Bully King - J.A. Huss Page 0,64
us believe it.
“Elexa,” Valentina says. “We’ve all been you. We all made a choice to stay. And if that’s your choice, we need the certification before we get this day started.”
“Started?” I mumble. Jesus Christ, what comes after the rigged virginity check and drug test? I don’t even want to imagine.
“Choose,” Selina says. “Either read the card or walk out. It’s up to you. But if you read that card, you better really be on board. Because it only gets worse from here, Elexa.”
The words they’ve been telling me for days suddenly feel heavy with threats now that they’re in context.
Elexa nods and takes a deep breath. And then she stands there while Natasha pats her face down with a hot cloth and cleans away the tears.
Then Elexa looks at Valentina and begins to read the card for the camera, giving her explicit permission for the doctor to examine her.
Isabella turns to look for her facemask, then catches my eye as she heads back to her couch. She shakes her head. “You should’ve stayed home today, Cadee. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.”
“Me? What do I have to do with this?”
But then a door opens in the back of the room and a nurse calls Elexa Simpson’s name.
Elexa tips her head up and walks to the door with her back straight and her chin high, disappearing inside the room.
I just stare at that door, horrified, while Natasha, Sophie, and Maddie—who has not uttered a single word this whole time—recite the words on the little card for Valentina’s camera.
I know Cooper sent me in here to help them, but I can’t help them. I sit on a chair in the corner and just… am one of them.
I pretend it’s not happening.
Soon enough though, all the girls have read the card and gotten their checks. The doctor comes out and not one of these girls looks at him.
They leave, but he’s not out the door but a few seconds before another nurse comes in with a medical bag. She sets up at the dining table and one by one draws blood from the girls and neatly tucks the vials away in a black bag.
When she leaves we all look at each other, wondering why the fuck any of us are doing this.
I want to judge them. Find fault with their decisions. Maybe even sneer at them for being greedy. After all, these girls have everything. They don’t need to be in this secret society.
But if I did that, then I’d have to take a good long look at myself and admit I’m greedy too.
Because I don’t need that scholarship. Chairman Valcourt gave me all that money. He was probably counting on me skipping out on the first day.
That’s what a smart girl would’ve done.
And yet here I am.
The door opens and Cooper peeks his head in. “Isabella?”
She doesn’t even remove her eye mask. “What?”
“Mona’s a no-show. I have people looking for her—"
“She’s out then,” Elexa says. “Fuck Mona. She didn’t show? Fuck her! She’s out!”
Cooper sighs. “Isabella?”
“What?” She throws her facemask again. “What do you want me to do? Go find her? She’s got bodyguards for that!”
“The bodyguards are on it. I’m sure she’ll be back tomorrow. But we’re still short a girl.”
“No!” Elexa is screaming now. “No! She didn’t show, she’s out! She can’t just waltz in here tomorrow like—”
“Shut up, Elexa!” Isabella is really losing it today. She stands up, takes a deep breath as she smooths down her skirt. “So what do you propose, Cooper? Hmm? What should I do? Pull another girl out of my ass?”
And then his gaze migrates my way. And those electric-blue eyes turn dark and disturbing. “Use Cadee. Get her ready.”
“No!” I say, jumping up to my feet. “No fucking way!”
“Ha!” Elexa points at me. “Ha! You get the same choice as the rest of us, Fugling! Now you’ll know how it feels to be—”
Isabella slaps her. “Go to the bathroom and calm your ass down! Do you hear me?” She points her finger right in her face and it is trembling bad.
Elexa stomps off and slams the door behind her.
“No. I’m not doing it,” I say. “I’m not doing it.”
“You don’t need an exam, Cadee,” Cooper says. “You’re not one of us. I keep telling you that. You’re just a stand-in. Mona will have her exam when we find her.”
“Why don’t you just kick her out?” Sophie says. She’s not hysterical like Elexa was. She sounds… defeated.
“Same reason I’m not gonna kick you