Kings of Anarchy (Brutal Boys of Everlake Prep #3) - Caroline Peckham Page 0,80

wasn't like I was unhappy here. I loved spending my time with the other Night Keepers and now Tate too. But if I'd realised that my time with my mom was running out, I would have made the most of every day I had with her.

I watched as the forest green Everlake Prep flag flapped hard in the breeze that proceeded the rising storm up on the top of the building and I couldn't help but wonder what it would feel like to be way up there when the storm hit.

"You alright, dude?" Danny Harper's voice drew my attention and I glanced around to find him standing there beside me, looking like he gave altogether too many shits about me.

Danny was strange in that respect. Everyone else at this school flocked around me, kissed my ass and wanted to spend time in my company because of the status I held and the protection that might be offered if I saw them as a friend. But Danny actually seemed to give a fuck about me. He was the only one who ever seemed to notice that I painted half of my smiles on these days. The only one who ever asked if I was alright without looking half terrified that if I wasn't, I might use my power in this place to punish him for it. Maybe he really was my friend. I couldn't say I had a whole lot of genuine ones of those though, so it was hard to be certain.

"I heard that lightning struck that flagpole during a storm over the summer," I said, pointing up to the top of the building. "Apparently the flag set alight and was burned to a crisp and they had to get a new one before term started up again.

"Oh yeah?" he asked curiously, turning to look up at it and the dark clouds beyond.

"What do you think it would feel like to stand up there while the rain was crashing down on us and the lightning was burning through the sky?"

He considered that for a moment then turned to look at me with a grin. "I'd say it would feel like being alive," he replied, already knowing what I was getting at and clearly sensing my mood.

I needed some kind of rush today if I was going to break this hopeless bullshit cycle I was descending into.

"I'm pretty sure there's a roof access door inside," Danny suggested as he began to lead the way to the double doors which led into the building, but I shook my head as I shoved myself upright.

"Nah. I say we take the more direct route." I pointed at the grey walls beside us and he hesitated as he took in what I meant.

The bricks were old and the mortar crumbling in enough places that I was sure we would be able to find foot and hand holds to make it to the top. It was a long fucking fall if we screwed it up but that was half the fun.

I smirked at the challenge and shrugged out of my blazer before shedding my tie and rolling my shirt sleeves back. Fancy ass loafers probably weren't the best choice for scaling walls but fuck it, that was what made it interesting.

"You're fucking crazy, dude," Danny chuckled nervously but he shed his blazer and tossed it on the picnic bench alongside mine all the same.

"Beats being miserable," I muttered and the look he cut me said he'd heard that, but he had the good sense not to comment.

Thunder rumbled through the clouds and we both looked up, exchanging a glance which acknowledged that this was dumb as fuck and smirking as we moved towards the wall anyway.

"Last one to the top sucks ass," I taunted as I picked out my first handholds.

"I hope you don't mean that literally," he joked and my smile widened.

"I guess we'll find out when you lose."

"Three, two, one-"

I jammed my fingers into the small gap between the bricks and began to climb as fast as I could.

At first there were more than enough gaps and holes to let me heave myself higher, then I used the top of the first floor window to gain even more height, but as I made it to the second floor, I failed to spot my next grip.

Danny laughed as he pulled ahead to my right and I cursed him as I was forced to shuffle in his direction along the side of the lead frame beneath