Page 8 of Her Wicked Knights (Their Hallowed Queen #3)

Marley

I shut my locker and nearly jump out of my skin when I see Tripp's face on the other side.

He grins sheepishly and Rev rushes to settle me with a hand on the shoulder as I place my hand over my heart, willing it to slow.

I was so lost in my thoughts, I didn't even hear anyone approach.

"Tripp," I laugh, breathlessly. "And Rev. "

"Hey, Mars." Rev cocks a grin.

"You guys scared me. I didn't expect anyone—"

"Just me," Tripp shrugs, and I get the sense there's something more he wants to say.

But whatever it is, he lets it go unsaid as he takes my other side, flanking me on the way to the car.

I've never had them escort me out to the parking lot before, but I don't hate it.

I'm honestly grateful for the company, since Audrey is staying late for cheerleading squad auditions.

She begged me to join her, all but gave me her cat in order to convince me, but it's just not something that interests me.

I've got all the grace of a girl trying to avoid being stung by a bumble bee.

My offer to stay and watch as a show of support was turned down, so I'm driving myself home today.

I took my time at the library after last period let out, avoiding the rush of traffic, and I'm grateful not to have to walk through the desolate parking lot alone.

The sky is darkening overhead with every step we take, gloomy and ominous. I may even wait it out with them here, so I don't have to drive home in a thunderstorm.

"What are you doing here so late?" I ask, glancing at my cell phone to see exactly what time it is.

"We were waiting for you," Rev says, taking my bag as I rifle through it for the keys. With him holding onto it, I'm able to find what I need right in the front pocket, and when I reach for it back, he brushes me off, as if it's heavy or something.

I mean, it is heavy, actually. Letting him carry it is a nice reprieve after toting it around the library for the last hour.

"You were waiting for me?" I laugh. "Why?"

They share a look over my head that I pretend not to notice as I await an explanation.

"We went to the movies last weekend," Tripp begins.

"No!" I gasp. "I forgot all about the movie! Did you see it without me?"

Tripp bites his lip, glancing at Rev for backup. I've seen every one of the franchise with Tripp since we were kids. When they first announced this one two summers ago we made pre-emptive plans to see it together— plans that I forgot all about.

"Shit, Tripp. I'm sorry! You should have reminded me!"

"You were with your family." He shrugs, like that's a good reason for forgetting the standing plans.

"Yeah," I sigh. "I guess. Still, I didn't mean to abandon you. I'm glad you had Rev to go with, at least."

"If you still want to see it, I'll go again." Tripp shrugs. "No big deal."

"We had a good time." Rev assures me with a soft smile. He glances at Tripp but then turns his gaze quickly back to me. "Anyway, there's something you should know."

"Don't spoil it for me!" I say, clapping my hands over my ears before he can ruin it. "We can see it when it hits the Emporium."

Our local theater, The Emporium is a second-run theater.

We usually don't get movies here ‘til a month after they were released to the bigger cities.

But their atmosphere completely makes up for it.

The entire theater is thematically decorated, with each auditorium dedicated to a different horror franchise.

Hadley and I used to live there in the summers when everyone else was out of town.

And the whole month of October, they play a different horror movie every night.

"No, it's not the movie we're going to ruin." Rev says, pulling my wrists so that I can hear his nervous laugh as he looks to Tripp for backup.

"We saw Audrey and Jake there." Tripp rushes out. "Together."

They stare at me as they await my reaction, and I stare at them as I await whatever else they have to say. But it seems that's all they've got, because they share a glance and then turn back to me.

"Sorry." Rev clears his throat.

"Oh." It's all I can think to say. I'm not sure what type of reaction they're looking for. "Did you guys sit together?"

"No," Tripp says, at the same time Rev says, "Yes."

When I raise an eyebrow, awaiting clarification, Rev chuckles. "I mean, we sat together. Jake and Audrey were in front of us. They didn't notice us."

"You're saying Jake and Audrey were watching a sci-fi?" I laugh, unable to help myself. "I think you probably saw someone else."

"It was them," Tripp says softly. "And they kissed."

I can't help it; I snort. Audrey and Jake bicker like brother and sister.

They tolerate each other for my sake, but I can't imagine them driving an hour together to the city to see a movie that neither of them has any interest in.

That's all hard enough to conceive, but then trying to imagine them kissing? It’s gross, making me cringe.

"You definitely saw someone else." I laugh.

"There's no way Jake and Audrey were together. "

"Marley," Tripp shakes his head. "It's true."

"There's just no way." I laugh. "I mean, what time was the movie?"

"The seven o'clock showing." Rev supplies easily.

"I was texting Audrey, like, all night Thursday. She sent me pictures of her cat and complained about how bored she was without me in town."

"Well, she lied." Tripp snaps, shaking his head at me as if I'm being ridiculous. If anyone is being ridiculous here, it's the two of them. I'm not sure who they saw, but I know who they didn't see. There's no way Audrey was there, despite whatever they think they were witness to.

"Tripp." I laugh, unable to control it.

"Marley!" He snaps back at me, his voice full of frustration.

It's not something he directs at me often, and it hurts.

It feels almost as if he's slapped me, which is stupid because it's not that serious, and yet, tears spring to my eyes.

I could tell there was friction between us these last few months, but I'm surprised that he's taking it out on me right now.

It's not a pleasant feeling, particularly when Rev is standing right here to witness my humiliation.

"Just open your fucking eyes, and you'll see. She's toxic."

"Audrey's toxic?" I laugh.

Audrey isn't perfect. She's far from it, actually.

But she has been there for me from the first day we met at The Dive, and I appreciate her loyalty.

She may occasionally hit me with compliments that come off a little backhanded, but it's who she is.

She's never made any attempt to be anything other than herself.

Unlike Tripp, who's always acted like he's such a good friend and then goes and yells at me.

"So toxic I'm surprised you haven't begun to decay from the exposure." Tripp nods, reaching for my hand. His fingers just graze against mine before I jerk it out of his grasp.

"You're unbelievable." I shake my head, shocked that we're even having this conversation.

"Mars," Rev says, drawing closer too. "We're just trying to help."

I hold my hand out for him to give me my bag back and then shake my head at them one last time before turning on my heel. The trees in the distance are swaying with the breeze, and I can hear rain beginning to fall on the bleachers in the distance. So much for waiting out the storm with them.

I throw my backpack into the back seat before turning to see that they've followed me to the car.

"Do me a favor?"

"Anything," Tripp says quickly. I don't doubt that he means it, either. He's always been a good friend to me. But whatever is going on with him, whatever is causing him to act like this, is driving us apart.

"Stop trying to help me."

If they say anything else, it's swallowed by the sound of my car door shutting.

Rev grabs Tripp by the arm, pulling him out of my way as I begin to back out of my spot.

I can still feel their eyes on me as I pull out of the parking lot... and when I pull into my own driveway, ten minutes later.