The Sinners - Ruby Vincent Page 0,51

clear to me.

“Your morning classes are canceled,” she announced. “That time will be spent here in a communication and bridging divides workshop. Afterward, you all will have lunch together in the senior loft with new outlooks and ways of relating to each other. If not, we’ll continue these workshops every day after school until you do.”

Cassius gave me a look. “Baby, if you are responsible for this, it’s no sex for a week.”

A flush crept up my neck. “You guys forget who went two years without. My willpower is a lot stronger than yours.”

“True. Very true.” Cassius put his head on my pillowy breasts. “I’d just be punishing myself.”

“What am I going to do with you?” Damned if I didn’t sound fond.

“We’re going to jump right in here,” said Hart. She pulled my attention away from the triplets. “This feud between the Outer Borough and the Estate is nonsense. Nonsense that’s existed long before you. Nonsense that you were taught. But nonsense all the same.” She held her hands out to us. “This is your home. All of you share this town together, and together you can make it a better place to live. The sins of my generation and the generations before me is not your burden to bear. Make a commitment today to change the way you see yourselves and each other.

“To light that match, we’ll begin by spreading positivity to our classmates. I want one so-called Ravener and one so-called OB kid to stand up here and name something they like or admire about the other person. If you decide not to take this seriously, remember I am committed to working with you every day until you can.”

Her threat came through loud and clear.

“First pair,” she began. “Ember Bancroft and... Pomona Winchester.”

Seriously, lady? I thought we had our own breakthrough. Why am I being punished?

Pomona and I faced each other on the polished maple floors. Pudding gooped in her hair, clothes, and a speck caught on her ear. She glared at me like it was my fault.

“Ember, you start. Share one thing that you admire about Pomona.”

Believe it or not, it wasn’t hard for me to come up with something. “Pomona’s changed a lot in the last two years and I’m sure it wasn’t easy. She was beautiful before, but there’s another kind of beauty in being happy with what you see in the mirror. I think she feels that now.”

And it’s turned her into a smug, self-entitled asshat. And I mean no disrespect to asshats everywhere.

“That was lovely, Ember,” Hart gushed.

Pomona’s eyes narrowed to slits like she heard my mental addition to the compliment.

“Everyone, give her a hand.”

The class gave me a smattering of applause.

“Pomona,” Hart prompted. “What would you like to say to Ember?”

She looked from me to Hart as though she was weighing her hatred of me against Hart’s threat to steal her afternoons.

“Ember is...”

Hart beamed. “Yes?”

“Ember is clever.” Pomona looked at me head-on. “And she isn’t someone to be underestimated.”

My mirthless grin reflected in her eyes. I got her mental addition loud and clear too.

“Excellent, ladies. This is exactly what I want to see. Now, let’s have Julian and...”

I knew before she called his name.

“Royal.”

Royal passed me on the steps. The boys closing the distance between each other reminded me eerily of gladiators charging onto the arena. The expressions on their faces better suited men readying to fight to the death.

Royal and Julian.

Both boys different in every way. Royal, the dark prince of raven hair, bleeding ink, and eyes that held the torment he’d witnessed. Julian, the self-crowned king of silver hair, untouched beauty, and anger straining to get out.

“Royal, you start.”

Royal jerked his chin. “Like your hair, man. It’s the soul of an artist that expresses itself off canvas.”

Smiling, Hart grasped Royal’s shoulder. “Very nice.” She glanced at Julian expectantly.

“I like your ink. They say a lot about you.”

“Julian.” Her smile fell away with her hand.

“What, Mom? I meant it in a good way.” He was all charm, and it was all fake. “Soul of an artist, right?”

“Of course.” Hart gestured behind her. “Everyone, form two rows. Students from the Estate on one side and students from the Outer Borough on the other. I want you to share something you admire about your partner, and then change up until everyone from both sides has had a chance to speak to each other. Understood?”

“Yes, Headmistress.”

We tromped off the bleacher to do as ordered. Hart and Sutton circled us, ensuring people did the exercise.

I