The Envy of Idols (Rich Boys of Burberry Prep #3) - C.M. Stunich Page 0,109
hair, and tattoos, one of his lip rings sticking out a weird angle. I reach out and poke it back into place with a finger. “You feel asleep.”
“Shit,” he says, checking his watch and then groaning. “Eleven o’clock? Seriously?” He gathers up his stuff, and the librarians follow us all out, locking the door behind us. Usually the library close at eight, but they have extended hours for the end of the year. “Imagine all the shit the Harpies could’ve pulled on me if I hadn’t been snoring in direct view of the librarian’s desk,” he says, rubbing at his face.
“I thought you didn’t care about your grades much?” I ask, wondering if I’ve ever really seen Zayd studying before. The answer is … no. In three years, I don’t recall many—if an—attempts on his part to improve his grades
“Yeah, well,” he murmurs, but then he just stops talking and yawns, and I’m too tired to press him for answers. Jessie meets us about halfway back to the towers, and asks Miranda to join her for a late night snack in The Mess. The dining hall, too, is open until midnight until finals are over.
“Go,” Zayd tells her, linking his arm with mine. “I’ve got this.”
“Thanks,” Miranda says, taking her girlfriend’s arm and peeling off to head into the dining room. One of our new ‘Inner Circle’ members, Briana Chow, opens the door and follows them inside, big purple circles of fatigue under her eyes.
“I’m too tired to eat,” I admit, and Zayd grins.
“Same.”
We head back to my room, and I invite him in, smiling as he collapses on my bed. I head into the kitchen to make a quick cup of chamomile, so my exhausted but still wired brain can actually get some sleep.
“Do you want any tea?” I ask, but Zayd doesn’t answer. I check on him again and find that he’s passed out. I don’t have the heart to wake him again, so I untangle his bookbag from his shoulder and go to put on the chair in the corner. As I move it, a piece of paper falls out and flutters to the floor.
Bornstead University Application Checklist.
That’s the title.
My breath hitches, and I flick my eyes over to Zayd again.
This the rock star here, the lead singer of Afterglow, son to rock royal Billy Kaiser.
And yet … he’s studying his ass off and trying to get into one of the most prestigious universities in the country.
Why?
Because of me?
I finish my tea, sip it slowly as I watch Zayd sleep, and then turn the lights before I climb into bed. I curl my body around him and cover us both up with the blankets. Before I know it, I’m asleep too, the hard, warm shape of his body bringing me more comfort than the chamomile tea ever could.
Next week is finals week.
I barely see my friends. I hardly kiss my boyfriends (that’s a serious crime in and of itself), and I get my ass kicked so hard by the exams that when the last day of school comes, I stumble over to the roster on the wall and find Tristan’s name above mine.
“You son of a bitch!” I choke as he grins and grabs me around the waist, pulling me close and kissing me on the side of the neck.
“It only took three years for me to beat you,” he whispers, but I’m not mad. Second place is still good enough to get into Bornstead, and I only lost by a fraction of a percent. Besides, I always have next year to redeem myself.
“Third years get to skip the ceremony,” Zayd says, catching up to us. Creed, Wind, and Zack aren’t far behind. Really, the whole school is here to see the roster, but they don’t crowd forward. They know better: when Tristan Vanderbilt is front and center, pushing and shoving is not acceptable. “Should we head to the lake now?”
“Let’s do it,” I say as Miranda and Lizzie join us. We’ve got other plans for the next few days, but we’re going to at least stop by the beach house, and make an appearance. I just hope I don’t have to see the Harpies or the Company boys anywhere near me.
It feels like Harper’s spirit’s been broken, but I know she’s just biding her time.
Eventually, she’s going to strike back, and it’s not going to be pretty.
For now though, I’m just excited to have survived third year with my life, my grades, and my heart intact.