Page 85 of Satan's Spawn

With an “okie dokie” I turn, and hoist myself out of the pool to park my ass right where we started. At the edge of it. I squeeze out my soaked shorts, courtesy of Riggs trying them on in the pool, and lay them out on the concrete next to my bag so they can dry.

Most of our peers remain in the water, but are back to ignoring me since their rulers disappeared inside Sampson’s house. Which is perfectly fine as long as they aren’t locking me inside any bathrooms or photoshopping my face on a porn star.

Candy Mandy to be exact.

Which was one hell of a coincidence when I saw the paper taped to my locker.

After throwing my wet hair up in a pony, I take a sip from the hour old iced tea I’ve been using to wash down the alcohol, and try my best not to gag with how warm it’s become.

A server comes over, offering to take the glass and I’m more than grateful when she does, because I am way too drunk and lazy to get up and fetch a new one.

It’s not until she’s already ten feet away that I realize I never asked for another drink.

Well, shit.

The music is blaring through the speakers as I bop my head along with it, leaning back on my hands to soak up the sun. I keep my eyes closed, feeling the heat kiss my skin, slowly drying the beads of water running down my stomach.

I stay like this, relaxed and content as I wait for any of my people to show up.

Can “my people” actually consist of three quarters of the Riverside Royals? I mean, Saint, Levi, and Riggs seemed to genuinely enjoy our time together, so maybe. Hope floods my chest, and I finally feel like things are turning around.

That’s when there’s a snapping sensation at my back, and my eyes fly open to find the top of my bathing suit sliced and laying on my lap.

What the hell?

My body is in a fleeting state of shock before instinct kicks in and I’m covering my exposed chest with my arms.

It’s too late, though, the damage is done, and every single person in the pool is pointing and laughing.

Some even whistle and toss money at me like I’m a stripper. It all happens so fast my mind can barely keep up.

As carefully as my embarrassment and drunken state will allow, I manage to keep an arm over my chest and climb to my feet. Only to come head to head with the Ice Queen dangling a heavy duty scissors from her finger.

“This is my fucking kingdom, Shore Whore. And it only has room for one queen by Crayton’s side.”

Angry tears fill my eyes as I say, “You are such a fucking bitch.”

“The baddest bitch, get it right. You and your fat friend don’t belong here. Just because her mommy won the lotto and you got a new rich daddy doesn’t mean this world is meant for you.”

A new daddy.As if I chose the life I’ve been thrown into.

I want to swing at Alexis so badly, to cut that stupid smirk off her face with the scissors in her hand, but the reminder I’m still naked has my breath seizing.

“You’ll pay for this.” I warn, right before running toward the house, past the onlookers and Saint who appears as if he’s about to commit murder. He tosses me the closest towel asking if I’m okay.

No, I am not okay.Nowhere on the same realm as okay given I just flashed the entire school my boobs against my will.

I catch the towel and cover myself, but am too mortified to respond, leaving behind him and the rest of the kids still laughing at me as I enter the mansion.

I do my best to hold back the tears, my legs not slowing down until I’m at the top of the grand staircase, in search of a room I can hide in. Or at least find a shirt. I journey down a long hall, soaking the very expensive rug under my feet, something I would usually feel guilty about, but right now there’s nothing but anger.

Humiliation. Defeat.

I find a door labeled “Sampson’s Room” and beeline for it, hearing a mixture of voices at the bottom of the steps.

I’m relieved to find the door unlocked, so I twist the knob and push it open, sliding inside and making sure to lock it.

That’s when I finally allow the tears to fall, freely down my cheeks all the way to my neck, looking down at my bare breasts as if they’re the ones who betrayed me.