Chapter Four

Matthias Delgado

"Will you just stop bitching about this already? I'm not going to change my mind."

I glare at my girlfriend, Amber, in the passenger seat of my brand-new Mustang. I'm done hearing about the fucking fall dance she wants me to attend with her. Fuck knows why I continue to put up with her shit.

"Matty," she whines.

The tires screech as I slam on the brakes. Motorists around me honk and curse as the traffic adjusts and flows around me.

"Don't push me, Amber. And don't you dare call me that."

The threat is clear in my words, venom dripping from every word.

"Thalia does."

"Fuck my life," I groan as I stomp on the accelerator, going way too fast. I need to get to Birchleigh so I can pretend to care about my classes and get rid of this fucking female.

"My mother," I emphasize the word, "can call me whatever she wants. She raised me, she earned the right."

"Stepmother."

"Just because your mother died and your stepmother is a cunt, doesn't give you the right to look down on everyone. Grow the fuck up."

I'm out of the parked car and striding across campus before she can even formulate a reply. I'm so fucking tired of this bullshit. But it's not like I really have a choice in the matter. Amber and I will be married someday. It's not that I love her, I can barely even stand her, but it's best for business. Her father is one of my father's allies—now that they stopped competing—and uniting the families through marriage will make us even more powerful.

"Sorry," a female voice mumbles when I walk into her as we both try to enter the Intro to Biology class that has already started.

"Fucking move."

I know I'm being rude, and I'm taking my frustrations with Amber out on this girl. Casting my gaze her way, I watch her face contort with rage before she plasters her back against the wall, not saying a single word even though I can see she wants to.

Kaelie fucking Carter. My goddamned kryptonite.

"Mr. Delgado," Professor Smith says loudly as she watches me enter. "So kind of you to join us."

The entire class turns to see me standing there. Kaelie skirts around me and walks all the way to the front of the class before taking her seat. Professor Smith nods at her before returning her attention to me, clearly waiting for me to say something.

Instead of apologizing, like I know I should, I let my mouth run away from me.

"I would apologize for my tardiness but seeing as she didn't have to, I won't either."

"The difference between you and Miss Carter is her four-point-zero grade average. You have every advantage while she works her ass off to overcome her obstacles," Professor Smith replies before turning her back to me, effectively dismissing me before restarting her slide show.

Fucking bitch. She doesn't know a damn thing about me and the obstacles in my life.

****

Kaelie Carter

Classes drag and I spend my lunch break in the library, mostly to avoid Amber and her bitch squad but also because my ancient laptop died on me. The computers here may be old and slow, but they are free to use.

A notification pops up indicating I have a new email. Dancing the cursor across the screen I open the app.

To:[email protected]

From:[email protected]

Subject:Tutoring

Here is my class schedule.

Let me know.

M.

I open the attachment and freeze at the name of the student. Matthais Delgado. Hell, no. I'm not purposefully putting myself anywhere near that asshole or Amber. Who just so happens to be his girlfriend.

My mind spirals out of control running in a million different directions at once. I know I need the money he promised to pay. But I also know this won't end well. I swore when I walked out of my parents' trailer I would never, ever have anything to do with anyone in "the life" again. I want to be normal, go to college, and maybe even find a boyfriend, and tutoring Matthias Delgado is a sure way to mess that all up.

My cell phone rings dragging me back to reality.

"What?" I snap not taking the time to check the caller ID.

"Did you get my schedule?" he asks.

Fucking Matthias.

"Yeah. I can't help you."

I end the call by slamming the phone closed. I don't want to talk to him, it was bad enough running into him before class today. Every time I see the hate in his eyes it feels like I'm being stabbed, my heart breaks, and I want to cry. Everything is so fucking messed up that I can't see a way out. I pray to all that is holy in this shitty fucking world that he loses my number. Of course, I would never be that lucky.

When the device before me rings again, I stare at it like it might bite me.

"No cell phones," the librarian hisses at me from the counter and I give her what I hope is an apologetic smile.

"I said no," I answer. I toss my books into my bag and sling it over my shoulder before heading out the door.

"What the fuck is your problem?"

"You. You are going to be a problem, Matthias. And my life is complicated enough without any more issues added into the mix."

"You don't even know me." His voice is lower now and I feel bad, but not enough to make me change my mind.

I can find another job. Take some extra hours cleaning offices downtown. The one thing I can't do is spend any amount of time with him.

"I don't need to know you," I start to lie but he cuts me off.

"Tutor me. We can do it away from campus, no one will know."

"I can't."

"I'll pay you five hundred dollars a week and a bonus if I get higher than a B minus on any subject."

He sounds like he is negotiating but I know I've already lost. That money will fix all my problems. I could quit my job and focus only on getting my degree. If I put in the time I may be able to get out of this florescent-lit hellhole sooner.

"If I do this," I say staring at the overcast sky, "no one can know. I'm serious. If one person finds out, I will quit."

"Fine. I will text you my address. When do you want to start?" There's a smugness to his voice, the small victory seemingly enough to make him happy.

"I can be there at five."

"See you then."

The first drop of rain falls on my upturned face as I work through the repercussions of what I have just agreed to. This is not going to end well.