As if Marek knew I was upset, he stood beside me and held my hand.
Since that day, things have been off between us. I’m not naïve enough to think what we have is going past anything physical. I’m also not willing to lie to myself and pretend like him pulling back enough to make me notice doesn’t sting.
“You ready to go?” Delaney pops her head into my open dorm room.
I finish smearing lipstick on and grab my purse. “Yeah, I’m all set.”
Delaney and I walk arm-in-arm to the auditorium. There’s a bite in the air, and I hold my uniform jacket tighter in the front to block the wind.
“I still think it’s weird they’re giving us an award for finding Georgina’s body. It’s not like we were looking for her. We were drinking in the woods, and they want to give us some sort of accolade for it.”
I barely hear anything she says. My eyes are too focused on Marek. He stands outside of the auditorium with Dixon, Byron, and Breaker. They’re wearing black slacks and black dress shirts, looking more like a unit than ever before. Four boys capable of ungodly things stand between me and a room full of alumni, teachers, board members, and family.
“Looking good, Palmer.” Breaker wraps one arm around Delaney, tugging her close to his side. They’ve grown closer as Marek and I have drifted apart. She seems to like him, and I’m happy for her. Breaker is a lot of things, but when he decides to thaw out for someone, there’s no turning back.
“Thanks.” I nod my head to the side. Marek follows me. “What’s going on with you?”
“With me?” He tucks his hands in his pockets, not able to make eye contact with me. Over his shoulder, the three boys have their stone-cold stares locked on us. “Nothing is going on with me. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Okay, you know what, I don’t have time for this. We did what we did. It was fun, but don’t feel like you owe me anything.” I quicken my steps.
“I don’t feel like I owe you anything.” He turns around and returns to the boys.
There’s a feeling in the air that could be cut with a knife. As I pass by them near the auditorium doors, all eyes are on me. Delaney releases her hold on Breaker and follows behind me. We sit in the front row where our name plates are. Delaney. Me. Byron. Marek. Dixon. Breaker.
Delaney sits while I pause in front of my seat. Marek pushes through the crowd, switches the gold name plates, and claims the seat next to mine. I stand over him, staring at his odd behavior.
“Don’t overthink this shit, Palmer,” he rasps. “Sit down.”
“Why are you so angry?” I accuse. “I can feel the hatred radiating off you. It’s practically lethal.”
“I’ve got some shit going on that’s truly none of your damn business.” He glares at me out of the corner of his eye, never turning his head to actually speak to me. “I want to get through this ceremony and spend my weekend blackout drunk. Is that what you want to hear?”
“Not really,” I whisper.
The lights dim. This is the annual alumni ceremony Glass Heart Academy holds after the year begins. It’s a way for the privileged and elite to toot their own horns, a way to stretch their reach a little further to prove how powerful they are because of this place.
The row of chairs on the stage is for the alumni being recognized. In the middle of the bunch sits Declan Dumas. As soon as Delaney spots him, she hisses a breath in. From his position above her, hunger and hatred mixes in the pools of his eyes. Dixon appears in front of Delaney and grabs her arm, leading her to the seat beside Breaker that he’d abandoned. I lean forward to see Breaker’s arm draped in front of her, protecting her from the predator on the stage.
“Heroes hide in unexpected places, Palmer,” Dixon whispers in my ear.
“What is with you boys and your cryptic messages?” Fussing with the hem of my skirt, I glance at him.
This is truly the first time we’ve spoken directly to each other. He’s quiet, always fading into the shadow of the other three. There’s something about him though that makes me believe he’s the most lethal of them.