Something about her gray eyes seems familiar, but I can’t figure out why—until Theo comes up behind me and introduces me to his sister, “Theodora”.
“Are you serious?” I can’t stop myself from asking. “Theo and Theodora?”
They both shrug, and in those identical movements it’s very obvious they are siblings.
“Our mom really liked the name,” she says.
“Easier for her to remember too,” he adds.
“All right,” she says as she comes over to stand too close to me.
She looks me over critically before picking up my thick, dark brown—almost black—hair that reaches slightly past my shoulders. It’s mostly straight but with a subtle wave and shiny from all the expensive products my mom bought me over the years.
She lets my hair go then walks around me and looks my clothes up and down. I suddenly feel very self conscious with all eyes in the room on me.
“I can work with this,” she finally says before taking a step back and walking straight over to a hairdresser’s chair she’s installed in one corner. “Come on.”
“I don’t want my hair cut or anything,” I say and unconsciously run a hand over my head.
I like my hair. I think it’s one of my best features, besides the blue eyes that I got from my grandmother. Everyone else in my family, but the two of us, has blond hair and brown eyes.
“Relax, girl.” Theodora rolls her eyes. “We don’t have time for that. Your precious rich girl hair is safe for now. Now get over here, we have work to do and not much time to do it.”
I reluctantly walk over and sit down. The chair is from an old barbershop and the stuffing is leaking out of one corner of the leather seat. In front of me there’s a mirror and a ton of makeup spread out over a table.
Theodora quickly gets to work on my face. She takes off the subtle makeup I’m currently wearing, with water and a paper towel. It scratches my face but I hold my tongue. Then she starts applying products in colors I would never in a million years think about wearing. There are some heavy reds and blacks and purples going on.
When she steps back about twenty minutes later, I’m finally able to see what I look like and my mouth drops open. Staring back at me is a girl I barely recognize. My eyes are lined in thick bands of black that’s been expertly blended out into varying shades of deep purple. My full lips are painted a scarlet red, and she’s even drawn a beauty spot next to my eye.
“Love it?” she asks with a smile, clearly happy with her work.
“It’s—it’s, uh… different from what I’m used to,” I finish lamely.
There’s no denying that Theodora is talented, but it’s so far out of my norm that I can’t say anything more positive.
She rolls her eyes but doesn’t seem mad.
“What’s this even for?” I turn to face the four guys behind me who’ve all been watching me the entire time.
“We need you not to stand out so much,” Daire answers. “You look like you got lost on your way to Beverly Hills, and that’s not going to work around here. We need you to look like you belong in Marter for the first favor you’re going to do for us.”
“And that favor is?” I ask pointedly.
“You ask too many damn questions,” he growls and I decide the safest thing for me to do right now is stop talking.
Theodora leads me into another room and I see that she has clothes laid out on the bed. Holding up each piece to me she considers the situation seriously, before finally deciding on a short leather skirt, a red halter top, a studded leather jacket and platform combat boots.
“I can’t wear this.”
“Why?” she asks pointedly.
“Because I…” I can’t think of any good reason other than it’s so different from anything I’ve ever worn, so far out of my comfort zone we might as well be on Pluto.
“Just put it on. I’ll be back in ten minutes.” And with that she walks out of the room and shuts the door.
I pick up the clothes and run my hands across the fabric. I know I need to do this so there’s no point in putting it off any longer. I quickly yank them on and turn to look at myself in the mirror.
I’m shocked to realize that I don’t exactly hate what I see. I never thought that this would be something I’d wear, but just maybe this is more “me” than my old clothes. I’ve never really had a choice when it came to what I wore because my mom had people buy our clothes for us. She had personal shoppers and stylists and I’ve never second-guessed what they chose because they are the professionals so obviously they know best.
Looking at myself, I realize I’m not the same person I was just a few months ago. I’ve been through so much in such a short time that maybe I’m becoming someone new—or maybe I’m just finding out who I really was all along. I don’t think I’m exactly the girl staring back at me right now, the one dressed like the ultimate gothic biker chick, but I also don’t think I’m that girl I was back at Sheltered Glen Preparatory Academy. I don’t know who I am anymore.
Taking a breath—let’s just get this over with, I tell myself—I walk out. The conversation stops and all eyes turn to me. I can’t help but cross my arms self-consciously under the intense scrutiny.
Finally, it’s Alec who breaks the silence. “She looks good,” he breathes out.
His eyebrows are raised in appreciation and his mouth is open slightly. I can’t help the little smile that crosses my lips at his reaction. I look at the others and both Brax and Theo are looking at me hungrily. Daire’s face remains dark, and he quickly looks away when I turn to him.
Even though I hate them all, I can’t help but feel a little thrill at provoking those reactions from them. They may be tough and powerful, but they are still just guys.
“I know, right?” Theodora smirks and throws back her two-toned hair over her shoulder triumphantly. “Wasn’t easy, but it’ll do for what you need her for, right, Daire?”
“It’ll do.”
The way Theodora looks at Daire, wanting his approval, it’s obvious she’s into him, but he doesn’t give her a second glance and you can tell it crushes her.
“Thanks, Theo 1.” Theo goes over to hug his sister.
“No problem, Theo 2,” she answers and embraces him warmly.
“Let’s go,” Daire says briskly. I don’t know the guy well at all, but even I can tell that he’s in a bad mood—not that I imagine he has many good ones.
We all head out of the factory, leaving Theodora behind.
“Two cars,” Daire says and the guys wordlessly split into two groups.
Theo and Alec start heading towards a black car that’s hiding in the shadows next to the factory.
“You’re with us, Highness,” Brax says as he touches the small of my back to push me towards another car that I hadn’t noticed around the side of the building. The touch is gentle but firm, telling me that he’s in control and I have no choice. I hate the little jolt of electricity that rushes through my body from where his hand meets my back. I walk quickly so that his hand drops away.
We get into the car and it’s shockingly nice. I know as little about cars as I do about motorcycles, but even I can tell this is a relatively new and probably expensive SUV. How the hell can anyone going to Marter High afford a car like this? I’m starting to suspect that the Vicious Crew are into some nefarious stuff and aren’t just a bunch of guys who gang up together to bully kids at school. The realization makes me even more nervous as I slip into the backseat with Brax. Daire jumps in the driver’s seat.