Page 54

Delores

My head is pounding as I walk out of my last exam of the semester. I should be excited because I’m finally free, but to be honest, I feel like I might keel over on the spot.

The weeks after Thanksgiving were a blur—mostly because every professor in the entire fucking school piled the students with projects, papers, and study guides that could double as bludgeons. I don’t know why they were intent on making us study twenty-four hours a day, besides seeing if we’d crack, but it's been the most intense two weeks of school work I’ve ever experienced. I haven’t even had a sleepover with Fitz lately, because I was so buried in work.

That would have helped me let off some steam…

I spent most of my nights in either Rufus or Cori’s dorm room, all of us wearing headphones while we stuff our faces with pizza and clack away at keyboards. I wanted to work upstairs, but to be honest, this time of year is about cramming knowledge and bitching about your professors… over half of which are my boyfriends, so it seemed prudent to hunker in downstairs with my friends instead.

Lucille will definitely check on my grades, and although I’m not permitted to come home during Yule break, I’ll surely receive a not-so-vaguely threatening phone call if my marks aren’t up to snuff. I wouldn’t put it past her to send Bruiser to ‘remind’ me how important it is to still positively represent the very family I’ve been shunned from, so the bags under my eyes and my shuffling gait of a zombie have been earned. I don’t know if I’ve slept more than ten hours since Friday, to be honest.

I’m still a hundred percent likely to flunk my fucking Shifter History exam.

That shitty asshole Professor Abel changed the test—again—without notice, so everything I spent the weekend memorizing was damn near useless. The professor’s smirk at my dismay, and that no one else in class seemed to freak out, makes me wonder if I’m not being given completely different material than everyone else.

My DiePhone vibrates in my pocket, and I pull it out, smiling for the first time in hours when I see who it is. “Hi Cori! I just got out. I’m headed to your room to—oh. I see.” I stop in my tracks, looking across the campus in fear. The Honeywell Admissions building looms across the lake, and I can’t repress the shiver that shoots down my spine as I listen to my friend explain why she and Rufus think I need to join them in the cafeteria.

“... besides, Dolly, you can’t avoid the building entirely for the next three and a half years! Rufus and I are already inside, headed to claim a table. No one will mess with you when we’re together; I promise. They have fish tacos tonight, and we want to spend the whole dinner giggling like idiots. Pleeeeeease?”

Swallowing hard, I put my free hand on my chest, feeling the rapid thump of my heart as the prey animal inside of me remembers the last time I was in there. Rufus and Cori don’t understand how that chase made me feel—they can’t.

They’ll never be able to comprehend the desperation I felt trying to get to the infirmary before some dickwad dingoes I didn’t even know tried to attack me. It’s not something I can explain, because it’s so far out of their experience as preds, especially ones who can hold their own. The invitation is still tempting because I don’t want to keep running forever.

Chin up, Dolly. It’s time to face your fears and kick their ass. That’s what your guys would do.

Ugh. It’s definitely what they’d do, while also encouraging me to do the same. “Okay, Coco. But no one gets to make fun of me if I’m a little jumpy at first. Tell Rufus not to be a bitch about it.” Her laugh tinkles through the line, and before I know it, we’ve said goodbye.

My feet move again before I can think too hard about it, carrying me along the edge of the lake towards the Shird. The Captain and his crew are out in the middle, tossing things into the water—it must be aquatic shifter food. When I squint past them to the garden behind the Tower, it’s empty, so I know Rennie has finished his last class of the day.

I miss spending my nights with them, and thinking about my guys makes my heart squeeze. After I celebrate with my friends tonight, I plan to plant myself in their space and dig my claws in, so I don’t have to leave for a while.

As if they could hear my thoughts, my phone buzzes again, and I swipe it open to find new messages in the group chat.

TigerWoody: Baby Girl, I have one more exam for you.

LustyLibrarian: Don’t say it, Fitz.

TigerWoody: … you should exam-ine my balls!

TigerKing: Why the fuck do I need to be in this chat again?

EmoBatMan: Perhaps we could ask Dolly how her actual exams went?

