Total pages in book: 33
Estimated words: 30019 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 150(@200wpm)___ 120(@250wpm)___ 100(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30019 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 150(@200wpm)___ 120(@250wpm)___ 100(@300wpm)
She had to give a speech on Agamemnon in her literature class last period. She's been stressing out about it for the last two weeks, both because she hates the play and because she hates public speaking. She gets flustered and stumbles all over her words. It's cute as hell. Honestly, though, she could fail the presentation and still be valedictorian. My girl is smart as fuck.
"I think I did okay. I only messed up once."
"Then why are you upset?"
"I'm not upset," she says, rolling her eyes at me. "I'm just tired of hearing about Prom. It's all anyone ever talks about."
"What's wrong with Prom?" I ask.
"Nothing," Victoria sniffs from further down the table. Of course she's eavesdropping again. I swear to Christ, no one annoys me more than this chick. "She's just bitter because no one asked her to go."
Troian flinches.
I swear, Victoria is the biggest bitch I've ever met. If someone is being bullied, you can all but guarantee she's the ringleader. She's never liked my girl and makes no secret of it.
I can't stand her. Yet she plops her ass down at our table every day, bringing her obnoxious friends with her. They gossip and flirt and otherwise spend the entire lunch hour pissing me off. She usually keeps her mouth shut about Troian around me, though. She doesn't like being publicly put in her place, and I have no qualms about doing that shit.
One day, she's going to push me too far, and I'm going to tell everyone the truth about who she really is and how far she's willing to go to get ahead. When I do, it'll ruin the perfect little future she has envisioned.
The only reason I haven't done it yet is Troian. I know she won't approve, and I don't want to upset her. She doesn't have a vindictive bone in her body. That's what she has me for.
"At least she's not a soul-sucking bitch," I mutter, earning a hard kick from Troian. I scowl at her in response, but she ignores me, focusing on Victoria.
"You don't have a date either," Troian reminds her.
"Six different guys asked me," Victoria snaps, sneering at her. "I'm just waiting for the right invitation."
I don't miss her pointed look in my direction, but if she's waiting for me to ask her, she'll be waiting until hell freezes over. Even if I weren't in love with Troian, I wouldn't go with her. I'd rather pluck my fingernails out with pliers than go anywhere with her. Actually, I'd rather do that than sit at this table with her. Why is she always here?
"The queen can't just go with anyone," she continues, as if it's a foregone conclusion that she'll win. Unfortunately, it probably is. Girls like her—bottle blonde cheerleaders who no one really likes—always win, even though they deserve it least.
"Of course. How gross would it look for the queen to show up with a poor commoner?" Troian rolls her eyes.
I bite my lip to hide a smile.
My girl doesn't like to use her claws, but they're razor sharp.
"Exactly," Victoria says, completely missing the insult. "Royalty should attend with royalty."
Several of her friends nod their agreement.
"Right," Troian says, her tone making it clear she thinks they're all delusional.
"It's customary for the queen and king to attend together," Victoria says, batting her lashes at me. "Someone is just trying to draw it out for as long as possible."
"Uh, hell no. I'm not fucking asking you to Prom, Victoria. I already have a date," I blurt, trying to head that bullshit off at the pass. I don't care if I am crowned the king; there is no way in hell I'm going with her. Not. Fucking. Happening.
Her face blanches. Everyone at the table goes completely silent. For a minute, I think Victoria's head might actually explode. Her face certainly turns red enough to indicate an imminent eruption. But before she has the chance to say anything, Troian shoves her chair back from the table.
It screeches across the floor, far too loud in the abrupt silence.
"Excuse me," she mutters.
"Tro—"
She doesn't give me a chance to ask what's wrong. She lunges for her books, grabs them, and then takes off, walking fast. I gape after her, not sure what the fuck just happened or where she's going. And maybe it's my imagination, but I think she had tears in her eyes.
"Wow, Gage," Victoria says after a moment. "That was brutal. I think I actually heard her poor little heart break."
Her friends snicker.
"What the fuck are you talking about?"
"Jesus, you're oblivious," Victoria sneers. "She's obviously been waiting for you to ask her, but you're taking someone else and didn't even tell her." She shakes her head in mock pity, strands of blonde hair bouncing around her face. "And people think I'm the savage one."