Saint (Angelview Academy #1) - E.M. Snow Page 0,48

speak another word of protest, I step past him to try and go outside. Saint doesn’t budge, though, and I’m forced to squeeze between him and the doorframe, which means my body presses tight to his before I’m free. My heart races at the contact, and I shove my way through the rest of the group and their kegs, ignoring Laurel’s sharp glare and Gabe’s amused smirk and inclined red head.

Making my way from the house, I text Loni, who responds right away. There’s a loud roar as the party swings into motion, and I stand on the sidewalk dejected and alone, wondering if anyone will chase after me.

Terrified of just who it might be.

15

I sit down for breakfast in the dining room Monday morning distracted and groggy from a weekend of little sleep and tons of anxiety. I couldn’t get the weird animosity between Saint and Liam out of my head. There’s a part of me that thinks I’m the reason for it, but Saint knew we were kind of hanging out before Friday night. Was it because we were off campus at Liam’s house that made him so angry?

Was he afraid we were going to hook up?

I’m his toy, after all, and he doesn’t like to share.

The thought sends a spike of anger rushing through me. I’m not his property, no matter what he thinks. If Liam and I want to hang out at his house together, there’s not a damn thing Hot Draco can do about it.

I’m stewing over my plate of pancakes when Loni comes rushing up to me and distracts me from my frustrating thoughts.

“Mallory! I need your help!” she declares without preamble, and my eyebrows shoot up.

“Umm … with what?”

She sits down next to me. “Okay, so Headmaster Aldridge asked me to take over the planning for decorations and prep for Parents Weekend.”

I blink, confused. “But … that’s only a few weeks away, isn’t it?”

She groans and bobs her head. “Yeah, it is. Apparently, they put an idiot in charge before me and she dropped pretty much every ball she could and spent all the prep money on coke since her parents have apparently cut her off.” She gives me a second to process this information, before explaining, “I’ve helped plan the weekend before, so Aldridge picked me out for the job personally.”

“That sucks.”

“Big time,” she agrees. Clasping her hands together, she makes her eyes so wide, she reminds me of an anime character. “Mallory, would you please, please help me? Pretty, pretty please with a cherry on top?”

I almost laugh at her earnestness because it’s kind of adorable. “Of course, you didn’t even have to ask.” I mean that. Other than something that would get me expelled, there’s not much I wouldn’t do for the girl who’d made my year bearable.

“Oh, thank you!” She claps in delight then lunges forward to wrap me in a tight hug. “You’re a lifesaver.”

I pat her back and chuckle. “No problem.”

Suddenly, she stiffens in my arms.

“Hey Mallory? Why’s Saint looking at you like that?”

My features sink into a frown as she pulls away. “What do you mean?” Twisting around, I scan the hall until my attention lands on him a few tables away. A small gasp escapes my lips at the intensity behind his stare. I mean, the bastard always looks intense, but today he looks frustrated—and pissed.

Is he still upset about Friday night’s drama?

“I can’t tell if he wants to kill you or fuck you in front of everyone here,” Loni murmurs.

“I’m pretty sure it’s the first option,” I reply, turning back around so I don’t have to endure his icy glare any longer.

Plunking her elbow on the table, she rests her chin in her hand and twists her lips. “Did you do something in particular to piss him off?”

I make a face. “Who knows anymore. I breathe, and he’s mad. It is what it is.”

Except this is different. I can feel it. I just can’t figure out why.

“He’s such a dick,” she grumbles.

“Yeah … he is.”

I fight the urge to turn back around to look at him and finish my breakfast as quickly as possible so I can get away from his burning stare.

When I reach English class later, I stop short as soon as I walk into the classroom. Liam’s sitting in his old seat, away from mine. I’m surprised by how disappointed I am by that. Slowly, I make my way over to him. He doesn’t ignore me, but his expression isn’t as