“Right, because otherwise they’ll take your scholarship away.” Alaric walked closer to the sophomore’s table and flipped his book shut. “Uh-oh. How’re you going to study now?”
Grey groaned softly. He didn’t have to get involved; he knew that. But letting those assholes get away with this would really annoy him. He sighed and rose from the table, walking over just as the sophomore got up from his chair, puffing up his chest, strutting with a wannabe alpha-male swagger.
Grey rolled his eyes. Yeah, kid. Like your skinny ass could take on those two. Still, you had to admire that kind of spirit.
He felt the tone of the room shift as he walked closer and the four students noticed his presence. Grey had that kind of effect—because he was 6'4" and 220 pounds of muscle, most dudes didn’t want to mess with him. They could tell he could handle himself. And if you found him on your side, well, you tended to feel a whole lot better about your situation.
“What do you want?” Alaric asked, but Grey saw his eyes touch on Lachlan and Martin, reassuring himself that there were three of them.
“See that book over there?” Grey said, pointing back to his table. “I really want to get back to it. So if you could leave this kid alone and just mosey on out of here, I’d really appreciate it. Don’t you have some hair product or other to buy?”
“Think you’re funny?” Alaric asked, tossing his head so his gelled hair bounced a tad. “This doesn’t concern you, okay? I’m talking to Scholarship Boy here.”
Wide-eyed, the sophomore was watching them like they were on TV.
“See, now that’s the kind of thing I need you to stop,” Grey said, stepping closer. He smiled a little, but his eyes were cold, remote.
Alaric pulled himself to his full height, which was still three inches shorter than Grey. Even counting his hair. Grey Emerson wasn’t the least bit worried. He was, however, getting pretty irritated.
Jaya
A weight lifted off Jaya as she ended the call and slipped her phone back into her pocket. She could scarcely believe it had worked, but she wasn’t one to poke and prod at a good thing. That it had been so simple to get herself into each and every one of Grey Emerson’s classes was just further proof, she knew, that she was meant to be here. That she was meant to exact this revenge.
Well, it was all taken care of now, which meant she could do something just for her. Jaya smiled. She knew where she wanted to go.
* * *
Libraries had a unique magic. No matter what country Jaya was in, no matter how far away from home, the glossy wood tables, the smell of book glue, and the whispers of riffling pages always welcomed her back like old friends.
Pushing through a set of heavy double doors on the first floor of the West Wing, Jaya came to an abrupt stop, a soft gasp escaping her lips.
St. Rosetta’s library, encased in plush, velvet silence, was three stories tall, with a large, circular first floor. Proud pillars flanked the curving staircases on either side. Jaya stood just inside the doors, her head tilted back, reveling in the breathtaking beauty of the old polished wood, the soft lighting, the enormous stacks of books towering over her. It was an ocean of words, and she stood on the seafloor, letting it wash over her before she made her way to the staircase.
As she idly scanned the shelves on the second floor, the sound of heated voices brought her pause. She tilted her head to listen.
Rounding a corner, Jaya found herself at the entrance to a darkened area. Her eyes were immediately drawn to five boys standing by a large window on the far side of the room. If the raised voices weren’t enough of a sign, their crossed arms and tense shoulders definitely said this was not a friendly conversation.
“I’m just curious,” a tall guy with a narrow face and gelled blond hair was saying. He grinned, but there wasn’t a shred of affection or humor in it. His friends, a red-haired boy and a brown-haired boy, grinned sycophantically back. Jaya casually positioned herself behind a large potted plant so they wouldn’t see her. That way, she could run and get help if things got too out of hand. “What’s a scholarship worth these days, anyway? Or was it supposed to be a secret?”
“I’m not ashamed of being a scholarship student,” a younger white boy with dark hair responded, fists clenched at his sides. His accent was American. “If anything, it shows that I’m here on my own merit. My daddy didn’t have to buy my way in.”
The blond boy and his two friends took a step closer to the younger boy. “What did you say?”
“Chill.” The word was a growl, rumbling and low. Jaya’s attention flitted to the fifth boy, the one who’d spoken. He was huge, also white, with an American accent.
The tallest boy had wild, shaggy dark hair, the tips colored a light brown. He wore ripped jeans, and his big feet were clad in old sandals. There was something feral about him, reminiscent of a wild animal. Or a beast.
The feral boy put his hand on the blond boy’s chest and held it there, not pushing, but not giving, either. “Why don’t you go calm down before this turns into something you really don’t want? If I remember, you’ve got only one fight left before they expel you. I don’t think your father would look too kindly on you getting kicked out from your third school in four years.”
“You want to be careful who you’re talking to like that,” the blond boy said, he and his friends turning to the feral boy.
Smirking, the tall boy leaned back and crossed his arms in one lithe movement. Powerful biceps pressed his shirtsleeves taut. His eyes, a startling, brilliant blue, flashed, and Jaya knew instinctively that if the other boy were to take him on, he’d win easily. “You know, Alaric, I’ll take my chances. In my experience, most snakes aren’t venomous.”
The boys all stared at each other for another minute, the air crackling with the energy of a fight. Jaya held her breath.
The tension collapsed when the blond boy, Alaric, shook his head and turned away, his silent friends following in his tracks. They passed right next to Jaya as they walked out a door on the other side of the darkened area, but none of them noticed her behind the plant.
“You didn’t have to do that. I can take care of myself.”
The other boy cocked his head. He was enormous, built like a bear, and he dwarfed the slighter, younger one. “Sure, kid.” He began to turn away.
The younger boy straightened up. “My name’s Elliot.”
“Congratulations.” After a pause, the feral boy glanced over his shoulder. “Stay away from those three. And if I were you, I’d clear out of here in case they decide to come back.”
Elliot crossed his arms. “Why should I have to go? They were the ones who bothered me. I was just in here studying.”
The older boy sighed. “Doesn’t matter. Alaric’s an asshole and he’s gonna be looking for revenge. I’m not sticking around to watch out for you. So if you know what’s good for you, get out.” Without waiting for a response, he walked off.
Elliot stood looking after him for a long moment. Then, sighing, he gathered his books and slid them into a backpack. Slinging the bag onto his shoulder, he followed the older boy out.
They both passed by Jaya on their way out the door on the far side, but just like Alaric and his friends, neither of them seemed to notice her presence. She stood there a moment longer, smiling a little to herself. She always did like when the underdog won. Even though that blue-eyed feral boy seemed rather grumpy, like a bear with a thorn in its paw.