Broken Kingdom (Royal Hearts Academy #4)(36)

Their eyes widen in shock.

I wince. “I’m hoping one of you might know why?”

Dylan shakes her head. “I don’t have a clue. I didn’t know Hayley very well, but she seemed like a sweet girl. I can’t think of a single reason you’d go after her.”

“Except for the fact that Oakley and Hayley spoke regularly, and they still cared about each other,” Sawyer mutters.

When we both look at her, she holds up her hands and says, “Again, I have no idea what your relationship with Oak was like, but given you were pissed he turned you down, and you went so far as to hook up with Morgan behind his back...who’s to say you weren’t also blackmailing his ex-girlfriend Hayley because you were jealous?”

“Yeah, you’re right.” My heart sinks. “I was just hoping there might be something else.”

Something that didn’t make me feel like a total asshole.

“I’m sorry, Bianca. I wish I could help, but I don’t really know much about your relationship with Hayley either.” Sawyer looks sheepish. “Although there was this one time we were at a party and Hayley showed up. You weren’t happy to see her, yet you made it a point to become fast friends with her. When I asked you what was up, you told me to keep your friends close and your enemies closer.”

Dammit. That totally sounds like something I would do.

Well, not me…her.

I rub my temples and groan. “Sometimes I seriously hate the old Bianca.”

I ruined this poor girl’s life all because I was jealous.

And now she’s gone.

Sawyer squeezes my hand. “Don’t be so hard on yourself.”

“How could I not be? I became frenemies with Hayley in order to gather some intel I could use to terrorize her.”

Oakley had every right to be upset about it.

It doesn’t matter that I didn’t upload the videos.

I’m still the lowest of the low and I’m certain there’s a special place in hell for someone like me.

Dylan frowns. “You’re not the same person you were back then, Bianca. The fact that you feel bad about it now says a lot.”

I reach for my purse and stand since my next class starts in fifteen minutes. “Maybe, but it still doesn’t make me feel any better about blackmailing her over a guy.”

And it’s not like I can find her and apologize for any of it…

Because she’s dead.





Past…





“Hey.”

I peer up at Morgan through my sunglasses. “Hi.”

Earlier today she texted me that there was something super important she needed to talk to me about, so I told her to come over.

I gesture to the raft I’m currently floating on. “As you can see I’m busy, so make it snappy.”

She blinks. “Seriously?”

Ugh.

Annoyed, I get out of the pool. “What do you want, Morgan?”

Her green orbs peruse the length of my body before she looks up at me. “I think I’m ready.”

Grabbing my towel off the back of a chair, I stare at her. “Ready for what?”

Drawing a breath, she takes a step forward. “For this…us.”

Color me confused.

I raise an eyebrow. “Us?”

Her teeth sink into her lower lip. “I want to be with you, Bianca. And now that I’m no longer pretending to be with Oak—”

I stop her right there, because holy hell. “Morgan…no.” Deciding to be honest with her, I give her the truth. “There’s someone else I’m into.”

And if she utilizes even a fraction of her brain power, she’ll have no problem figuring out who that someone is.

Her face falls. “Oh.” She shuffles her feet. “I didn’t...I mean I guess I should have. I feel so dumb.”

Well, shit.

Despite my well-earned reputation as a stone-cold bitch, I do pity her.

In my defense, I warned her not to catch feelings for me, but she went ahead and did it anyway.

Which means I’m in the awkward position of having to deal with the fallout.

“Look, Morgan,” I start. “It’s not you, it’s me.”

“Come on, Bianca—”

“It’s true,” I insist. “You’re a good catch and someday you’re gonna make some girl really happy. It’s just…that girl isn’t me.”

Glassy-eyed, she shakes her head. “I’m so stupid.”

No argument there. However, I’m not completely heartless.

“I’m sorry I hurt you,” I tell her honestly. “Despite how we started, that wasn’t my intention.”

“Bianca?”

“Yeah?”

She sucks in a deep breath. “I feel it’s only fair to warn you that she’s not into you.” Her expression turns serious. “You really need to watch your back around her…and your heart.”

I have no idea what she means. “Who are you talking about?”

“Hayley.” She tilts her head. “That’s who you’re into …right?”

Given I want to know all the dirt, I don’t bother correcting her. “What do you know about Hayley?”