Chapter 7

Chapter Seven

Nova

I thought the day was off to a shit start when I saw Vox’s car in the driveway, but turns out he was there for Nexus not me. Vivian gave me a ride in her luxurious Range Rover. I have no idea what it is with these kids and all their expensive cars but I saw an opportunity for a selfie and took it. I snapped a pic of me by Vivi’s car and sent it to Waylen. Much like me, he didn’t see the point of wasting money on a lavish car, we would rather save and put that money toward our trip. The day went amazing, I didn’t have to endure Hayze or Archer’s presence in math and English. I make my way to the gym feeling good about the day. I stop by my locker to drop my books off and grab my gym bag but when I open it, a letter floats toward the ground. I look around the crowded hallway but don’t catch anyone watching me.

I pick up the black envelope and inhale sharply, praying it wasn’t from my unwanted guest last night. With shaky hands I turn it over to see it is sealed with an old school seal, it has a T in the middle of the gold stamp. I open it and find a note inside, I unfold the piece of faded parchment and read the contents.

Nova-Scotia

Trust no one, they are hunting me, so I can’t come to your aid yet.

Find a way to keep your head down. Your mother made a grave error marrying the slimy bastard. Never let your guard down around him or his vile son.

I will come to you when it is safe, I won’t risk putting you in danger.

I reread the contents of the letter, trying to decipher if this is some riddle like the fucking postcard from that asshole last night but something inside me is telling me this is different. The warning about Thomas and Nexus sends a shiver through me. I scan the hallways again trying to catch a glimpse of someone or anything really. The sound of the bell ringing pulls me from my thoughts, so I return the letter to the envelope, stash it back in my locker and hurry to my gym class. I change quickly and rush outside to the track where everyone is gathered. My eyes narrow at the sight of Ezekiel, though unlike the other three, he doesn’t stare at me or shoot me a dirty look in warning he just… ignores me.

The teacher begins explaining what is happening in this class but I can’t focus on a word he is saying, between my visitor last night, the letter today and having Ezekiel in this class it is throwing me off.

“Hey.” I shake my head and look to my left to see a boy with rugged brown hair and kind brown eyes looking at me.

“Hi,” I say lamely.

His smile broadens. “I’m Lenny.”

I return his smile, grateful not every guy here is dick. “Nova.”

He nods. “I know, I’m pretty sure everyone around here knows who you are.”

I draw back and frown. “Why is that?”

He shrugs as if it's no big deal. “Coming to school with Vox, Ezekiel, Hayze and Archer wasn’t the best way to go if you wanted to fly under the radar. Every girl here hates you.”

“What the fuck for?” I hiss trying to keep my voice low so we don’t get in trouble.

“For being in the position they have all dreamed of being in.” My spine stiffens as I slowly turn my head to my other side, I didn’t even fucking hear Ezekiel make his way over here let alone know he was standing behind me.

I keep my features schooled. “Well, they can have it because I sure as fuck don’t want it or anything to do with the four of you and Nexus,” I grit out.

“You may not want it but you have it. When you want it, you won’t have it.” I stare up at him utterly fucking confused.

“You know that makes no sense, right?” I bite back.

“Quinlin?” I snap my gaze toward the front and smile sheepishly at the teacher who is glaring at the three of us.

“Yeah?” I wheeze out, trying to not sound guilty.

“Three laps, go!” My jaw unhinges at the fucker.

“It was my fault—” Lenny is cut off by the teacher.

“You can join her, Mr. Connelle.” Lenny curses beneath his breath but doesn’t answer back as we make our way toward the track and begin jogging. I don’t hate running but I don’t exactly love it either. When we are halfway around the track, I spot the football team training and can’t help but stare when I see Vox and Hayze amongst the team.

“That’s Haven Preps dream boy right there.” I tear my gaze from Vox’s back as I look over at Lenny who looks almost angry at the sight of them.

“Who?” He pins me with a dry stare.

“Vox Hatchett is the guy every male wants to be and every girl wants to be under. He and his friends are the golden boys, no teacher here will do anything against them. They own the fucking school and the rest of us have no choice but to exist in their world.”

I flick my gaze back to Vox and quickly turn away when I see him looking right at me. “I don’t want to be under any of them,” I mutter.

“Tell me that in two weeks when you see them all in suits for Homecoming.” I ignore Lenny’s taunt as I finish my laps. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t picturing Vox Hatchett in a suit with all his ink on display, the thought of him dressed up and looking like a bad decision has my mouth watering and my panties soaking.

