2. Bea

I’m goingto kill him. I might even do it slowly so he knows how annoying he is right now. I might even bury his body in the woods so no one can ever find him.

Crawling out of bed, I try to make my way to the door without tripping over the mess in my room. Going to the party last night, oh man…such a bad idea, but necessary. Having the right people see me is important to my existence at this school.

Swinging the door open, I tug my brows together, ready to kill my best friend.

“Drink too much?” A laugh breaks through Quinn’s lips, and I try to slam the door shut, but he stops it. Walking back into my bedroom, I look over to the other bedroom and see my roommate has left for the day.

I collapse onto the bed.

Drinking is not my thing, and I wasn’t going to change that last night, and Quinn knows it.

“You know I didn’t drink,” I say into the pillow.

I’m just tired. Going to another party and staying up until a stupid time in the morning does not equal ‘Bea, you’ve made a good choice.’ And now I have classes. Great, how am I supposed to keep my eyes open with only a few hours of sleep?

“You know you should have stayed at the house, but you left me for a bar.” Quinn lays on the bed next to me. “There was this guy?—”

“There is always a guy,” I cut him off.

I’ve known Quinn since high school. We’ve both worked our asses off to get into this stupid rich college. We’re not rich like every other student attending this place, and we don’t have parents to kiss the dean’s ass to get us in.

The top grades and an exemplary scholarship to get into this rich-ass college in this rich-ass town are the only ways for people like us to go to The Hillcrest Academy. The Elite Trio owns this school and this town, just like their dads, granddads, and great-granddads. They call themselves the Vipers. If the stories are true, they live up to the name.

“Yeah, but this guy was different.” Quinn stops when I finally turn to face him, letting him know I’m listening to see what’s so unique about this guy.

I’ve lost count of the ‘special things’ about the guys he meets, so this tidbit should be interesting.

“Right, not sure if it’s a coincidence, but we both like the same artists, the same topping on a pizza, and we have the same birthday.”

I press my lips together to keep from smiling, but the man knows me too well.

“Stop that cheeky grin already. I’m telling you this one might be the one.”

“It’s the first day of college. I’m sure you’ll meet a lot of ‘the ones.’” Getting off bed, I prepare for the first day of class.

Pulling out some of my clothes, I throw them on the bed ready for when I get out of the bathroom, and walking into the bathroom, I turn when Quinn follows me.

“Uhm…I can shower alone.” I close my eyes as he puts the toilet seat down and sits on it.

Okay…

“What time is the first class?” I ask while I turn on the shower.

“In an hour.” He looks through his phone, checking his schedule for the thousandth time.

“Good, we can grab a coffee and some breakfast,” I tell him, stepping under the spray of the water. “Were you able to get all the books we need? I couldn’t find one.”

The number of books we need for classes is crazy, and then add the price of them on top of that…it’s insanity. But I know it will be worth it in the end.

“I got most of them. The bookstore on campus said they were getting some more in, so I’m not worried. I have the ones I need for this week,” Quinn shouts so I can hear him over the shower.

I know I’ll be sitting next to him in class, so I can just use his books until I get my own copies.

“Are we going to talk about what happened at the party last night?” he asks.

“What happened last night?” I pop my head out from behind the shower curtain.

“Let me think, Travis Parker’s dick in your hand, then he followed you up the stairs. So, spill it.”

I ignore him for a moment while I wash my body, thinking of the best answer to his question, but he’s also my best friend and knows everything there is to know about me.

“I’m waiting,” he shouts louder.

Turning the shower off, I put my hand out for him to give me my towel. When he does, I wrap it around myself, open the curtain, and then smile at Quinn, who is almost face-to-face with me.

“Nothing wrong with having a quickie in the bathroom.”

“Bea! I didn’t think?—”

“Now, we both know why I worked so hard to get into this college. Of all the ones I could have gone to, I picked this one for one reason. Nothing has changed.” I walk out of the bathroom and into my bedroom to grab my clothes.

I know what’s at stake for me, and Travis Parker is not fucking up my plan.

“I know, but he does have a reputation, and I’m going to worry,” Quinn says.

I turn to face him as I put on my tank top and shorts. I know Travis Parker is well-known for being a playboy. It isn’t a surprise to me, but I’m ready for him.

“Can I at least ask if it was good and if it was as big as the rumors?” Quinn pouts, making me laugh.

When we first came here a few weeks ago to enroll, we met some of the students, and they were very helpful in telling us about the Vipers. Travis Parker, Logan Miller, and Blake Carter. All the girls wanted them, and all the guys wanted to be them. There were so many rumors, but I couldn’t tell the truth from fiction. Two of them were off the market, which shocked me. The rumors made it hard to believe they could stick with one woman.

I already know what I need to know about Travis. Everything else is extra for me.

“For a quickie, it was memorable, very memorable.” I walk away from Quinn to get my sneakers on and to hide the smile I have just from thinking about him kissing me and slamming into me. “If I wasn’t so wet for him, I’m sure it would have hurt because the rumors aren’t close to the package he’s hiding.”

