Page 10

THEO

P ushing my hand through my hair, I amble across the campus to my first class of the semester. It’s almost eight in the morning, and I’m getting an early start.

With the set up for our new business, we need to make sure that our nights are free. Thankfully, we all hate night classes, and planned accordingly. It’s been a long time since Elijah, Jared, and I banded together for a project, despite how close we are.

The last time we did, it was to destroy a girl’s life. It’ll be nice to be building something instead of tearing it down for a change.

I’m also slowly finding my aversion to my computer and coding is waning. I actually miss it, which means that I’m able to dig up dirt on any competition, as well as find private investors quickly. Blackmail is a nice incentive to open wallets.

It’s how I was able to convince alumni members of Carlysle Prep that aren’t connected to the Kings Society to invest in our business venture. Within six hours after we found our perfect venue, we had it fully funded.

Terry asked if we were male gigolos, then said she didn’t want to know as we signed the paperwork to begin the process to close on the deal after an inspection was done on the building. I told her that we don’t fuck around, just like she doesn’t either.

The building, while older, had its pipes replaced recently, and everything is in good working order.

This is a big undertaking while also going to school, but we’re willing to do anything to ensure that we’re as independent as possible from everyone else.

I project that we’ll be able to pay our investors back within six months, and I’ll do side work if necessary while coding if it’ll help that along.

Between classes, I have to do some research on what a metaphysical storefront will need to have stocked, and also put out feelers for a manager for it. She or he can do the hiring for the store, as long as the employees follow our guidelines, then I don’t care.

I also don’t necessarily need the employees to know that there’s a speakeasy and sex club behind the large mirror I plan to have installed. I’ve grown up with secret entries and hallways, I feel like it’s a nod to my childhood by having it in my new club.

The manager can tell them whatever they want, as long as it doesn’t get the cops called on us, I don’t care.

Jared and I enjoy the small details of this stuff, while Elijah is working on the social media aspect.

Word of mouth will be important, and it’s a good job for someone who usually lurks in the corners.

His face doesn’t need to be on camera, he’s been enjoying the use of a mask and a voice changer.

Elijah gets the added bonus of anonymity as well as an important job.

It’s a win for all of us.

Opening the door to the Communications building, I walk up to my class. I was able to knock out a lot of my general classes while at Carlysle Prep, and the credits transferred over. It means that many of my English, Math, language credits, and History classes are all accounted for.

While the other freshmen are scurrying to complete these, I can dig into the classes I actually want to take.

Moving through the hallway, I almost stumble as I see gorgeous chestnut hair, and a tiny wisp of a girl as she hurries to her class. Everything about her feels painfully familiar, but that’s not possible.

“Rachelle,” I whisper, though I’m unsure if it’s a prayer or a curse. “Rachelle!”

I yell over the sea of students in the building, but she disappears around the corner. Struggling to catch up to her, I know she’s long gone by the time I make it to where she went.

Fuck. There’s no damn way.

Shaking my head, I check the room numbers because I’m certain I’m all turned around now.

“You lost?” an amused voice asks.

Turning, I see a wry grin of a blonde haired girl. She’s not Rachelle, which means I’m not interested. I’m done fucking random girls because I’m bored. Elijah, Jared, and I all agreed that we didn’t need the distractions.

It’s also not fair to what the three of us share. We’ve never really thought about monogamy, as it’s a societal construct, but protecting our peace from needy women is definitely something to consider.

“More so, I wasn’t paying attention and now find myself turned around,” I explain. “I’m looking for room A-178.”

“You’re going to keep going straight and then turn left,” she says. “If this is your first day, prepare to get lost a few times.”

“Thanks,” I say with a smirk. “Appreciate it.”

Walking away, I follow her directions and find my class. Sitting in the first row, I take notes beside the provided slideshow, and wait for the professor to begin. While students file in, I check my phone and my group chat with the guys.

Over the last two years, we went from one group chat to two as Ignacio drifted away from us. Sometimes, friendships don’t last through the pressures of time and stressful situations, ours didn’t survive pussy.

