She used to dance at this studio, too—until she graduated with a full ride to Juilliard. She and Brady have been best friends for years, ever since Sav’s father went all dead-beat-dad and Mrs. Laurence was the one to give her something to strive for. Hell, the two of them even fake dated for four years. The dedication to masking their truths was a little excessive, if you ask me, but their loyalty to each other is something I can appreciate.
I shake my head. “She’s more Delaney’s friend than she is mine.”
He chuckles. “That’s not true. I remember the three of you being the best of friends when you were kids.”
“Yeah, well, that was before she vanished for years and then came back with a new year, new me attitude.”
“You’re still holding that against her?”
I shrug, breaking our eye contact to look at the ground. “You didn’t see what that did to Delaney.”
The topic is one of few that I shy away from. My sister is the most important person in my life, and seeing the way she was destroyed by Savannah’s refusal to acknowledge her after being gone for three years—let’s just say Delaney may forgive her, but it’s going to take a lot more than an apology and some groveling before I do.
“Touché.” Brady smiles and drops the subject.
A few minutes later, Lennon emerges again, dressed in jeans and a HGP hoodie. She gives Brady a quick hug goodbye and then links her arm in mine and heads for the door. I pull the keys from my pocket, unlocking the door. The second we get in, Lennon sighs.
“God, I’ve missed you.”
My brows furrow. “You saw me a few hours ago.”
She turns to look at me and smirks. “I was talking to the car.”
“You’re a bitch,” I snicker.
“I know,” she says with pride. “It’s the main reason you love me.”
THE BLEACHERS ARE FILLED with students excited to attend the first football game of the year. Most of them are dressed in the school’s colors. Even Lennon has eye black on her face, though of course she pulls it off better than anyone else here. It’s the blonde, curly hair and petite figure that makes her gorgeous, but it’s her personality that makes people actually fear her. She’s a total spitfire, which is why we get along so well.
I watch Kellan and Oakley run across the field like they own it while Tanner throws the ball in a perfect spiral. Kellan catches it and takes off, dodging every player trying to take him down. He stops short, and the guy charging toward him misses and falls to the ground, only for Kellan to jump over him. Oakley’s shoulders bounce as he laughs and the touchdown is scored.
Glancing over at Asher, he seems pleased, but still has that stone-cold look plastered across his face. It’s like he has no feelings. No pride. No joy. He just stays completely stoic, even as the buzzer sounds and Haven Grace is announced the winner.
“At least blink while you stare. Jeez, Tess.”
I roll my eyes and turn my attention to Lennon. “I can’t seem to figure him out.”
She smiles sadly. “I don’t think you’re meant to. He’s not just the guy from the bar anymore. He’s our teacher. It changes the dynamic between you two.”
A part of me knows she’s right. I should stay away. Involving myself with him would lead to trouble. It’s completely against the rules, and yet, I’ve always been the rebel. The more forbidden he is, the more I crave him. I’m sure there will be consequences, but I can’t seem to care. I’m not going to stop until I get what I want.
ALCOHOL IS FLOWING THROUGHOUT the house as everyone celebrates the football team’s win. Kellan’s place is big enough to fit the entire school, but thankfully, not everyone was invited. At least that boy has sense enough not to allow the freshmen in. For one, they’re fourteen and have no business being at parties like this, and second, they’re always so overbearing and desperate.
“Tess, come take a shot with me,” Charleigh calls, but my attention is currently being pulled elsewhere.
Scrolling through the Asher Hawthorne hashtag, I happened to come across a video of some girl talking about the party currently going on at Asher’s penthouse. A brilliant idea comes to mind and I stand up, pocketing my phone before going to find Kellan. As expected, he’s surrounded by girls, with one on each arm. They all have to be