Page 8 of The Invite (The Massacre Ball #1)

Nessa

Paranoia becomes a lonely person’s best friend.

I don’t know which is worse.

Paranoia or being lonely.

Except I can’t shake off the first without the other. The second requires trusting people and letting them in. Sadly, I’ve lost that ability. After the debacle yesterday, I cannot even muster the desire to force myself to relearn it.

Even though Augustus and Maverick got suspended, I still feel defeated.

Like the danger hasn’t passed.

Rather it was invited in.

Pushing aside my morose thoughts, I ask the clerk behind the desk, “How much is this?”

“Fifty dollars.”

I turn over the second-hand phone and look it over for any damage. With my low savings, a cheap one is all I can afford. A necessity that is far more important than food and shelter in this day and age. I have no choice but to buy another since I lost my perfectly fine and trustworthy old phone.

It’s probably being used as a shiny toy by wild animals in the woods.

“I’ll take it,” I answer, passing it to him so he can bill me for it as well as add a new SIM card and a cheap plan to it. After paying in cash, I exit the store in the mall and collide with a wall of muscle.

Strong hands grab my shoulders, steadying me.

I look up, and utter in shock, “Ace.”

“Fancy seeing you here, Nessa,” he says with a pleasant grin. Those sexy glasses of his did not hinder my view of his equally beautiful eyes.

After running into Maverick, I was glad my suspicions that Ace was one of the masked men got eradicated.

“Hi,” I greet, after realizing I’ve been staring too long. “I needed to buy a few things. You?”

“I was here to return something.” Unlike in school, he’s dressed casually in a fitted white tee and black jeans. The only similarity is both outfits accentuate his cut physique. The informal one more so. “Is your shopping done?”

“Yes. I’m all done.” I clutch my phone tighter, hiding it from his view. I would rather not let him know I’m poor. Hopefully, my situation will soon change once I start receiving regular income.

“Are you all settled in, in your new home?” he asks, curiosity rising in his face. “Did you move here with your family?”

I know he’s asking in a general sense, making casual conversation, but still anxiety prickles my skin. I keep my expression friendly as I answer, “No, I moved here alone, wanted a change of scenery. As for my place, it’ll take a while before it starts to feel like home, you know.”

“True.” His smile is understanding.

So, I ask, “What about you? Do you live with your family or girlfriend?”

“Is this your way of asking if I’m single?”

Color darkens my cheeks. “No, I uh…”

“Relax, I’m kidding.” He laughs. The sound is carefree, making me reminisce about a time I used to have that. “Since we’re both here, do you want to grab a coffee? I was on my way there. Unless, of course, you’re busy?”

Nothing but four walls that are a prison is waiting for me.

I’m also low-key scared of Augustus popping up like a ghost and haunting me senseless.

A man—yes, he’s too intense and psychotic to be referred to as a teenage boy—like him wouldn’t take too kindly to their prey standing up to them, much less getting them suspended.

See, paranoia.

“Sure,” I agree to Ace’s offer, stalling to go home. Besides, he’s making an effort and I want to feel like I have someone in my corner, even if it’s a stranger.

As I walk beside him, I wonder if he’s aware of what happened at school. I’m well familiar with nasty rumors spreading fast like wildfire. Everyone will put two and two together once they notice Augustus and Maverick are gone.

Even though I signed an NDA, which was drawn up rather quickly, I don’t think it’ll stop Scarlett—Augustus’s sister—from opening her mouth. I don’t know what bond they share but I bet they’re close.

I sigh, wondering what sort of fresh hell awaits me tomorrow. This isn’t the first impression I wanted to make in front of my students. Either it’ll make them respect and be afraid of me, or it’ll backfire and they will torment me. The worst part is that I can’t even defend myself.

“You think any louder, everyone will hear your thoughts, Nessa,” teases Ace, pulling us to a stop in front of a café.

“Sorry,” I murmur.

We enter and immediately, the strong aroma of coffee and baked goods wafts in the air. We go for a booth in the corner at the back. As soon as he lowers to the booth across from me, his face goes somber and he says, “So it’s true.”

