Page 11 of Grace of Spades

Me:I'm sorry, the what?

Andras:The bank account. You have an allowance, you need a bank account.

Me:An allowance for what? Ruby hit me when I tried to help with the dishes.

Andras:Do well in school and you get an allowance. I'll leave it with Ruby.

Me:This is not over. Are the grandparents still coming over for dinner?

Andras:No, they're coming tomorrow instead. You're free tonight. Curfew is ten.

I glare at my phone not knowing how to deal with this.

"What's up?" Keir asks.

"Good to go for the movies. I just have to stop at the house first. And no grandparents tonight." I say still glaring at my phone.

"That's okay. I want to get out of this uniform before we go out anyway." Kennedy assures me. "You boys wanna come with us?"

"Sure, what are we seeing?" Keir asks with a crooked smile.

"What do we want?" She asks taking out her phone. "We have a slasher flick, superheroes, or some racing-action movie?"

"I vote racing and action," I say before standing up and clearing my tray, and putting it away. I come back to see all three of them staring at me like I'm doing something weird. I release a heavy sigh.

"What did I do now?" I ask.

"Most people just leave the trays on the table." Kennedy snorts. I shake my head as I sit down. Fucking rich people.

"I vote racing too," Keir says changing the subject I send him a thankful smile. He nods and goes back to his pizza. He's quiet but I like him. It doesn't hurt that he's gorgeous.

"Yeah, racing sounds good." Alek nods.

"Well, that settles it. It starts at four." Kennedy grins getting up and putting her tray away. Atta girl! Stick it to the man!

"Hey there, sweet thing." A sneering voice says from far too close. I turn to see a tall blonde guy with dull brown eyes and too-white, too-straight teeth. "What are you doing with these assholes?" He laughs putting his hands on the back of Keir's chair. I notice Alek stiffen and Keir's jaw clench.

"Having lunch," I say regarding him. He has a fake smile and an aggressive look in his eye. I don't like him. He reeks of entitled asshole.

"Why didn't you come to sit with us?" He asks looking me up and down.

"I don't know you."

"I'm Chad Huntington. I'm the Student Council President." He beams proudly as the bell rings signalling the end of lunch.

"It's nice to meet you, but we better get to class," I say without a smile as I stand up and grab my bag. I see Kennedy wide-eyed over by the trash can. I feel a large hand grip my bicep and force me back against a hard chest.

"Let go of me," I say coldly my heartpounding.

"I was talking to you." He breathes in my ear and I have to fight the shiver that crawls up my spine and take a breath to hold back my anger.

"And I was done. Let go of me. I won't say it again." I seethe. He shoves me around to face him so he can try to stare me down as he presses himself against me. Scarier men have tried and failed to make me do what they want.

"I don't think you know who I am."

"I think I don't care." I glare up at him. I see the flash of rage and I slowly move my hand to the knife at my hip. His rage fades into something worse. Lust.

I feel his hand start to smooth down my arm and migrate to my lower back and slide further down and freeze. My knife presses against his groin finally getting my point across.