The Secret Girl (Adamson All-Boys Academy #1) - C.M. Stunich Page 0,89

her fingers to the side of her head. “What happened?” He gestures at her loosely. “You've got blood in your hair.” I notice he doesn't mention that we saw her lying there on the grass. Smart move.

“I don't really know. I think I tripped or something, and hit my head.” Selena reaches out a hand and gives her friend's a squeeze.

“I'll go get you some more water.” She takes the cup before glancing over to me with a raised brow. I give a slight shake of my head, and Selena moves away in a flutter of honey-blond hair.

“You tripped and hit your head?” Ranger repeats, and Kesha gives him a weird look.

“Isn't that what I just said? I appreciate the concern, but we only slept together once, Ranger. Get over yourself.” She turns back to her friends as my cheeks flush, and I try really hard not to think about what she just said.

“Come on.” He grabs me by the wrist and drags me through the crowd.

“Do you think she's telling the truth?” I ask, refusing to let myself wonder about the when, where, and how of Ranger's sexual encounter with Kesha. It must've been last year, right? Why do you even care, Charlotte?! There's more important shit to worry about; let it go!

“I have no idea. Maybe.” He pulls me over to my dad, and pauses politely next to him while he finishes whatever conversation he's having with the headmistress of Everly.

“Mr. Woodruff,” Dad says, looking between the two of us, his eyes fixating on the spot where Ranger's fingers are curled around my wrist. As if he can sense trouble coming, Ranger releases me abruptly. “How can we help you?”

“Could we speak to you outside for a minute?” Ranger asks, managing to keep his voice even. Me, I feel all tongue-tied. I'm not even sure how to talk about what just happened. Part of me wonders if it's even real.

Dad nods, and we head outside, just to the left of the door, and the silence settles over me in a wave.

Two people in hooded sweatshirts attacked me tonight. There was a noose, hanging from a tree. Part of me wants to believe it was all some sort of elaborate prank, but … the rest of me wonders if I just slipped through death's fingers.

“What did you want to talk to me about?” Dad asks, and Ranger and I exchange a long look. As if he can sense how tongue-tied I am right now, he turns to my dad and tells his version of the story.

“I know it sounds crazy,” Ranger adds after he finishes, glancing over at me as he lifts his shirt and shows my father the wound on his chest. “But I think the same thing that happened to my sister is happening to your daughter.”

“My daughter?” Dad starts, looking over at me. I cringe and shrug, digging my fingers into the pockets of my baggy pants. He's probably got the wrong idea, but I don't care. Tonight's been … awful. Just awful.

“Yeah, well, my secret may have slipped a bit …” I start, and Archie sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. He's got a big, stately Roman nose. I inherited some things from him—namely his stubbornness—but I definitely got most of my facial features from Mom. “But does that really matter? Have you been listening to what we've been saying? Some psychos tried to string me up to a tree.”

“Mr. Woodruff,” Dad says, dropping his hand from his face and sighing. “Could you please step inside for a moment, so I can speak with Charlotte privately?” Ranger's eyes narrow, but he nods briskly and turns away, storming back into the building with his giant combat boots, and his blood-soaked sweater. My heart aches strangely as I look after his retreating back, turning slowly to face my father. All I want right now is a hug from him. From anybody, really. But Archibald Carson is the last person in the world that would ever offer me one. He's just not the touchy-feely type. “I've been speaking to May Emille, the headmistress of Everly Academy.”

My eyes widen, and my lips part.

“You're sending me away?” I choke out, knowing I'm probably being irrational. Dad looks at me in just such a way that there's no doubt about that. My irrationality, that is. He better not be serious about the rest of it.

“She's willing to take you midyear. I've already spoken to the board, and based on the