While I’ll be the first to admit that Rachelle intrigued me, I always knew that she wouldn’t live through my need to take her apart and see her insides. Most things don’t get put together the same way again, and their integral structure is changed.

Memories of how she scratched my face and neck up before I shoved the syringe into her skin haunt me. The police never asked a word about it, and one of her marks on my collar bone never healed right. I still have a scar there, reminding me of it every time I glance in a mirror.

Once the drug was in her system, it kept her from struggling too much, the quiet almost too loud once she was buried.

Forcing air through my lungs in an explosive breath, I shoot off a text to the message thread without Ignacio. Now that he’s in prison, I should just delete it from my phone, but I can’t do it.

I swear, one day, my sentimental bullshit is going to get me killed.

Me:

Rise and shine. How are things?

Elijah:

Coffee is saving my ass today. I’ll know what I think after this class. I think we all have an hour for lunch.

Jared:

Thank God for Calvin. He sent me off with a breakfast burrito.

My lips twitch because I didn’t get a burrito for breakfast. To be fair, I usually eat a muffin on the go, and Calvin knows that. Elijah and I went for a run this morning, while Jared hit the pool.

We’re falling into our routines at the new house, and it’s nice to be living together officially. We’ve always been in each other’s spaces, but this is more permanent. I don’t have to go home anymore after sleeping next to their warm bodies all night.

Me:

Let’s do lunch on campus then. I don’t care what it is.

The teacher clears his throat at the front of the room, and I make sure my phone is silenced before I put it away. I’d prefer not to get on this man’s bad side this soon. Granted, I’m a heavy handed asshole, but there are new rules at this school, and I need to learn them.

I give the teacher a neutral look to show that I'm paying attention, and his gaze sweeps over the auditorium before beginning to speak. He’s engaging, but the start of his speech is what expectations he has and how his class is structured.

All of it is important, and he blows through it before continuing with his lecture.

I jot a few things into the margins of my PowerPoint that’s been provided on my computer, but most of it is self explanatory. Technically, I could just skip and simply attend the exams, however, I’ve never been that kind of student.

I don’t intend to start now.

The rest of the day moves quickly, and lunch is uneventful with the guys. It’s a nice change from all the drama and fanfare of our past school. It’s nice to be able to fall into the background, without others trying to use us for our influence.

There are a few girls who attempt to walk over to talk to us, but it’s quickly nipped in the bud by one of the guys kissing me or their arm draping over my shoulder.

I don’t have a problem with public displays of affection, or being a free use hole.

It’s giving “we are gay” vibes, and I’m perfectly fine with it.

Elijah smirks as he leans against me to speak into my ear.

“Do you think we’re going to have a chance to choose a contractor after classes?” he asks.

Even though I have enough law under my belt to be able to handle the opening of our new business, we have a law group on retainer now. They’re the faces of whom anyone working with us for the club will see first for all of our business.

Contractors will sign paperwork through one of our lawyers, and it won’t be until later that they’ll meet one of us. It’ll keep them from trying to fuck us over or refusing to work with us because we’re “just a bunch of kids.”

Fuck that noise. We’re smarter than most old farts in business, we just may need a bit of help making sure we do normal things like eat or stock the fridge. There are many people who are in the same boat. We aren’t the only ones.

“Yeah,” I murmur without moving my lips. “I have it narrowed down, and then we can have the lawyer’s office offer them the job. I want to get moving on the renovations by next week.”

“That’s fast for a job like this,” he admits. “Think money will talk that much?”

“Oh yeah. Senator Thomas said that he’d help push our permits,” I remind him. “We’ve got this in the bag. I’m more concerned about the setup for the shop. I don’t know the first thing about it.”

“Maybe I should put out a social media video about looking for a manager for a witchy type shop,” Elijah says. “I obviously won’t call it that, but do you think it’ll help?”

“You know what, it would,” I decide. It certainly won’t hurt anything. “Thanks for taking the initiative, Elijah.”

“I have to head out,” Jared announces, glancing at his watch. “I swear, today is moving so fast. Is it just me?”

“Nah, I feel it too,” I admit. We all finish at the same time, so we all drove in together as well.