Page 2

Emily
Prep school is a joke.
The entire establishment, really.
All grades from kindergarten through senior year.
We’re nothing more than carbon copies of our parents being churned out. A young generation educated, trained and mass-produced to take over when our parents die.
I’m still wearing the same uniform from when I was young, obviously with a size difference, but the style has never changed.
Grey pleated skirt. White button-down blouse. A grey jacket with the school insignia stitched to the breast pocket. The only choice we’re allowed is our shoes, but even those are practically the same since they have to be all black with a smooth sole and no laces.
The guys aren’t much better with their grey pants, white button-down shirts and the same jacket. Most of the students adhere to the strict dress code, all except the Inferno, of course, because they can do whatever the hell they want.
Leaning against a locker, I wait for Ivy to pull out the books she needs. She’s dragging ass, as usual, her eyes flicking over to Gabriel Dane’s locker repeatedly.
When she pulls her bottom lip between her teeth, I arrow my stare on the expression, suspicion churning in my gut because Iknowthat look.
“What did you do?”
“Huh?” she asks, her voice distracted and her blue eyes turning my direction. “Nothing.”
My brow lifts because she’s definitely lying about that.
“He’ll kill you, whatever it is.”
Her lips curl at the corners.
“If he can catch me. Which he won’t.”
Around us, the typical popular crowd waits for us to finish what we’re doing so they can follow us down the hall for bragging rights.
Ivy, Ava and I are at the very top of the food chain, best friends since birth, but always willing to blend in with the other girls who come and go in school.
Esmeralda Chase is chatting up Jane Dougherty, and Ellie Maxwell is watching Amanda Stewart closely. Around them are another tier of gossiping hens, none of which know us well, even though they pretend to.
Eventually, Ava walks up, and the crowd of girls parts to let her through, her lips curved in a modest smile.
“I heard something interesting today.”
My eyes lock with Ava’s, worry creeping down my spine because there are far too many rumors in this school. Some true, many ridiculous.
Ivy is still too preoccupied to have heard what Ava said, her foot tapping against the ground awaiting Gabriel. I have no idea what she’s done, but it must be bad. She doesn’talwaysstick around to watch.
I’m not sure I want to know what Ava heard, but the question tumbles from my tongue regardless, slippery and wet.
“What’s that?”
Her brown eyes sparkle to look at me.
“I think you know. And if it’s true, you’re an idiot to go there.”
Damn it.
It’s not surprising to hear a whispered rumor is already breezing through the school halls after the party last weekend. I knew the mistake would leak. Had been sure of it after Mark Kingsley stumbled into the wrong room with Polly Hanes on his arm.
He’d mumbled a quick apology when he saw Ezra and me, but both his and Polly’s eyes took a good long look before running away at the sound of Ezra’s growled warning.