kick your prissy ass just for saying that.”
Her lips curl into a pleased grin. “You do like her, don’t you?”
“No, I don’t,” I lie, turning toward the classroom as the bell rings.
“Come to my party, Blaise,” she shouts out after me. “If you don’t, you’ll regret it.”
I shake my head, feeling a headache coming on. A headache only Amelia can seem to bring out in me.
She’s seriously got me worried. Sure, she may look like a prissy, spoiled, rich brat—and she is—but she’s also conniving, vindictive, and gets off on toying with people’s emotions.
The last thing I want is for her to be paying attention to anyone around me, but it seems like she’s doing the exact opposite. And that has me extremely worried that hell is about to rain down, more so than it already is.
Hadley
My wrist is throbbing, my face is tender, and my head is pulsating. What a freakin’ day. And it’s only half over. I wish I could go home, take a nap, then spend the night chatting with my sisters. Usually when I’m feeling down, that’s what makes me feel better. But that’s not an option right now.
Well, at least it’s lunchtime.
Then again, I’m supposed to be having lunch with Scarlett Porterson, a decision I’m kicking myself in the ass for agreeing to. Not that I don’t like Scarlett. I barely know her and considering what her dad did to me earlier…
I grit my teeth, wrapping my hand around my burnt wrist.
When Mr. Porterson called me back into his office, it was to make certain I understood who owned me now. The way he did this? By calling up two of his men to pin my arm down so he could use a branding iron to mark me with his business’s crest. I didn’t give him the satisfaction of screaming and held as still as I could, obeying only because he threatened my sisters’ wellbeings again.