step down until I'm much closer to him and I catch a glimpse of the outline of something dangling around his neck, almost hidden by the crew neck of his t-shirt.
"Money might give you power, but even power comes with strings attached," he continues in that hollow tone. "Piss off the wrong people, make the wrong move, trust the wrong friends—and suddenly all of that money and power can disappear in a heartbeat. Money brings misery. Power brings nothing but bloodshed."
At that last comment, his eyes clear and he seems to realize where he is as I stand there, staring at him with curiosity, wondering where this had come from. I don't say anything and he doesn't offer any explanation.
Instead, the two of us head in the direction of my dorm, and when we get there, he leaves me at the door without another word.
35
Avalon
I haven't had this much attention in … well, I've never had this much attention. Ever. At first, I think it's because of me, but as their stalker-tendencies become the norm over the next week or so, I begin to realize that they just naturally draw people's focus. Eyes follow them wherever they go. Girls go out of their way to try and capture their eye. Guys always raise their hands in greeting. It's like everyone wants to know them or wants to be known by them and they take it in stride, as if that's something they've grown up with their whole lives. For me, it's just another difference between us. While they might be used to being seen, I am used to being invisible and I don't like my new status.
"Hi, Avalon!" I nearly jump out of my skin when an unfamiliar girl walking down the hallway in Havers calls out to me, waving her hand.
Glancing over my shoulder, I scowl at her and shove my way into the dorm room where Rylie, thankfully, is not. I've had too much of this, I decide. I need another release. A break from this place.
I glance at the clock and realize I've only got a few hours left to pull it off. Buses in Eastpoint tend to stop running around nine so if I want to make it out to the lake, I've got to get my ass in gear. Dumping my bag of school supplies, I shovel in a new change of clothes and a few other things before changing into the only swimsuit I own—a token from the lost and found from one of my old schools. A lot of people don't like to reuse swimsuits, but for a girl like me, it's this or nothing.
I tie the top around my neck which, if I'm honest, is a bit too small before snagging a long t-shirt that looks more like a dress than just a shirt and slide it on over my head. My whole body perks up, my steps seemingly lighter and more energetic as I rush to get ready. It's like it can physically sense the release we're about to get.
Shoving my arms through the loops of my backpack, I cinch it tight and leave the room, taking the stairs two at a time, holding onto the railing so I don't slip and go flying down. When I get to the end, I practically leap off the last three as I make a beeline for the front entrance. I nearly stumble over my own two feet and go down in a heap when, as I push through the double doors, a tall figure turns towards me expectantly, a phone pressed to the side of his head.
"Yeah, I'll be there. Gotta go."
I straighten and glare at him. "Are you fucking kidding me?" I snap. "Do you literally just stand outside of my dorm all day, waiting for me?"
Dean arches one brow and stares down at me as he shoves his phone back into his pocket. For a moment, he doesn't say anything, but instead, lets his eyes rove down my body curiously. He doesn't answer my question. "You can't wear that," he says instead. "Go back and get changed, we're going to a party."
"Not just no, but hell fucking no," I tell him, crossing my arms over my chest. "I've already got plans."
He shrugs as if my words are a mere inconvenience. "Doesn't matter. They just changed."
"Nope." I stomp past him.
"What are these plans of yours?" he asks, following me.
"None of your business," I reply.
Just like Abel, he finds no issue keeping up