Elite (Empire High, #2)(87)

“Rob, I already did this dance with James. If you’re trying to make Matt jealous, I don’t want anything to do with it.”

“Oh, this favor would have a lot more to do with screwing over Isabella.”

He’d officially piqued my interest. “You want me to help you screw over Isabella?”

“Yes. Unless sisters before bros is your new motto.”

“Not a chance.”

He laughed. “Do you have access to her bedroom? Because I’ve been over to the Pruitts’ place countless times and I’ve never been allowed upstairs.”

“Well, I think I do. Maybe. I sleep in the opposite wing. I’ve never really been down the hallway that leads to her bedroom. But I’m sure I could find it.” Isabella had been in my room. Certainly I could go into hers.

“What are your feelings about frogs? Like…lots of them?”

“You want to put frogs in her bed?”

“Well…yeah. Wouldn’t that be kind of amazing?”

I could already picture Isabella’s face. And her screaming. But for some reason the scene made me feel bad for the frogs. “Couldn’t we do something where it wasn’t possible for her to hurt an innocent animal?”

“You’re worried she’d kill the frogs?”

“First the frogs. Then me.” I laughed even though I was very serious.

“She’s not going to kill you. Do you have any idea how many times she threatens to kill me on a weekly basis? It’s a lot. And she’s never gone through with it. Rumor has it that she had to sign some contract with her dad promising not to ever do it again.”

Again. That was the same kind of thing Mr. Pruitt had said. That Isabella was no longer allowed to use his assets to freaking kill people. “What do you mean again? She’s killed someone before?”

“Yeah, I used to have a little brother.”

“Oh my God, what?!”

Rob started laughing. He was laughing so hard, the muscles in his arms tightened, pulling me closer.

“Miss Sanders,” Mr. Hill said in that same tone he scolded me in class. “Mr. Hunter. One foot between dancers at all times.” He shoved a ruler between Rob and me.

My face had to be bright red.

“Sorry, Mr. Hill,” Rob said when he was finally able to catch his breath. “I’ll make sure she keeps her hands off me.”

“Rob.” I shoved his shoulder.

“See what I mean?” he said. “So handsy.”

Was he trying to kill me from embarrassment?

Mr. Hill shook his head and went to go measure some other couples’ distance.

“What is wrong with you?” I shoved Rob’s arm again.

“Absolutely nothing is wrong with me. You’re the one all over everyone tonight. Kissing my brother. Dancing with Felix. I even heard you took some cute homecoming pictures with Mason tonight. And now you’re all up on me.”

Yeah, my face was bright red. “All of those instances are taken out of context.” But I could see how it looked. I wasn’t an idiot, I knew I’d freaking lost my mind tonight.

He laughed.

I needed to change the subject or he’d find a way to torture me all night long. “You were saying something about Isabella?” I asked.

He shrugged. “Oh, right. Her murderous ways? It’s all just based on a rumor. But in elementary school, Isabella didn’t have a whole posse. She just had one best friend. Stephanie. At recess, Stephanie kissed some boy that Isabella liked. And then none of us ever saw her again.”

I swallowed hard. I’d kissed James. Isabella really was going to kill me. “Elementary school? So when she was just a kid?”

“Yeah, she’s always been a nightmare.”

A murderous nightmare. Fuck me. I felt like there wasn’t enough air reaching my lungs.

“You okay?” Rob asked.

“I kissed James. She’s going to kill me just like she killed Stephanie.”

Rob laughed. “Don’t you think Rachel wouldn’t be breathing if she killed everyone James kissed?”

That was a good point. But it didn’t really calm me down. “Oh my God, maybe that’s what this whole thing with Matt is about. Maybe Isabella wasn’t trying to ruin Matt’s life with the blackmail. Maybe she was trying to torture Rachel.” And Matt had just gotten stuck in the crossfire. How had I not seen this before?

“Huh.” Rob lowered his eyebrows like he was thinking it over.

If that was true then… I swallowed hard. Isabella tormented everyone that got close to James. She was going to kill me. Or make my life more hellish than she was already making it. I pictured her cold stare as she’d picked up James’ homecoming crown. She was plotting something awful. It could happen at any moment. “I need to get out of here.”

The smile that was permanently on Rob’s face faltered. “You’re shaking.”

“I’m not shaking.”

He gripped my waist a little tighter. “Yes you are.”

“I need to find Kennedy and get out of here.” Kennedy was going to spend the night. She’d be with me. I’d be safe back at home. Home? God. Was I safe there? Isabella had snuck into my room earlier and cut up all my clothes. What if she was going to slice my neck next?