Ace of Spades Sneak Peek(73)

CeCe gives me a once-over, eyes pausing at my feet. Today I’m wearing my dark-green crocodile leather Jimmy Choo pumps.

“Nice shoes,” CeCe says, face as expressionless as her voice.

I smile. “Thanks, CeCe, they are nice.” I don’t bother to lie by complimenting her too.

Ava’s looking down at her shoes and Ruby’s looking at me.

“Haven’t seen you in a few days. Wanted to check on you, but I figured you’d be preoccupied,” Ruby says, red brows furrowing together.

“It’s been a pretty difficult few weeks, but it’s just a blip. This whole thing will blow over, and everything will go back to normal by next week,” I say with a shrug.

This makes Ruby grin; I can see the fire behind her eyes, smoke wafting into my nose as it burns behind the green. “It’s nice that you can remain positive after everything. I like that about you.” Her gaze flickers to my shoes as well. “Are those Jimmy Choo?”

I nod slowly, trying to look for the double meaning.

“Hi Ruby, CeCe, and Ava,” a voice chirps from behind, and I swivel slightly, met now by that sophomore … Miranda, I think she said her name was. “I dropped by Starbucks and got you three chai lattes, just how you like them. I know you’re on a diet, CeCe, so I told them to put your order in a small cup and got grandes for Ava and Ruby.”

“Thanks, Molly,” Ruby says as they all take their drinks.

I feel a little crack inside, my heart racing as I try not to look bothered. The sophomore leaves and Ruby turns away from us, pushing her handbag into her locker. I feel stupid, standing here like I’m waiting on her or something.

Just as I’m about to tell them I’ll see them around, make them think I have somewhere better to be, I hear someone call my name.

“Chiamaka, hey,” Devon says, out of breath, looking a little shaken up. I’m glad to see him still alive. This morning I kept hoping nothing had happened. I couldn’t check on him either; I had no way to. I wouldn’t blame him if he was pissed at me.

“Hello, Richards,” I reply as neutrally as I can, hoping he doesn’t decide to strike up a conversation right now, here of all places. I already look stupid in front of the girls; he’s only going to make it worse.

“You haven’t been answering my texts. I need to talk to you in private. Now.” He says the last part in a whisper. Devon looks so unbothered by the other three standing next to me.

CeCe sips her latte with her usual blank expression, but Ruby has now turned back around, her eyebrows raised, interest piqued.

Usually people stumble over their words when they speak to us, glancing up at us like they are in awe of the fact that we are breathing the same air. They don’t wear the unimpressed expression Richards does. I know Ruby for sure won’t like that, and I find it funny, loving that about him. Anyone who can make Ruby stop thinking she’s better than the rest of us—particularly me—is someone I applaud.

I clear my throat, looking between him and the girls.

“What about?”

“Don’t bullshit, Chiamaka. You know what about.”

We stare at each other. For once, he looks determined. As determined as I am to end this. He’s right: I do know what he wants to talk about—why I ran and left him alone. But I can’t get my head around how I would even go about telling him what I saw. I have to tell him, though, I know that—we’re running out of time. Something tells me that the girl is dangerous, which means she could hurt us like I hurt her. Last night might have been our only shot at stopping whatever plot she has, and I blew it.

I have to tell him, even if he thinks I’ve completely lost my mind.

Before I have a chance to respond, Devon steps closer. “I need to talk to you now.”

Okay, who is he speaking to like that? I feel myself getting annoyed.

“Have you not heard of personal space?”

Ruby snorts, covering her mouth, and Devon looks like he wants to snap my neck. Something about the way he’s looking at me makes me pause. Devon is never this forceful … I look down at his hands. He’s shaking.

What happened last night?

“I’ll meet you in five minutes, lab 201,” I say quietly.

He looks a little taken aback, but he nods, then gives me one last lingering look, before turning and walking away.

“Wow, he’s angry. I thought he was going to kill us or something,” Ava says, watching as he walks through the double doors.

“Why? He’s not violent,” I reply matter-of-factly. Even though he looked like he wanted to snap my neck, I knew he wouldn’t. Devon’s not that kind of person.

“Didn’t he make that sex tape with Scotty?” Ruby asks, and I shrug, not wanting to talk about him with them. “It was so bad, so obviously shot by a webcam. When I shoot mine, I’ll get a real camera,” she adds.

“Need to get going, but it was so nice catching up!” I interject, not waiting for a response before turning away and walking down the hall.

A girl literally runs out of my way, probably scared I’ll kill her in broad daylight with the sharp point of one of my heels.

I open my locker, pushing my handbag in slowly, letting my hair fall and hide my face as I blink, sniffing quietly.

I feel a tap on my shoulder and I jump, quickly wiping my face, ready to shout at whoever it is, stopping short when I see Jamie.