Page 30 of Massacre Monday

Me

Just meet me there after lecture

I really don’t want to hear it from him about getting to class on time. He’s probably going to brag about how he made it this morning just fine, despite being in the hunt last night, which will only irritate me more. Maybe I’ll step on his toes.

Slowly, I wander toward the campus coffee shop and shoot a text to Gwen, wondering if she spent the night with one of the brothers…or all of them.

Me

Where r u? U okay?

The message goes unread, so I stuff my phone into my Marc Jacobs camo tote bag, making sure I have my notebooks for the rest of my classes today.

Sun streams between the looming gray stone buildings, odd shadows cast across the smooth sidewalks from the pinnacles that cap the tops. Prisms of red and blue dance through the stained glass and over the large plots of lawn cut into neat squares as I cross to the quad.

The cafe has been updated, now gleaming in modern sleek whites and paneled light wood. Steamy coffee aromas swirl around my nose when I enter. Two familiar faces sit at a tablenear the front windows, which are lined with a trimmed row of crisp cut grasses to add to the natural vibe inside.

My cousins Ashlyn Donovan and Valencia Von Dovish wave me over, and my stomach tightens, thinking about telling Valencia that I didn’t win us any points.

Her red braid falls over one shoulder as she leans her elbows on the table while I slide in next to Ashlyn, who smells like a rose garden.

“Well?!” Valencia snaps at me, as if she’d already asked what happened last night.

“Uh…” I glance over at Ashlyn, who sips her coffee mug, and her blue eyes widen with anticipation. “I can’t talk about this with you here,” I say to her.

Her jaw drops, shifting the freckles on her cheeks. “Why not?”

Valencia interrupts. “Because you’re a traitor to your own kind, Ash. PledgingOmegaoverSigma. I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again. How dare you.”

Ash opens her mouth to argue, but I slap my hand on her forearm. If the two start bickering, they won’t stop until blood is drawn. “If I pay you, will you grab me an iced Americano, and I’ll tell Valencia what I need to before you get back.”

She scrunches her nose with irritation, narrowing her eyes at both of us. “Fine. But I’m only a freshman andnotyour direct competition, Val. And I do exactly as I please.”

Valenciahateswhen someone shortens her name, and her jaw clenches with a retort. Ash knows what she’s doing to set her off. Fortunately, she simply squeezes by me and heads to the line at the side of the store.

Valencia waits for her to get a few steps away, then snaps her gaze to me. “Okay, go. Two points?”

My fingers drum on the table, and I think maybe I should grow my nails out. I’ve never had them long due to all the sports and dancing. When it’s competition time, I wear fakes, but?—

“Pippi, seriously. What happened?”

“It’s still being decided.”

Her green eyes glare at me. “What do you mean?”

“Um, there was someone who called himself a judge, andhe saidI used a weapon, but I didn’t… And I just need to look into things more.”

“Oh my god. What weapon did you use?”

With my palms out, I shake them to emphasize my point. “I didn’t use any! I swear!”

“Well, what did hesayyou used?”

Swallowing, I pause for a moment. “My Harley key.”

“Shit.”

“What? Is that bad?”