Page 10 of I Don’t Need Your Protection (Harrington Bay Academy #1)

I nod absentmindedly as my thoughts wander again.

Part of my grandfather’s instructions in the rulebook was to stick with the classes he picked for me.

They’re all mostly business classes because he expects me to run the Bradshaw Empire after he retires (which please, please, please, let it be in another hundred years).

Yeah, so I definitely can’t sign up for sculpting classes or woodshop.

The truth is that before my parents died, I thought I would go to a regular college and study for a normal job, like nursing or social work or something, but after they died, I thought college was out of the question.

Now…my path has basically been chosen for me.

I know, I could always walk away from this life the second I’m out of high school, but there’s a part of me that’s curious about the second half of my makeup.

Who exactly is Nathaniel Bradshaw and what legacy is he leaving in the world?

Why did my dad run away from that life? Am I supposed to follow in his footsteps?

I guess I want to choose for myself what kind of life I want.

I don’t want to live with any regrets forty years down the line.

“Yeah, lots of opportunities,” I say, once again hating that I’m lying.

“I also have no idea what I want to do after high school, but it’s awesome that we have so many options—” My sentence is lost when I catch sight of the guy who just walked into the dining hall.

I recognize the dark blond hair and bright gray eyes, and that very handsome face. Warner.

A group of kids surround him and a girl who’s walking beside him.

She’s very tall, almost as tall as Warner, and she has legs that seem to stretch for miles.

Her strawberry blond hair cascades down her shoulders.

It looks like it was styled by a professional hairdresser.

Somehow, she makes the uniform look prettier than it is.

“I see Addie has caught sight of the popular crowd,” Carly teases.

I tear my eyes away and smile sheepishly. “They certainly know how to command attention. Is that the Warner you were talking about?”

“Yep,” Carly says. “Warner Hearst. Also known as the most popular guy at school.”

“Jerk extraordinaire?” I ask.

Sophie shakes her head. “Actually, he’s pretty nice.

I mean, he only associates with people from his crowd and barely glances our way, but there was this time in marketing class when I didn’t have a partner because there was an uneven number of kids and obviously no one picked me.

He noticed I was alone and offered for me to join their group.

It’s not like we became best friends or he said a single word to me after that, but it was still kind of him. ”

“Yeah, I would consider him as one of the more decent students here,” Raven agrees. “But don’t get your hopes up, Addie. Like Sophie said, he doesn’t even give us a second glance.”

“Wait, didn’t you say you bumped into a Warner and fell on your butt?” Carly’s eyes widen. “Was that him ?”

I move my eyes to the crowd, who are at the buffet tables choosing breakfast, and study Warner closely. Then I focus back on my friends. “His hair was styled differently, but yes, I bumped into him.”

“ And ?” they ask .

“He apologized and helped me up. And then he introduced himself and said something along the lines of he’d never forget my face?”

They all exchange surprised looks. Then Sophie says, “Maybe he was just being nice? He hardly ever says anything to us.”

“Maybe he was forced to acknowledge her because she bumped into him?” Carly suggests.

“Or maybe he just thinks she’s pretty?” Raven says. “Look, Addie, I don’t think you should think too much into it. Clarissa has her claws in him already. Just look at her.”

We all twist around toward the crowd, who are now sitting at a table at the center of the dining hall. The tall girl with strawberry blonde hair—who I’m guessing is Clarissa?—sits very close to him, practically on his lap, and she’s making sure his attention is focused on her and her alone.

“Now that he and Tina broke up, she has a shot with him again,” Carly says.

“Again?” I ask.

She shrugs. “They supposedly dated for like a month in eighth grade. They went to the same school.”

“She’s totally aiming for a second chance romance,” Sophie says.

“Not everything is a book trope, Sophie,” Raven says.

“Sure it is.”

“ Anyway ,” Raven says. “Enough about them. If we got a quarter for every time we spoke about the popular crowd, we would all be millionaires. ”

“Yeah, you’re right,” Sophie says as she turns back to our table and reaches for her juice. “We’re wasting too much time and energy on people who like to pretend we’re not part of the school.”

“But there’s so much drama ,” Carly says. “TV show, remember?”

“Don’t we have enough drama in our own lives?” Raven asks.

“Not really.”

“Please don’t jinx us,” Sophie begs.

“I think I’m going to get another pancake,” I say as I stand up. “What kind should I try this time?”

“Blueberry,” they all say.

I grin. “Be right back.”

When I walk up to the buffet table with the pancakes, I find Caleb standing there with his arms crossed over his chest.

