Blazing Academy: Semester One (Academy For All Things Scorching #1) - Avery Song Page 0,58

out of the crowd of students, looking as cool as ever while his cape seemed to float up and about while his hands remained casually in his pockets.

One simple look around the circle and his eyes landed on me for a few seconds and then moved to Rick.

"Whose messing with our Blazing Queen on the first day of school?" he questioned.

As if everyone suddenly wanted to aid him in his quest, they all pointed their fingers to Rick, who shivered at the sudden call-out.

Does Keru have some sort of status in the school or something?

"S-She started it!" he accused.

"I was actually minding my own business, talking with my boyfriend," I spoke up.

Westley glanced my way, wearing the biggest smirk ever, which made me correct myself. "Boy who’s a friend!"

Now Gabriel was smirking, and I swear he was going to tease me for this all semester long.

Westley moved to stand behind me, and to my surprise, he pulled me back into a hug and rested his head on my shoulder.

"We were enjoying some alone talk between lovers when we were rudely interrupted." Westley's voice was now deep with a spike of possessiveness that made my whole body tingle in all the sensitive places.

I had to fight every urge to not blush -or press my legs together - as his hold around me tightened and he snarled, "Now instead of wasting any more of our time, why don't you get your flaming ass going to orientation, Horseman?"

Horseman?

I could see the gleaming rage in Rick's eyes as he took a step back, only to bump into Gabriel, who stood tall, arching an eyebrow at him when he twirled around as if he forgot Gabriel was there.

Keru began to walk again until he was standing in front of Rick. Westley let me go, moving to close the square gap that locked Rick into place.

Keru cocked his head up slightly, and his eyes seemed to darken until they were just as ink-black as Rick's had previously been.

"Since it's the first day of school, I'll be nice. Remember your place," he snarled with power. "That little title is only in your possession because I have higher priorities, but I'll give you a warning now. Stay away from Alice and we won't have any problems."

He inched in closer, and I was practically cartwheeling on the inside to see Rick shaking in fear. "If you or the other three in that silly squad of yours begin to bother her, I may just have to reconsider claiming what was offered to me and my friends first. Remember that before you act stupidly, like you did today. Got it?"

Rick swallowed, taking a nervous glance my way. I could see the contemplation in his expression, as he grit his teeth in fuming anger. He pulled away from my gaze and looked Keru in the eye before he nodded.

"Got it."

"Good," Keru declared. "Now off to the orientation, everyone, and let's all pretend none of this happened."

As if Keru's demand was suddenly absolute, everyone began rushing down the halls, scrambling to get to where they had to be and leaving us alone.

Rick had to give me one last glare before he darted past Keru and rushed into the crowd until he was gone.

My heart was beating rapidly against my chest, but not out of fear of being suspended for the confrontation.

They...defended me.

It was hard to even describe how it felt to have people stand up for you. What words could I even use to express the alleviation of worry Rick's random entrance brought? I still wasn't sure why he was here, but from his new appearance and uniform, he'd been hiding the fact that he wasn't as mundane as he made himself out to be.

Calling me a victim when he played the role well enough to win him an Oscar.

The soft brush against my cheek brought me back to the present. Green eyes locked onto mine as I realized Westley was now in front of me.

"How's our princess doing?"

"I'm fine." I kept my voice steady to try not to show how moved I really was with their joined defense. Keru and Gabriel shuffled over so we were huddled against the lockers, but still gave off a casual look like we were merely catching up.

"Didn't Chambers saying something about a student named Rick? The one that got injured and was threatening to sue?" Gabriel clarified.

"That's him," I answered. "I...never would have expected him to be here. No, he shouldn't be here. He has been