Savage Royals: A Reverse Harem High School Bully Romance(42)

“Right,” I muttered, shifting uncomfortably under her penetrating gaze.

Jesus. No pressure though, right?

Was this what Mason had been talking about when he’s said they all had it rough too? It did suck, though I couldn’t see how it was as bad as working fourteen-hour shifts to support an abusive, alcoholic father.

I hoped Jacqueline couldn’t tell I was lying about the party, but I’d spoken with confidence because my words were mostly true. I really didn’t drink much at all, and I had vowed a long time ago to never end up like my dad.

Or, I guess… like my mom.

The lines on Jacqueline’s face smoothed as she beamed at me, apparently considering the matter settled. She patted my shoulder. “Good. Have an excellent semester. Remember, watch your attendance.”

“Yeah. Okay.”

I walked quickly to my car and slipped inside, rolling slowly around the large circle drive and waiting until I was through the gates and halfway down the block before gunning the engine hard.

Sweet, sweet freedom.





Chapter 16





It felt surprisingly good to be back on the Oak Park campus. The green lawns, large trees—a mix of palm and oak—bright white buildings, and red roofs against blue skies were beautiful and oddly comforting.

I’d missed this place, somehow, as improbable as that might be.

But that didn’t stop the thrill of anticipation and dread that worked its way up my spine as I pulled my car into a spot in the student parking lot. I’d tried not to think much about the disastrous party over the break, but my grandma’s questions had put it front and center in my mind again.

Tomorrow, I’d have to face the Princes again.

What would they do? How would they react? There was no way they could let what I’d done go unpunished, and they’d had two whole weeks to dream up their revenge.

Sighing, I slipped out of my bubble-gum pink car and dug my bags out of the trunk. As I hauled them across campus, I could feel the tension ramping back up in my body, my senses going on high alert again, scanning for possible threats.

But although I passed several other students in the quad, nobody taunted me or shoved me or tripped me.

As I unpacked, I texted back and forth with Leah, getting caught up on her break and filling her in on mine in two short texts—there wasn’t much to tell. Our grades had been emailed out over the holiday, and while we’d both done well, she was horrified to have only pulled a B-in Biology. I’d ended up with A’s in all my classes, and even managed to pull an A+ in US history.

There you go, Jacqueline. One for the Hildebrand name.

I didn’t know if the school sent out my grades to her and Philip too, although I presumed so. Either way, I hadn’t bothered telling her. Honestly, I didn’t really want my good scores to be counted as a “Hildebrand win”. They were my win, my accomplishment, and I’d spent hours hunched over books studying my ass off as an investment in my future, not to try to placate my grandparents.

The next day, I woke up early and slipped on my uniform, tugging uncomfortably at the red tie constricting my neck. I’d forgotten how much I hated the damn thing.

Just like fall semester, the teachers started things off a little slower—lulling us into a false sense of complacency before they slapped us across the face with mountains of homework, probably—and it was an easy morning of reading through syllabi and discussing class expectations.

When fourth period arrived, I couldn’t find Leah, so I went to the dining hall by myself to grab food. It was cool and windy outside, but I figured if I sat somewhere sunny, it wouldn’t be too bad.

The Princes were already there, the four of them sitting at a table near the door, talking in low voices. They looked up as I entered, but I studiously ignored them, grabbing a tray and getting in line to pick up my food. They hadn’t stopped me from actually eating last semester, just hadn’t let me do it inside the lunchroom, and I hoped that hadn’t changed.

As soon as I had my sandwich and drink, I made a beeline toward the door, and I had almost reached it when Mason’s voice called out over the murmur in the room.

“Legs!”

I stopped mid-stride, turning slowly to face them.

Fuck.

All four of the Princes were watching me, and the conversations around the dining hall had died out quickly as people turned toward us, eager to witness the drama unfold.

“Yeah? What?” I shifted my weight uncomfortably.

“What are you doing?” Mason drawled.

I suppressed the urge to snap at him. He had an irritating habit of asking obvious questions that somehow made me look like the asshole when I answered.

“Getting lunch.”

Instead of responding with words, he kicked out a chair at the table he, Finn, Elijah, and Cole sat at then jerked his chin toward it.

I blinked at it, then back up at him.

The implication was clear.

Sit there.

But I didn’t.

My feet stayed planted to the floor, my entire body taut as a piano wire.

He rolled his eyes and cocked an eyebrow, repeating the chin jerk as if to say are you going to make me make you?

Chewing on my lip, I stared at him, well aware that the entire room was now watching our silent exchange.

I could refuse. I could walk right out the door and see if Mister Big Man on Campus would actually get out of his seat to chase me down and physically drag me back.