Uppercut Princess (The Heights Crew #1)(6)

My surroundings burn hazy at the edges. All I can see is him. I don’t register that he’s getting head from a secretary or some other administrator. The darkness in his eyes has captured me in place. The rueful play of his lips have stolen my breath. In my head, I imagine an older version of him, and my blood boils.

“You can watch if you want,” he suggests, his hand still on the back of the woman’s neck while he gives me a slight shrug.

His words are like a douse of reality. In a snap, my vision expands, and I remember where I am and what I’m doing. I turn away from the audacious scene and exit out the nondescript wood door. Leaning against it, I bring my hand to my stomach as if to hold its contents in.

Not exactly the way I wanted to handle meeting the son of my parents’ murderer.

I close my eyes, and the rest of the school disappears. In my head, I singsong, “One Kyle-and-An-na. Two Kyle-and-An-na. Three Kyle-and-An-na.” When I get to five, I open my eyes again. The picture is clearer. My focus restored. I shift on my heel to walk out of this ridiculous building they call a school. I’ll head to Walmart tonight to grab a fucking lock and maybe even some bolt cutters to get the old lock off my broken locker myself.

I push the image of Johnny Rocket away and store it for another day. Another time to come back to for analysis. I can’t get ahead of myself. Not yet. Not ever.

The empty halls greet me like a barren cave. I have a suspicion the only ones left are students and teachers who actually give a shit about being here day in and day out. Not counting the fucking bitch who’s in there with Rocket for extracurricular activities.

“Crazy first day?”

I jump. Spinning, I glance up to find a girl walking past me in the hall. She has a pair of holey jeans on, a chain looping from her front belt loop to her back belt loop. A tight black shirt rounds out the outfit. I narrow my gaze, but first impressions tell me she won’t be one of the ones trying to mess with me so she can get on the Heights Crew’s good side. “You could say that.”

She walks past me, only giving a cursory glance, but then she stops suddenly. Sighing, she turns toward me like it’s really the last thing she wants to do yet feels compelled to anyway. “Watch out for Nevaeh. She’ll do anything to get into HC.”

I rack my brain. There were so many wannabe gang bitches today who tried to make my life a living hell. I don’t have the foggiest which one Nevaeh is. I lift my shoulders.

The girl sighs again, mumbling something to herself. When she finally responds to me, she’s more clear. “Neveah’s the one who slammed your head into the locker.”

Ohhhh. I file that name away. My head’s still thumping from that bitch move. “You saw that, huh?” Real embarrassment crawls over my skin. I do have some pride after all. I’m just willing to overlook it for the greater good.

“Stay out of her way. And if you tell her I said something, I’ll…” She trails off, then looks up like she’s trying to figure out the best threat to make. Clearly, she doesn’t have a lot of experience with this.

I like her immediately, which means I need to stay the hell away from her. “Thanks,” I tell her, before stepping toward the main doors again. I need to get home, put some ice on my fucking forehead, and regroup before I do this all again tomorrow.

The big reveal can’t come soon enough.

I walk around her toward the doors. Her stare is like a hot poker burning a hole into my side, but I don’t slow up or try to be nice or try to make a friend. In any other world, I would have. I’d want a friend to get through Rawley Heights with, but I’ve never been all that good at having friends, first of all, and second, it’s just not the time.

I have only one goal here, and it’s not to find something real.

My life in Rawley Heights is fake. It’ll be raw and dirty and bloody. Filled with betrayal, revenge, and fucking satisfaction. I don’t need to add another casualty when I leave this fucking place with murder on my hands.

Behind me, the girl groans. Her footsteps slap the worn flooring as she catches up to me. “Don’t ever go out the main doors by yourself when security is around. They’re fucking child rapists, you understand?”

I turn toward her, eyebrows in my hairline, which really fucking hurts by the way. I can look up and see the goose egg on my forehead. “Good to know.”

“If you’re alone, go out the side door. I’ll walk out with you tonight though. Don’t make eye contact with them. Or bait them either. You look like trouble follows you everywhere. At least it will in the Heights.”

“So I’ve noticed,” I deadpan.

We walk through the glass doors. I don’t look around, but the hair on the back of my neck stands, so I know what this chick has just told me is correct. The security team are predators living right with the prey. And the school doesn’t give a fuck.

We part ways in the parking lot without a word. She doesn’t try to talk to me again, and as I said, I don’t need real friends. My life can start after I’ve finished what I’ve come here to do.

My aunt and uncle have no clue why the hell I’m here. They think I’m throwing my life away at a shitty school that won’t impress any colleges. They’re wrong. Well, they’re right. Rawley Heights doesn’t impress anyone, but I’m not throwing my life away. I’m making sure I actually have one. One where I can live without regret. Without terror. Without what ifs.