CSpot: How did your exams go, angel?

LustyLibrarian: Yes, tell us, bite size.

Smiling to myself as I walk around the arts building, I consider how to respond. I could definitely tease the guys about their own classes, but I don’t want them flying off the handle at any of my other professors if I complain—especially with my suspicions about Shifter History. It won’t make me any friends, and since I don’t know yet what my classes will be next semester, I have to tread lightly.

BabyGirl: I’m pretty sure I did okay in Shifter Basics: :wink emoji:

TigerWoody: Bro, didn’t give you a D? A big D?

TigerKing: Fitz, fuck off.

TigerKing: You did great, princess.

BabyGirl: My solo and dance went well—at least that’s what Cori said.

TigerWoody: Chess should have watched! You’re going to like when he watches.

CSpot: Fitz…

LustyLibrarian: Do we get to see you perform at some point?

TigerWoody: …

EmoBatMan: Keep it to yourself, Fitz.

TigerWoody: Baby Girl, tell them to stop picking on me!

I pause for a moment in the space between the Shird and the Honeywell Admissions building. To be honest, I like Fitz’s teasing even when it makes me blush—like now—but I also love the way they jump in to save me. I’m not used to so many people completely focused on me in a good way, and I’m not sure how to handle it.

What would Rufus say?

He’d tell me to give it to them good. I ponder for a moment and take a deep breath, feeling braver with the distance messaging offers.

BabyGirl: Fitz, you’re begging to be spanked. Don’t cry to me.

The dots float on the screen for a few heart-stopping moments and I almost lose my nerve. But then I see typing, and I bite my lip as I wait for the response.

LustyLibrarian: The lunchable has you pegged, Fitzgerald.

EmoBatMan: Agreed.

TigerWoody: Baby Girl, you’re a traitor. :pout: Chess, tell them.

CSpot: You’re on your own.

TigerWoody: Bro is being real quiet in the chat suddenly.

TigerKing: I will end you, Fitz.

TigerWoody: Well… let our girl spank me first….

A wide grin splits my face, and I do a little fist pump and shimmy before looking around to make sure no one saw me being an absolute dork.

Score one for Dolly.

BabyGirl: I think I did well in everything else but Shifter History. But I have to go because I’m meeting Cori and Rufus in the caf for dinner and celebration. Can we message later?

CSpot: You’re not coming to our spot tonight?

EmoBatMan: It’s okay, petit lapin. Go have fun with your friends.

TigerWoody: No, it’s not, my balls don’t think it’s ok…

LustyLibrarian: Ignore him, Dolly. You can celebrate with us tomorrow.

TigerWoody: …

LustyLibrarian: Yes, your balls. We know.

TigerKing: How the fuck do I get out of this chat?

BabyGirl: Thanks, guys. I’ll message later. Fitz, play with Chess. You can tell me about it later. :wink emoji:

Feeling good about my handling of five men, I look up at the Admin building and take a deep breath.

Okay, Dolly. Joking about sex helped pump you up. Now it’s time to channel your inner badass.

I stride into the cafeteria with my spine steeled. As I walk to the table where Rufus is lounging, I can feel eyes on my back, but I don’t let it bother me. These shitty assholes are just followers— people who are too scared of the social caste system at Apex to stand up to the Heathers, even if they don’t agree with what they’re doing. I don’t give a flying fuck about their judgment or their pity.

“Hi, Ru-Ru!” I say, making sure my voice carries even in the loud dining hall. “Where’s Coco?”

He gives me a sly grin, catching on to my need for bravado immediately. “She’s scoping out the menu while we waited for you. You know how she loves to sample all the different fish in her tacos.”

Snorting, I plop down on the chair next to him, smiling when I see Raina the raccoon beeline for our table. I was so scared after what happened here, I never came back to thank her for bringing my food and bag to the infirmary the night they chased me down. Raina beams at me as she hands us our menus, and I give her a grateful smile in return. “Raina, I didn’t get to thank you for your help at the beginning of the semester. I’m so happy to see you again.”

