I breathe through my nostrils, trying — and failing — to expel the gloomy, murderous energy running through my veins.
The need to hurt.
To maim.
To fucking destroy.
Even the remnants of adrenaline from the game isn’t cutting it anymore.
“We’re going to the Meet Up,” Aiden announces to the guys.
“Fuck yeah!” Ronan fist-bumps Xan.
“You’re coming?” Cole asks me with a cautious tone.
I nod absentmindedly.
The Meet Up is Aiden’s way to keep me from heading down the other path, but there’s one small thing he forgot about.
I’m a King and we always get payback.
My gaze roams the locker room for Chris, but he must’ve left right after practice — in which he’s still as useless as shit.
I go to my bag — that’s also painted in red — and retrieve my phone.
Levi: Come to the Meet Up.
Then I throw the phone back in my bag, not waiting for an answer. If Chris knows what’s best for him, he’ll be there.
The guys start filtering out. Aiden stops and points at his locker, telling me silently to change with one of his spares.
I swear the little fucker smirks as he follows Cole and a very animated Ronan out.
“Daniel. A word.” I catch myself using the calm, deceptive tone Jonathan taught us and I inwardly curse myself.
He stops and watches his surroundings as if searching for something.
The rest of the team throw curious glances our way as the locker room empties.
Daniel might have been part of the team for two years, but I never had one-on-one words with him. I can count the number of times I actually talked to him. Sure he comes to Ronan’s parties and hangs out with the team, but we were never close.
But times change.
I sit on the bench and continue drying my hair. Daniel stands as close enough to the exit as possible while remaining in the locker room.
His build isn’t bad, but he doesn’t work his leg muscles for long. As a result, his stamina doesn’t allow him to play a ninety minute game from start to finish. That’s the only reason why he couldn’t snatch a starter’s position.
He’s fast, though, and he can fit as a right-back or a midfielder. Coach noticed that he did well in the summer camp. It only took a word from me to convince him that Sterling could use a shot as a starter in the next game.
“Are you ready for Saturday?” I ask in a friendly tone.
“Yeah.” His eyes light up.
“It’s one of the rarest chances you’ll get so make it count.”
“Will… do, Captain.” He appears relieved and relaxed now.
My chance to strike.
“That friend of yours… A… something?”
His easy-going demeanour disappears as he stiffens. “Astrid.”
“Right. Astrid.” Not that I can ever forget her name considering that she’s able to fuck up my entire future.
“She…” He trails off, seeming to weigh his words. “I’m sorry for whatever she’s done. She’s not bad, she’s just not originally from around here. She doesn’t know the etiquette well.”
I pause drying my hair. “She’s not?”
“She lived with her mum before Lord Clifford took custody about three years ago. She hasn’t lived amongst us since she was a kid.”
So the princess hasn’t been a princess all along. Interesting. No wonder she didn’t exude the rotten, snobbish smell everyone at RES has.
During that party, she seemed so carefree and innocent, and yet somehow shackled down.
“You’re not going to hurt her, are you?” Daniel asks with a slight edge when I remain silent.
“Depends.” I stand up until I’m toe-to-toe with him.
“On what?” His shoulders pull back as if he’s about to fight me.
Also interesting. Seems that the princess has a loyal friend.
“I want you to tell me something, Daniel. It’s in her best interest.”
Once Daniel is done with the information I need, he leaves and I change into one of Aiden’s jackets — that’s tighter than mine.
My lips curve in a smirk at the idea of a hunt.
I warned her.
She didn’t listen.
The time has come to punish her.
12
Astrid
If the king drops you, you can only break.
* * *
I stand in front of my half-empty canvas, staring blankly.
It’s been going this way for… hours.
The muse has been escaping me and I don’t know how to catch it — or if it’s possible to catch it in the first place.
The only painting I did today was Levi’s T-shirts. I even took my time in painting the ‘Manwhore’ all over his ‘King’ title.
Why am I the only one who gets called names in RES when he’s the actual manwhore?
Even I heard about the epic affair last year. He fucked a biology teacher in the lab for weeks until the principal walked in on them.
The said teacher is banned from all schools and she moved out of the country.
True he was a minor at the time, but why the hell was he treated as a victim?
Not to mention all the girls who always brag about sleeping with the arsehole and how good it felt. Said girls have been making my life hell because of him.
The satisfaction from sneaking into the lockers and painting all his belongings in red still hums under my skin.
At these moments, when I’m letting my true free-spirit loose, I can’t help remembering Mum. She rooted spontaneity in me and taught me to never put on a mask.
Masks will suffocate you, Star.
She should’ve thought of the possibility where Dad would have custody of me.
In his house, all I can wear is a mask. The thought of screwing up and letting him down terrifies me.
After all, he’s all I have left.
Nicole made sure to swing by the art studio earlier and announce that we’re having a family dinner tonight. According to her, it’s fine if I miss. In fact, I should miss since I’ll only make a fool out of myself.
I considered showing up just to piss her off, but the thought of Dad’s cold, disapproving stares made me change my mind.
I procrastinated enough until it’s almost nine when RES closes its doors. It’s not like I can spend the night in the art studio.
After cleaning the brushes and putting the supplies in the drawers, I close the door on my way out.
Walking down the vast halls, I stick my earbuds in and let Supremacy by Muse fill my senses.
An eerie, calm atmosphere fills the school’s walls at this time of night. The only active students indoors are the book and chess clubs. Many athletes practise outside this late.
This is the best time to enjoy RES’s massive architecture and the ancient history of the building. No snobbishness or bullying can ruin the mood.
Dan texted me earlier saying he was going to a ‘Meet Up’ with the team — which is apparently some secret hang out place for RES’s football team starters. He offered to pick me up, but I declined and told him to have fun.
Still, I can’t help the streak of jealousy and doubt.
Even though Dan used his position in the team to lure girls, he was never really that into the game. It feels like I’m losing my best friend to the stupid football team.