path. They both look at me like I’ve sprouted tentacles or something. I look at them like they’re beyond gorgeous, but totally impossible. We will never be friends, despite their handsome faces.
“Does the new kid speak English?” they ask, exchanging a look. Their attention swings back to me, and I can feel that scrutiny like a laser burning into my skin. “Buenos dias. Cómo te llamas?”
Great. Now they’re asking me my name in Spanish.
“Excuse me,” I blurt, using my shoulder to push between them. They’re both tall, and clearly very fit beneath their uniforms. As I squeeze by them and take off down the hall, I can feel that they’re still watching me. Fantastic. I’ve barely made it past breakfast, and I’ve managed to fall on the radar of some weird, but stupidly attractive twins.
Junior year just got interesting.
As usual, classes are beyond boring, and by sitting in the back, I manage to squeak past the rest of the day without being overly examined by anyone else. I haven’t seen the twins since math, and even then, they had so many friends creating a shield around them that I was able to hide in the corner.
After school, I make a beeline for my new dorm room, shove my way into the building and bump into a broad chest. Taking a few steps back, I look up and blink the surprise from my face. Even though I practically ran across the lawns, my backpack bobbing, somebody’s made it here before me.
And not just anybody: Church Montague, the student body president.
I know who he is because his stupid, smiling face is on all the brochures. He’s some sort of, like, golden child or something.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Carson,” he says, putting his hands on his hips and looking me over.
Glancing up from under a flop of curly blonde hair, I study him. Church is blond, too, and tall. Crazy tall. He’s got a handsome, smiling face, and a chipper demeanor that immediately puts me on edge. He’s going to want to be friends, and I’m absolutely not interested in making friends with anyone at this school.
There’s a long, awkward pause as Church waits for me to respond.
When he bends down and peers into my face, I swing my backpack around between us and clutch it like a shield.
“Shy, huh?” he queries, but I’m still not interested in having a conversation with him. What if I start talking and he immediately knows what I’m hiding? Then what? I do not want to be a spectacle here. I don’t want to be anything here, but an easily forgettable shadow in the corner. Then when I get home to California, everything will go back to normal and I can forget all about this. “You are Charlie Carson, the new headmaster’s son, correct?”
A brisk nod from me, and Church straightens back up. I sigh with relief as he wrinkles his brows and cocks his head at me. Back home, had I met this guy and not already been in a relationship, I would’ve swooned. As things stand right now, I just want him to go away, so I can get to my room.
My room in the boys’ dormitory, I think with a prickle of terror. Even Dad was a bit iffy about it. He insisted I stay with him in the headmaster’s house, but the board rejected the idea. They’ve already made an exception about giving me a roommate—for obvious reasons—so I at least have my own space. Promises to finish construction on the half-completed future girls’ dormitory next door have been made, but I don’t plan to stick around long enough to live there.
“Well,” Church continues as the door opens behind me, and boys pour in. The color drains from my face as they surround me in a sea, and the twins appear on either side of him. “We thought you might want a tour of the academy.”
“No.” It’s the only word I can force past my suddenly tight throat, and then I’m rushing forward and skirting around them. This time, I’m stopped by a firm hand on my shoulder, flicking my eyes up to find a guy with the prettiest sapphire blue eyes and dark, razored black hair. He’s glaring at me right now, his full mouth downturned sharply.
“Don’t you have manners? We’re trying to be nice to you.” The guy that’s looking at me right now is terrifying. His dark hair falls forward and covers half of his face, and he’s got this look