a motorcycle? Really? Fucking rich kids—and leans his head out.
“I thought I would give you a ride,” he calls, but I wave him away without actually speaking.
Honestly, I would rather eat shit than ever accept a ride from Elias fucking Briggs. Hell would freeze over first.
Ignoring him completely, I begin the long walk towards school, periodically checking my watch to make sure I’ll still get to class a few minutes early.
“Peony, please. It’s freezing.” Elias’s car has slowed to a crawl as it idles beside me. His gaze flickers from my face and then to the empty street. Damn Nana for living in the middle of nowhere. I would much prefer for there to be lots of traffic, forcing Elias to drive the speed limit.
I continue to ignore him as I grab my phone from my jacket pocket and thumb through the texts. Seven missed calls from Mom, of course, and a single text from Uriel.
Uriel: How’s the new town? Hating life yet?
Me: Always.
Uriel: The Devils there?
Uriel is one of the few people who knows the truth about what happened to me five years ago. He hates the Devils almost as much as I do.
Me: Yup. There’s one currently stalking me.
Uriel: WTF?!?
Me: Yup. Don’t worry. I’m being smart. Miss you, loser.
Uriel: Miss you too.
Me: Tell Yoselin I said hi!
Uriel: Will do. Be careful. I don’t trust them.
Some people might find it weird to be close friends with your ex’s new girlfriend, but that’s never been the case with us. I’ve known Yoselin since we were in diapers, and if anyone was a perfect match for Uriel, it’s her.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Elias’s jaw clench as he focuses his gaze completely out the front windshield. But despite no longer glaring at me, he still doesn’t drive away.
The next twenty minutes are fucking grueling as Elias continues a leisurely speed, easily keeping pace with me. I try my hardest to ignore him, but no matter what I do, where I look, I can sense him like a bug that sits on my skin.
Finally, after what feels like hours later, we arrive at the school, and I’m immensely grateful when Elias has to veer to the right in order to park his Jeep in the student lot. It allows me time to slip into school undeterred.
What game are you playing, Elias Briggs?
And how do I beat you at it?
Chapter 13
“Peony!” Mariabella’s voice reaches me before I even touch my locker. I turn around to see her barreling towards me, golden blonde hair cascading around her in perfect ringlets. Today, she wears a gorgeous white sweater and skin-tight jeans, and though I know the temperature will increase during the day, reaching the upper seventies, I have to admit she looks stunning.
“Hey.” I smile as I enter my combination, open my locker, and sort through my textbooks. I’ll need my biology one, but I’ll also need the sheet music Mr. Tucker gave us for Orchestra. Hopefully, I’ll be able to stop at my locker after second hour and switch out my books for AP U.S. History.
“So, I was talking to Helen,” she begins, leaning against the locker beside me and tucking a shiny strand of hair behind her ear, “and she mentioned that we’re going to work solely on tumbling today.” Her voice raises to a deafening squeal, garnering the attention of a few classmates nearby. But instead of being an excited screech, as I initially thought, I realize it’s a terrified one when her face drains of all color.
“I take it you don’t like tumbling,” I muse as I slam my locker shut and lean against it.
“I’m horrible at it,” she admits, blushing. “Absolutely awful. I’ve been trying to do a back handspring since freshman year.” She leans closer to whisper conspiratorially. “I’m afraid Helen will cut me from the team if I don’t get my shit together.”
“No.” I shake my head adamantly. “No way in hell. Helen loves you.”
“As a person, yes. As a cheerleader, not so much.” Mariabella’s voice is laced with such self-loathing and pain, that my heart breaks for her. “The only reason she’s keeping me on the team is because—”
“Because you’re a damn good base,” I finish for her, placing a hand on her shoulder. I give it a tight squeeze as her eyes flicker to my face in shock. “But if you’re seriously worried about tumbling, I could spot you.”
It shouldn’t be too hard…right?
Mariabella’s eyes light up as if I told her she