“Miss Dolly, I’m thrilled to see you here. I’ll grab you and Mr. Rufus’ drinks while you decide what you’re having. I can’t wait to tell the kitchen staff you’re back!”

The raccoon scurries off, and Rufus arches his brow at me. “What in RuPaul’s name did you do to earn that kind of service? I thought you just got chased by the bottom feeding dingoes.”

I shrug. “I did. But I was nice to her, and well, I’m sure she knows I’m prey. And Renard is really tight with all the prey staff, so… maybe it’s a combo?”

“Dolly, queen of the downtrodden—it fits you, girl.” He chuckles and waves at Cori, trying to get her to stop flirting with an artsy-looking aquatic shifter by the lake entrance. “Coco needs to shake a leg; I’m starving.”

Before I can respond, a ridiculously realistic-looking newspaper is plopped on the table in front of me. I turn my head, and like a bad case of the clap, the Heathers are back.

As if I didn’t have enough to deal with, my ex-friends seem determined to continue harassing me like creepy stalkers, even though I avoid them. Rufus picks up the paper, not even giving them the courtesy of looking in their direction. When he sees the headline, he hands it to me with a huff of annoyance.

SHOULD APEX ACADEMY ENACT A MORAL CLAUSE IN ITS HONOR CODE?

A Student Perspective by Heather Barrington

Apex Academy has a long tradition of excellence.

Its students are known for representing the school and their families with the utmost refinement and grace, whether in public or in private. When the administration allows unworthy students to not only attend our school but also flaunt their deviant behavior, it reflects poorly on all of us.

Our current honor code does not have a moral turpitude clause like many other honored institutions around the world; however, recent changes in the student body and their relations with multiple staff members calls that decision into question.

Closing my eyes, I pinch the bridge of my nose. It’s getting easier to write these pathetic losers off because they’re so incredibly off-base in their accusations that it’s laughable. Between the four of them, they’ve slept with more guys than I have and I’m dating five. I don’t care who they fuck, or even who they procreate with, but I’m getting mighty goddamn tired of being slut-shamed.

The least they could do is get it right if they’re going to publicly call me out for my private life.

Cori glares at the Heathers as she approaches, hand on her hip and murder in her eyes. “You know, this article is already all over social media. Now it’s in the school paper. This kind of accusation—made with school resources, no less—might constitute… bullying. Aren’t there a few lines in the honor code about that?”

I nod. “There are more than a few lines, Coco. In fact, I’m fairly certain it’s grounds for expulsion.”

Gold crosses her arms over her chest, looking at her acolytes for confirmation before she speaks. “I believe you’ll find nothing libelous in this article, DD. If you even know what that word means.”

The smartest bitch in the room, right here.

Rufus barks a laugh, turning to her with bared fangs, morphing from fun-loving to gangster in the blink of an eye. “Oh, honey. You’re going to want to trot your bleached-fried bobbleheads elsewhere with that legalese. My family doesn’t worry much about the courts; we have our methods of meting out justice when necessary. Don’t you winter in Vail? I have cousins out that way...”

“Skiing can be pretty dangerous,” Cori says, tapping her lips with her sparkly nails. “I’d be fine stranded on a snowy mountain, but I don’t think you hot-blooded canines would do too well.”

Amusement quirks the corner of my lips, and I’m grateful once again for my new friends. Who else would threaten to murder my ex-besties as casually as they discuss Grey’s Anatomy?

“That’s a threat! I’m going to the Headmistress’ office immediately!” Gold fumes.

“Good luck with that. Bye Felicia!” Rufus calls as they stalk off as a group. He looks at me and then at the paper. “Dollypop, you are a drama magnet and I am here for it. I haven’t threatened anyone in days. I almost couldn’t remember how.”

Wiping my hands down my face, I groan. “I’m glad you enjoy it because I am beyond over it. We need to work on a plan to deal with them, because I’m sure they’re not done, and I definitely cannot do four more years of that dance.”

Leaning in, Cori gives me a crafty smile. “It’s all about making them look bad and you look like the next big thing. I think we can come up with a plan.”

Did I mention these guys are the best friends a bunny could have?