“Best vantage point from here?” I ask as I place the fluffiest-looking pancake on my plate.

“Those girls,” he says, eyes flitting to their table. “Carly Simmons, Sophia Reed, and Raven Mitchell. Each of them is here on scholarship.”

“A notable observation,” I say as I turn around to face them. “One would never guess that just by watching them,” I say sarcastically.

“What’s their agenda?”

“Agenda?”

“Were they asking personal questions about you or your grandfather? Did you tell them anything? ”

“Geez, dude, you need to lighten up. Trust me, those girls aren’t undercover agents for the bad guys. Now those popular kids on the other hand…”

He straightens up like someone poked him in the back and he pins his eyes on the popular table.

I giggle. “I’m just messing with you, Caleb. Like I said, lighten up. I saw the way some of the girls were salivating over you. It wouldn’t hurt you to have some fun, you know.”

“I’m on a job. I don’t have time for fun.”

“You sure about that? Some of those girls were really pretty.”

“Do I look like I care about that?” he asks.

I step back and give him a once-over. “You look like a guy who can use some fun.”

He shuts his eyes and releases a breath from his nose.

When he opens them, he says, “I’m glad you’re in a less grumpy mood than you were half an hour ago, Addilyn.

” He moves closer to whisper in my ear, “I’m here for one purpose and one purpose only.

To protect you. My being on alert at all times gives you the luxury and privilege to live a normal life here.

So please make use of the opportunity and enjoy your life.

But…” He moves even closer, and I feel his warm breath on my ear.

“Be careful what you say to those girls, and the rest of your classmates. You never know who might be a spy. Never tell them who you really are and your background. Stick to the info your grandfather provided you.”

I move my eyes to his and my breath catches in my throat when I realize how close his face is to mine. “That doesn’t seem fair,” I whisper.

“What doesn’t seem fair?”

“That I get to live my life here while you…” I glance around at the bustling room with happy voices, and I lift my hands. “Live in the shadows.”

He keeps his eyes on me for a few seconds before laughing in this pained and bitter way. “Since when is life fair, Addilyn? Addie,” he quickly corrects himself, since I’m not supposed to be referred to by my full name here.

“Of course life isn’t fair,” I say, thinking of my parents and how much I miss them. “But that doesn’t mean we have to mope around or feel sorry for ourselves. We can still find ways to be happy. Form friendships. Fall in love.”

He once again watches me for a few seconds. Then he steps away and gestures toward my friends’ table. “Breakfast will be over soon. I suggest you return to your table and finish your pancake.”

I don’t know why I don’t leave. I want to say something, but I’m not sure what. Is this the life he wants to live? Constantly shadowing people and letting them live their lives while his goes nowhere?

“Addie, return to your table. And might I suggest you keep your interaction with me to a minimum? You’re not exactly making my job easy by exposing me to your peers.” He nods to the table, where my friends are gawking at us with curious and confused expressions.

“You’re right,” I say as I move away. “Sorry for trying to treat you as a person and not just my bodyguard. ”

When I return to my table, Sophie’s eyes are wide. “Who is that cute and brooding hottie you were just talking to?”

“Caleb Foster,” Carly says. “He came yesterday, just like Addie did. I gave them both a tour of the school.”

“He’s really cute,” Sophie says.

“Seems cold and aloof,” Raven observes.

“You got that right,” I mutter.

“Is he a scholarship student, too?” Carly asks.

I shrug. “I don’t know anything about him. He was just…uh…he wanted to know if the chocolate pancakes were any good.”

Sophie is about to say something, but the bell rings, letting us know breakfast is over and we should get to class.

I sigh in relief because I have no idea how I’m supposed to explain Caleb.

Even though I don’t want to admit it, he’s right.

He won’t be able to protect me adequately if I draw attention to him.

I have no choice but to do as he wishes—pretend he doesn’t exist. At least when we’re in public.

After I quickly gobble down the rest of my pancake, my friends and I follow the students toward the school building, which holds all the classrooms. It’s right next to the dining hall building.

I’m super nervous for classes at this prestigious school because I have no idea if I’m at their level, but I’m so thankful that my new friends share this class with me.

That’ll definitely help me ease into my new world.

Things are definitely looking better now than they did two days ago.

I think a lot has to do with my amazing friends.

Maybe I was wrong and I will have a great time here.

For the first time since my parents died, I feel good.

Happy, even. Will all this go away when my parents’ killers are caught and I’m forced to live the life of an heiress?