Fuck my life!

Rather than repeating the incident in the cafeteria, I texted Vivi that I was going to eat outside with Lenny, and to my surprise, she joined us. Lenny introduced me to a couple of his buddies, Ben, Tyson and Parker. The six of us are sitting on the grass in the quad, enjoying the sun and talking shit when a shadow suddenly falls over me. The conversation the guys were having stops, Ben and Tyson pale at the sight of the shadow behind me. I choose to ignore him and grind my teeth, ignoring them is going to be my new thing. The five of them think they can bully and intimidate me but they are fucking wrong.

I bow to no fucking man.

“So, do we have any classes together?” I ask my new friends, ignoring the presence behind me.

“They’re about to have broken jaws if you don’t get your ass up right now.” I spy Vivian, out of the corner of my eye, climb to her feet and face her brother.

“Vox, cut it out. These are my friends and you are being a real dick, stop it.” I appreciate her sticking up for me but even I know that her plea is falling on deaf ears. I want to drag this out and see what he will do next, but I also don’t want Vivian arguing with her brother because of me. I shoot the guys a smile hoping to reassure my new buddies as I climb to my feet, I dust my skirt off and take my time straightening my shirt, feeling Vox’s gaze on me the entire time.

I turn around and lift my gaze to his making sure he can see my inner bitch. “My ass is up, Voxy. What the hell can I do for the four of you assholes?” A gasp comes from our left, drawing my attention toward Nicole and her pack of bitches. Each of them standing there with their phones out like this is going to be the video to send them viral and finally give them the fame they all crave so desperately.

Vox pushes forward until his chest brushes up against me. I know he wants me to step back and cower beneath his angry glare but he has another thing coming, I’m not that bitch that will bow and suck a dick just to please some guy on a power trip. Instead, I crane my neck and smile up at him. Ez and Archer press forward, coming to stand on either side of him. I fight not to snort, it’s not like he needs any back up.

I wait for him to berate me and cuss me out or whatever the fuck it is he is here to do but what I don’t see coming is him reaching out to grip my hip in his large hand. I fight to keep the shock from splaying on my face as he leans down until his lips brush against my ear, sending a shiver down my spine that I know he didn’t miss.

“Stay the fuck away from my sister, witch,” he whispers, his voice is low but his words are filled with warning. Not one to go down without a fight, I throw my arms around his neck loving how he stiffens, I brush my lips against the shell of his ear as I answer.

“Scared your sister likes me more than you, Voxy, or are you just worried she will enjoy playing on the dark side with me?” His other hand grips the back of my head tangling in my hair, I bite down on my bottom lip to keep from hissing out in pain when he tugs on the strands. To everyone else we look like a loved up couple not two people at fucking war. My mouth parts in a silent gasp when he brushes his lips against the side of my neck.

“You just made this ten times worse for yourself, witch. You will be the one tapping out. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” He releases me without another word and stalks off, his three shadows all shoot me sinister smirks before following after their leader. Before I can stare after them and wrap my head around what the fuck just happened, Nexus is in front of me gripping my arms and shaking me.

“What the fuck was that?” he hisses low enough for only us to hear. I try to break free of his hold but the bastard just tightens his grip

“Get your fucking hands off me,” I grit out.

Nexus darts his gaze around the quad, his features smooth as he takes in the crowd Vox and I gathered. He releases me and places his hands on my shoulders as if he is massaging the wrinkles out of my shirts.

“Stay the hell away from my friends, piggy,” he warns.

“Fuck off, Nexus,” Vivi grits out, then snags my hand and drags me away from my stepbrother. The cheer bitches don’t shift out of our way. “Move!”

Nicole pays Vivian no attention, she looks directly at me with a look of disgust plastered over her plastic face. “Stay the hell away from Vox?—”

I cut her off before she can finish. “Bitch, please, you want him? Take him because he is the last guy I want on me or inside me.” Vivian makes a show of gagging. I smirk at Nicole. “Here’s a tip, you want Voxy warming your bed every night, maybe try not being a cunt to his twin sister.”

“Like how you are befriending the school reject?” she claps back, without thinking I tug my hand free of Vi’s and step into Nicole. Her eyes widen in surprise before she schools her features.

“The only reject I see here is you. Unlike your pack of mutts I don’t have ulterior motives with my friendship with Vivian. I’d rather fuck her than her twin, that is where you and me are different.” Just to be a bitch, I tap her on the nose with my finger, shoot her a wink, then shoulder past the bitch.