Every time he thrust into me, I swear…splitting my body in half is all that comes to my mind. Even now, I can still feel that man inside me. If that’s what he can do to my body in the bathroom, God knows what he’ll do to me if he has me in his bed for the night. And that thought is making me feel things I don’t want to be feeling, well, not for him.

“Jealous. Next time, get me a picture,” Quinn tells me, and I burst out laughing and shake my head at him.

“There will be no next time, and if in some crazy way it does happen, I’ll ask him for you.” I grab my bag and go out for a coffee because I need to wake up a bit more.

Plus, if everything people say about him is true, he won’t be chasing me anytime soon, which, for my plan, isn’t a good thing.

“White Mocha Frappuccino with a shot of espresso, please,” I tell the guy behind the counter.

As I look at their breakfast options, nothing seems remotely good.

Note to self: all the good stuff goes super early, and I should make breakfast at home.

“Can I also get two cinnamon rolls, please?” I turn to Quinn, who’s looking at his phone, which he has been doing all morning. “Are you waiting for this guy to message you, or are you wondering what to message him?”

I walk to the end of the counter to wait for my order.

“He wants to know if I want to go to some bar on Friday.” Quinn puts his cell away when our order is on the counter in front of us.

“Then go.” Taking a big bite of my cinnamon roll, we exit the coffee shop, and I can’t help but take a bite of my cinnamon roll, as it smells amazing.

“Have you forgotten what Friday is?” he says.

“No, but that’s during the day. The bar will be in the evening, but I’m not sure what the problem is.” I see a group of girls sitting at one of the tables laughing while they look over at someone, and just to be nosey, I look over my shoulder to see who it is. “Oh shit.”

I face forward quickly and pick up my speed, but not in an obvious way.

“Well, staying out of his way for a while didn’t go according to plan.” Quinn starts laughing, and I aim a glare in his direction, which stops him from laughing. “We have class. Get to the classroom, and I’ll meet you there, see if I can get him off your trail,” Quinn jokes.

I give him a nod and make my way through the crowd. Who the hell is calling me now? I dig my phone out and see Quinn’s name flash.

“He’s following you,” he tells me before I can even say hello.

“How far?” I ask, not wanting to look behind me because he’ll know I’m running away from him. But all I can hear is Quinn laughing. “Quinn?”

“Sorry, with his long legs and your short legs, he’ll catch up soon.”

“Shut up.” I end the call, enter the building, and scan the space for my classroom. Maybe I can hide in the row of chairs or something.

I open the door and smile at my teacher. I quickly place myself between two rows and lie down just in time to hear the door open.

I don’t hear anything until the first footstep comes down the stairs and then another.

“Mr. Parker, unless you failed my class last year, you’re in the wrong classroom.” The teacher tells him, and I look through the gap to see he isn’t too far from my row.

“I’m looking for someone,” he tells her.

“Well, unless that person is me, you’re in the wrong room. And my class is about to start. If you want to retake the class, please join us.” I no longer hear talking, but I hear footsteps, but I’m not sure if it’s more students coming in or if Travis has left.

“Young lady, would you like to come out? He’s gone,” I hear the teacher say.

Slowly getting off the floor and turning to my teacher, I give her a smile while grabbing my things and then making my way down to her.

“Mrs. Adams, I’m Bea Foster. I’ll be taking U.S. History this year.” I hold my hand out for her to shake, and she stares at me for a moment.

It was not really the best first impression for my teacher to have of me. Now, I’m worrying. She’s probably going to think I’m some whore who sleeps around with all the guys on campus.

Her lips slowly curl into a smile, and I sigh, thankful she doesn’t hate me.

“You’ve caught the eye of a boy who doesn’t give up, Miss Foster. If you keep up with him, you will have no trouble in my class.” She looks behind me as the door opens, and I hear a few more students coming in.

“He has to catch me first,” I reply, which makes her laugh and walk back to her desk.

I turn around and walk over to Quinn, who has just sat down in the second row. Placing all my things on the table, I turn to Quinn, who’s laughing.

“Message from Travis: ‘You can’t run forever.’”

I don’t plan on running forever. I just want Travis to chase me until he starts going a little crazy, wondering why I’m avoiding him.

“You do know I’m copying your work for this class.” Quinn wraps his arm over my shoulder as a group of us walk to the food hall before the next class. “I thought this one was going to be easy.”

“You think every class is going to be easy.” I laugh and turn to Laura, someone we met in class today. With her sitting next to me, I couldn’t ignore her. “How did you find the class?” I nod at her.

“It wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be,” Laura says.

She finally looks up from her books for the first time since leaving the classroom. She is already trying to figure out this week’s assignment. She’s going to be one of those students who will be in her dorm all night studying, never wanting to go out with us.

“You know, if we start the assignment tonight, we might be finished before the weekend, so if we get anything else this week?—”

“I’m going to stop you right there.” Quinn cuts Laura off. Standing in front of her, Quinn places his hands on her shoulders. “It’s the first week, girl, have some fun. Go out and fuck a few boys.”

I burst out laughing because only Quinn says that to someone after meeting them. I watch Laura’s expression, which is blank, but her cheeks are starting to turn red.