“Yeah.” I don’t bother denying it.

“Wanna talk about it?”

“I can’t.” My fingers twist on the table.

He clicks his tongue after a pause, leaning back. “They made you sign an NDA.”

“Yes.”

“That’s shitty,” he utters before revealing, “but I’m not surprised. The Graysons have always had a sway in this town.”

“Why?” I’m genuinely perplexed. “Are they, like, royalty or something?”

A waiter appears before he can reply and we place our order. An iced coffee with ice cream for me and a hot cappuccino for him. As soon as the waiter’s gone, Ace leans forward, his expression serious.

“The Graysons aren’t royalty, but they might as well be for all the power they possess.

Arnold Grayson was the mayor of the town before he died suddenly from a heart attack.

Everyone loved and respected him, so it was sad news for all of us.

But his wife—Elizabeth—has always lorded his power over others.

Reputation is everything to her. So, you going after her son, even if he was guilty, and with him one day becoming the mayor, she wouldn’t have allowed you to tarnish his career before it even began. ”

“Being suspended will still be on his record.”

“But it’ll be easier to bury,” says Ace, tearing into a pack of sugar. “An expulsion is permanent.”

“Do you think this isn’t over?”

He pauses in mixing the sugar at my tone, and bluntly says, “Whatever you have on him must be serious because otherwise, she wouldn’t have bothered with an NDA. She would’ve just gotten you fired. Unless you break the terms, I think it’s over. Until, of course, Augustus returns to school.”

My mood deflates. “So, what I have is a temporary win.”

“I’m not going to beat around the bush and give you false hope but once he and Maverick are back, there’s a chance they might want payback. A very small chance. So, I would suggest you watch your back when the time comes. It’s only a few months before they graduate and are out of your life.”

Life or death situations occur in the span of a few nanoseconds. A few months is a very long time. I’d be like a sitting lamb waiting to be sacrificed.

Ace must read the apprehension on my face because he rests his palm on mine and squeezes reassuringly. “I didn’t say all this to scare you, Nessa. Just that there is a possibility. I know we only just met but I hope once you get to know me as we work together, you’ll know I have your back.”

“I appreciate it, Ace,” I say, withdrawing my hand when he relaxes his hold. “Have these two been in trouble before?”

Blowing on his coffee, he takes a sip before answering. “Nothing concrete. Just a couple of rumors floating around that would be hushed once it started getting louder. Now I know it must’ve been Elizabeth.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised.”

“As entitled as they are coming from influential families, they believe they can get away with things most wouldn’t.

I’m guessing whatever happened between you and them, must’ve occurred outside the school’s premises.

Because Augustus has always kept his reputation clean and behaved properly, but Maverick is a loose cannon.

He is intelligent too, underneath the sarcasm and cockiness. ”

“What does Maverick’s father do?”

“They’re in the oil business and their ancestors were the founding members of Fallthorne.”

“Maverick comes from old money.”

Ace nods.

“I stood up to the two worst families I could pick,” I half-heartedly joke. “Is there anyone else I should worry about?”

“You know when I advised that you show the students who’s the boss, I didn’t mean by suspending two of them.” He tries to lighten the mood. “Even if there was anyone to worry about, they’ll think twice before messing with you now.”

We drink quietly for a few minutes before I question, “Do you think I did the right thing?”

“Yes, Nessa. Don’t second-guess yourself,” he quickly says, jaw tight. “No one is untouchable and if they know what’s good for them, they’ll learn their lesson.”

“Thank you. I just want to live in peace here,” I share. “The last thing I want is to look over my shoulder.”

“You won’t and remember, it’s only a matter of few months. Those boys will be out of your life before you know it.”

We finish the rest of our coffees in comfortable silence.

Ace insists on paying, saying he invited me so it’s only fair.

It’s time to leave and even though I have a lot to digest after all the information Ace dumped on me, I’m hesitant to say goodbye and return to an empty house.

So, before he can, I ask him, “I need a small favor, Ace.”

“Sure. What do you need?”

“It’s a long story.”

His blue eyes shine. “I have time.”