Savage Royals (Boys of Oak Park Prep #1) - Callie Rose Page 0,63

get my body to fucking move.

My head felt stuffy, like I’d poured cement between my ears and let it harden, and my clothes and hair reeked of weed. That meant showering before class wasn’t optional.

I was tempted to blow it off and go back to sleep, but Jacqueline’s warning about attendance flickered through my brain. Goddammit.

Grimacing, I sat up. On the nightstand where my phone had been, a glass of water sat next to two small pills and a handwritten note. I picked up the paper and the pills, cupping them in my hand as I read.

Morning, Princess

These will help. Drink the water even if you don’t feel like it.

~F

A warm feeling expanded in my chest, and I traded the note for the glass of water, using it to swallow the pills before gulping down the rest. Finn had been right. I didn’t feel like it. But as the liquid hit my stomach, it seemed to radiate through me, clearing out the gross, heavy feeling the tequila and weed had left in my body.

I stood unsteadily, glancing at the clock again before moving toward the bathroom. My body was sluggish, and time seemed to be racing, but I showered as quickly as I could, skipped blow-drying my hair, and threw on my uniform. Then I snatched up my books and backpack and hustled across campus.

By the time I rounded the corner of Hammond Hall, the Aspirin were beginning to take affect, and the slight throbbing in my head had subsided. All in all, I didn’t feel that bad, considering I wasn’t sure how much I’d drunk at the party. I didn’t even remember getting back to my dorm.

I’d cut it too close, and first period was already starting as I approached the entrance to Craydon Hall. All four of the Princes were lounging at the bottom of the steps, and they straightened when they saw me walking up.

“She lives.” Finn grinned at me.

“Yeah.” I smiled tentatively. “Thanks to you. And thanks for setting my alarm too.” I glanced at the others. “You didn’t have to wait for me.”

“Wanted to make sure you didn’t throw your phone against the wall and sleep through the alarm.” Mason shrugged, turning to lead the way up the stairs. He glanced back at me over his shoulder. “I told you, Princess. You’re one of us now, and we take care of our own.”

We broke off once we entered the building, each heading to our own classes. All of us were late, although I was the only one who’d had to be.

I zoned out hard during Pre-Calculus while Mrs. Stinson wrote numbers on the board with a squeaky marker. The last solid memory I had of the previous night was resting my head lightly on Finn’s shoulder and feeling his voice vibrate in his chest. How much longer had I been there?

Jesus, I hope I wasn’t a sloppy mess when they brought me home.

Finn had definitely been the one to write the note, but I wasn’t sure if he’d brought me back alone, or if he’d had help. They’d left me in my clothes, which was a good thing, although my comforter probably smelled like pot now. If I’d woken up in my underwear or pajamas or something, I would’ve been seriously skeeved out, even if they’d meant it as a nice gesture.

They’d… helped me.

They’d taken care of me, just like Mason had said. It was a little thing, but it meant a lot. They could’ve left me in that study room in Clarendon Hall. Who knew when I would’ve woken up, or what state I would’ve been in—I could’ve missed most of my classes.

But they hadn’t left me behind, and that thought made a little bubble of warmth expand in my chest.

I still hadn’t forgotten what they’d done to me last semester, but if I was looking for proof that they’d changed, that this shift was more than a temporary ceasefire, this was pretty solid evidence.

By lunch, I was feeling good enough to crave a greasy burger, and I complained to the guys that the Oak Park dining staff really didn’t know how to do comfort food right. They laughed, and Finn promised to help me find the perfect greasy fast food joint, although we’d probably have to go outside of Roseland to find it.

Elijah and Mason both checked in on me again in fifth and seventh periods. And in sixth period, I skipped my usual dance training, and Finn and I lay on the