“Leave her alone,” I tell Quinn, pushing him away from her and continuing to walk to get lunch. “Ignore him. You’ll learn to love him. And you fuck boys when you want to.”

“Is it that obvious?” she says to me, and I smile.

“You just need to work on your facial expression, and you’ll be fine,” I reassure her.

Now, I’ve heard there are girls out there who save themselves for marriage or even until they think they’ve found the one, but I’ve never met any. If it’s a choice she’s happy with, then it’s none of my business to ask why. I would love to know how she’s done it because, god, I love sex too much not to have it.

“Bea, your friend is over there.” Quinn nods his head toward the girl from the party last night.

I don’t remember her ever saying her name, but I recognize her. She’s the captain of the swim team…Britney, I think…and I’ve heard she’s a bitch.

“How do you know her?” Laura pulls her wallet out of her backpack.

“I don’t…well, I just had a run-in with her. That’s all. How do you know her?” I say because Laura doesn’t look like the type of girl to be hanging out with those bimbos.

“I went to high school with her and all her friends, and then you have the Vipers. Travis, Logan, and Blake. I was the invisible girl. They don’t have a clue who I am.” Laura looks away from Britney and her friends when they look at us.

I smile and give Britney a wave, then walk to a free table with Quinn and Laura following me.

“Oh, the Vipers, I’m sure Bea had a?—”

“Shut up, Quinn.” I throw my pen toward him, but he moves out of the way.

“Where are you going to run to now, PR?” My lips curl into a smile, hearing Travis behind me.

“I’m not running. It’s the first time I’ve seen you. Besides, I don’t even know who you are.” I turn to face him, and fuck me…of course, he’s fucking gorgeous.

He has a few days of scruff growing on his face, and his brown hair is all touseled-sexy.

God…of course, his mere presence is going to make my plan harder to complete. A good-looking asshole is what he is. Even now, his shiny blue eyes are drinking in every ounce of my body, like he wants to suck everything out of me and keep it all.

“Really? Never seen me before.” He turns to Laura and nods his head at her.

She just moves out of the way. Fucking hell, woman, stand up for yourself. He sits next to me, his eyes traveling down my body, and then he leans closer. Blake and Logan sit on the other side of the table with their girls close to them.

“You asked me to fuck you harder just last night.”

Did he have to move so close to me? Did he have to smell so goddamn good? Earthy, but spicy at the same time, and it hits me in my core.

“Honestly, are you sure it was me? This is the first time I’ve ever seen you. I don’t even know your name.” I look over at Logan and Blake, who are laughing, and then turn back to Travis, who hasn’t taken his eyes off me.

“That’s Logan and Blake. I’m Travis. Happy?” Travis grits out the names, which makes me smile because I’ve gotten under his skin fast, and I like it.

“Why would I be happy? Knowing your names makes no difference to me.” I turn my attention back to Quinn and Laura, who are both just staring at Travis and me, but I ignore him.

“So, Quinn, are you going to the bar?” I ask him while Travis continues to burn my skin with his eyes still on me.

“Hi. Quinn, is it? You did a good job at the party last night,” Travis tells him and puts his hand out for him to shake.

“Thanks, it was a good party,” Quinn replies, then answers my question. “If you’re coming, I’ll go to the bar.”

“Deal. Laura, you in?” I say to her.

“No, I have too much work to do,” she quickly replies.

I roll my eyes, shaking my head at her. I’m going to get her out and have fun if it’s the last thing I do.

“Do I get your name?” Travis says, and I turn to face him.

“No. Are you planning on staying here the whole time, or don’t you have other girls to talk to?” I cock my head to pretend to get a better look at him.

It’s ridiculous, but I could look into his eyes all day, every day.

Whoa…what?

No. Nope. Nada…I can’t. I cannot let him win.

“Hi, I’m Meadow. This is August. I have a feeling we’ll be seeing a lot of each other soon. They don’t give up.”

I say hello to both, and August smiles at me. They have gotten themselves some pretty girls on their arms, which doesn’t surprise me.

“Don’t want to talk to other girls—” Travis stops when Laura giggles. He turns to her, and she stops. “I’m sitting in front of the only girl I want to talk to. How long are you going to play this game?” he says, placing his hand on my lower back, which makes me relax into his touch. And dammit, he knows it, too.

I stand up and gather my things together, which makes Quinn and Laura stand up, too. Looking down at Travis, I smirk at him. “I have no idea who you are, so only one of two things happened last night. One, I was drunk, and you were a shitty fuck, so I don’t remember you, or two, I was fucking amazing, and you just need more. And by the look on your face, I think it’s two because I am fucking amazing in bed.”

I walk away but stop and turn to face the three of them.

“It was nice meeting you, Blake, Logan—” I pause, smiling at Travis. Snapping my fingers, I say, “Trevor.”

Before he can correct me, I walk away with my friends in tow.

“You know his name is Travis.” Laura walks beside me, and I look over at her. “Oh, you’re messing with him.”

“Yes,” I reply and continue to walk away from the food court.

Now I wait to see what Travis’s next move will be. I have a feeling he won’t be stopping any time soon, which is exactly what I want.