support from each other."
I internally groaned. I didn't mind group work with certain people, but even in advanced classes there were a few that just coasted along not caring about their grades. They made more work for the rest of us.
"I know you might not feel like you need it, but next year, you might find you need to work with others to continue your success. It's a whole other world filled with distractions, and a study group will help you stay on track." She then pointed around to make groups of four.
"Did you hear that, Kline?" A shiver ran down my spine as Blake leaned over and whispered in my ear. "We're going to be study buddies."
"Mr. Huron." Mrs. Williams' voice held a warning. "Is there something you'd like to share with the class?"
I did an inner squeal of delight at him being called out for talking. I was a senior, but there was still joy to be had over the class disruption getting put in their place.
"Mrs. Williams, I was answering Riley's question."
No. Hell no, he wasn't about to make up something to get me in trouble. What grade were we in?
"And what is that?" She crossed her arms over her chest and looked between me and Blake. Mrs. Williams might have been a newer teacher on the staff, but she was one of the best.
"I can't repeat it. It was grossly inappropriate, and probably sexual harassment." He sounded so sincere that even I believed I had been inappropriate.
A few students in the class giggled, and Mrs. Williams narrowed her eyes at Blake. "And you expect me to believe that?"
I had never had Mrs. Williams as a teacher before, but I assumed most teachers had knowledge of the top students.
Disruptions in advanced classes weren't tolerated.
"Ma'am, if I told my father what you allowed to go on in your classroom, he would not be happy." Everyone knew that Blake's father, as well as Jax’s father, had major pull in the town of Salinity Cove. Their families had been here since it became a town.
Her hands fell to her sides and she cleared her throat. "Ms. Kline, if you and Blake are done being inappropriate, I'll get on with my lesson for the day."
I nodded, and Blake sat back in his chair with a smirk. Whatever the hell he was up to, I didn't like it one bit.
Chapter Three
Blake was in three out of the four classes I had before lunch. I breathed a sigh of relief during fourth period. He sat next to me in each class and distracted me to the point where I missed half of what the teachers had said.
Lunch rolled around, and I wished we were still allowed off campus as seniors. A few idiots had to ruin it for all of us. I liked lunch, but knowing the three of them would be there made me lose my appetite.
I had yet to run into Morgan, the third member of their tight-knit crew, but sensed it was only a matter of time. He was just as attractive as Blake and Jax, but had the bad boy persona down solid. He had a motorcycle that looked like it would be better suited for a raceway instead of the streets of Salinity Cove.
"Girl." Aiden grabbed my arm and steered me away from the cafeteria as I walked across the quad area. "We can't go in there." He led me in the opposite direction toward the parking lot. "Ivy is going to bring us lunch in my car."
My footsteps faltered before I sped up to keep up with his long strides. "Why? What's going on?"
"I heard the Tritons are paying Melissa to jump you in the cafeteria." He unlocked his car and opened the back door for me. "We can hide you better in the back."
I was grateful the gates to the parking lot hadn't been locked and security hadn't stopped us. My chest felt like someone had plopped down on it and I did as he directed. I had never been in any type of altercation. I wouldn't even know how to defend myself if someone started a fight.
"Maybe you should try calling your mom again and see if she'll call you out of school." Aiden turned in his seat and he reached back to squeeze my knee. "Those fuckers can't do this to you."
"I don't understand why they're doing this." I got my phone out of my backpack and tried my mom again. "It still goes