Burn Before Reading(10)

"Fine." I shoved my books in my bag. "Fine! Don't explain anything ever, that's fine and dandy and definitely something normal people do!" I moved to tear the red card up in my frustration, but something stopped me. If I did, Wolf would be more pissed, wouldn't he? He'd lower that guillotine blade down on my head even faster. Argh! I hated that I was making any decisions because of him in the first place! It was bullshit, and he was bullshit, and -

My bag buzzed, and I took out my phone. Dad was calling me. I gripped the phone hard, the plastic of its edges sinking like teeth into my palm. I told him I was almost home, and was running late for the bus. Which I was, thanks to a certain Blackthorn brother. I hung up with a hot knot of dread in my stomach.

"I'm not at Lakecrest for me," I rested my chin on the cool metal of my locker and muttered into it. "This isn't about me. This place is for Dad. NYU. NYU. New York University, Bee. Don't get it twisted. That's all that matters. So what if you hate Wolf's guts? Just ignore him. Ignore him, and do what you have to do to get out of here with a shining college resume."

I repeated it to myself the entire walk to the bus stop. If I said it enough times, it would cement itself in my brain as truth, and I could stop catching on offended fire every time I saw Wolf's face. In theory. But dear god, my theories had been awful lately.

I brought out one of my psych books and started pouring over it, so I didn't notice the sleek black limo pull up to the curb. Even if I had, I probably would've just thought it was somebody getting picked up at school by their private driver - something I'd seen way too many times at this point to be surprised by. So the low voice startled me when it said my name.

"Miss Cruz?"

I looked up to see the handsomest older man I'd ever seen sitting in the backseat of the limo, his window rolled down. His hair was nearly all white with age, but his face had fine, deep lines that somehow made him look more regal. His brows were thick and his nose was slightly hawkish, and his lips formed a smile.

"So you are Miss Cruz. Forgive me for the intrusion. My name is Nathaniel Blackthorn. I serve as Chairman of the School Board for Lakecrest Preparatory."

Wolf's dad. The guy I submitted my essay to for the McCaroll scholarship. The guy Fitz hacked to get that same essay. I'd been so worried about impressing him when I was trying to get into this school. My heart suddenly felt like it'd been home-runned straight into my voice box. I stood up and smoothed my skirt.

"H-Hello, sir. Sorry, I didn't know -"

"You and I have something we must discuss, I'm afraid," He interrupted me smoothly, and smiled with all his eye wrinkles. "It's about your scholarship."

"Oh. R-Right." My throat-heart started tapdancing queasily. This was it, wasn't it? He was going to open his mouth and tell me my scholarship was revoked. "Please, if there's anything I can do to keep it –”

To my surprise, Mr. Blackthorn chuckled.

"Ah, so you're aware of exactly how much my son dislikes you. You've thought this would happen for some time already. Excellent. That proves you're much cleverer than I thought."

I looked up, bewildered. "I don't understand."

"In that case, would you be so kind as to meet me at Ciao Bella this evening?"

The fanciest Italian restaurant this side of the city.

"I'm not sure I should -"

"I didn't mean to put you in an awkward position, Miss Cruz. I had simply hoped to talk with you in a place where neither of our families could be privy to the conversation."

His words were heavy and slow, like they had a double meaning to them. I frowned, but Mr. Blackthorn kept going.

"I'm offering you a way in which you can save your scholarship, Miss Cruz."

I felt stupid for blushing, but I did anyway. "Look, Mr. Blackthorn, I don't think this is appropriate -"

He laughed, this time, full-bodied and loudly. "Oh, dear. You're right. I would be quite the terrific scumbag if that was what I wanted, wouldn't I? But no. I'm quite happily widowed, thank you. My interests are in your position, Miss Cruz, within this school. I believe there is something you can do for me that I would much appreciate."

He must've seen how confused I was, because he smiled.

"Simply meet me at Ciao Bella at seven tonight. Ask for Blackthorn. We will discuss the finer points then. I look forward to it."

He didn't wait for me to confirm, or deny. He simply rolled his tinted window up, and the limo drove away. And that's how I knew he was a Blackthorn for real - because he left without explaining anything at all.





Chapter 4


WOLF


There’s a girl waiting for me by my bike in the parking lot after school.

But that’s nothing new. Girls have always, for some reason or another, liked to wait around by my bike. I’d learned to live with it, the way you live with mosquitos. Living with it isn’t the problem. The problem is lately, it’s gotten a lot worse.

The stupid ones sit on the bike like they own it. The smart ones just stand by it, admiring it.

Today, it’s the former.

She’s a junior in my Calculus class – Miranda? Minnie? Something forgettable with an M. She sits on the seat of my bike languidly stretched out, like it’s a bed. Her hair is dyed red and curled with almost as much agonizing precision as her eyeliner, and she wears her navy uniform skirt as high up on her waist as she can manage without getting looks from the faculty. She waves at me as she sees me walk over. I give her two seconds to figure out my glare means she needs to move. She doesn’t.