The next few days pass, and the attention and whispers finally recede but never completely disappear like the light drizzle of rain after a thunderstorm. I sit through my classes with no commotion and spend every lunch at the same table. People still recognize me in the halls as the new girl in school, but I'm not exciting enough to keep them talking. That appears to be Yvonne and Atlas's role in this school.

I haven't really made more friends and sat with Zain, Tave, and occasionally Theo every lunch hour. Sometimes, he disappeared to God knows where doing God knows what. "He's like that," Tave explained when I noted his disappearance. Theo is a quiet guy that keeps to himself—we barely spoke a few words.

As for Zain and Tave, they are anything but. Everyone greets them when we walk the halls together, and they seem to attract friends wherever they went. It is strange, though, how much they bicker when we're alone. It's like watching two gossiping aunts at a Thanksgiving gathering.

And for most of it, I stay quiet. I'm still testing the waters around them. After all, they're still born into money and will never understand where I come from. That is probably the reason they're still in the dark about my situation. It's better that I don't grow too attached. Familiar dread creeps when I think of the moment my identity will be revealed by the press.

We're now eating lunch in the school courtyard instead of the hall, lounging lazily under the shade of canopy trees tickled by the wind. The courtyard is large, separated into three even sections by mossy flagstone paths, and on either side smooth, verdant lawns stretch away.

The serenity is refreshing from the chatter we sit through every day, the green earth moist and cool under my hands. I relish the fresh breeze that plays with loose strands of my hair and adjust the skirt around my bare thighs.

"I am fully convinced you are medically stupid," Tave mutters as he pulls the wrapped container Zain has been trying to open for two minutes too long. He unwraps it in a second before laying back on the ground, his hands behind his head with closed eyes.

"Shut up," she grumbles, looking down as she pops open the container, her wild hair forming a crowning glory around her. "You're saved by my hunger. Otherwise I would've boiled your teeth in the chem lab."

I should be used to her casual creative, death threats yet my eyes bulge in surprise. Tave booms with laughter, his broad chest constricting. He laughs with his whole body; mirthful face, shaking shoulders, buckled knees. He blows her a kiss and goes back to reading his history book.

I've only spent a few days with them but it is enough for me to pick up on the connection between them. Their unspoken feelings for each other are obvious, but for some reason, they refused to admit it or give in. I don't dare say that it's love—for I've never witnessed that between two living people with my own eyes, so I won't know it if I see it—but it's something. There is always a low buzz of connection between them; a little touch, a fleeting moment with their eyes, an inside joke.

I unwrap my Philly steak wrap and hum in delight. The few days I've attended this school, I've been eating more than I have ever had. David paid my canteen balance for the full year along with my tuition. He's a weird man, doing small acts of kindness to hide his wicked schemes underneath. I suppose it makes himself feel better.

A tall, broad figure approaches us from the library building, and as he gets closer, I recognize him as Theo. A back-bag slings over his left shoulder and he holds a few books in his other hand.

"Theodore! You've decided to grace us with your presence," Zain exclaims, chucking a banana at him. He catches it with ease and throws it back. "Where were you today?"

"I had work to do," he says, the corners of his lips twitching.

I wonder what kind of work has him so preoccupied all the time. We're nowhere near midterms and still he seems to disappear too often. It can't be school work. I make a mental note to find out later. Any relative of David Roman can be helpful to my investigation.

Zain rolls her eyes. "Of course."

He glances at me with an unreadable expression as I sit with my back to the hard trunk of a tree. We haven't spoken since my first day here.

"Sage," he greets me with a nod. I reply with a wave before going back to my sandwich.

My eyes flit up in surprise when he starts to make his way toward me until he drops his bag and sits with his back to the tree opposite of me, a rich scent of cologne and rosewood engulfing my senses.

He brings up a knee to his chest, spreading the other leg and getting comfortable, careful not to touch my own legs. The sun casts a mellow, golden filter on his features, coloring his short hair a light chestnut brown. His dark eyes watch my every move wordlessly as his head rests on the wood bark. If he's expecting me to look away, I don't—despite how nervous he makes me for some odd, unexplainable reason.

"Did you talk to David recently?" he finally asks, leaning closer so that Zain and Tave don't hear us. They're engrossed in some kind of debate.

"No. I heard he was spending this week in Seattle."

"I thought I should let you know," he says. "He's releasing the news to the press when he comes back. This Sunday."

I guess this is the only week of normalcy that I'd be granted. After the news spread, there's no knowing how I'll be treated. It doesn't matter, I tell myself, you're not here to make friends. Involuntarily, I glance at Zain and Tave. I've only spent a few days with them, but I can't deny that it feels nice to have friends here. Will they be distant and awkward around me, or just mad that I didn't tell them myself?

Feeling his gaze at me, I turn to look at him. He seems to be the only person I can't read right away, and it makes me wary.

"You know, they stick." He jerks his head to Tave and Zain laughing at a joke Tave says. "They stick with you no matter what."

"I barely know them."

"They know enough to like you."

"Do you?" I blurt out.

"Do I what?" he asks with amusement in his eyes.

I finally look away first, internally scowling. How silly am I to ask him if he likes me? I don't even know why it matters. Only that he's strange and unreadable. And I don't like surprises or unpredictable snags in my plan.

He knows about my background but it doesn't seem to bother him. Yet, we haven't spoken a word all week, and he decides to warn me now about David.

He glances at his watch and grimaces. Picking up his bag, he gets up in one swift movement. "I'll catch up with you guys later."

"Where you going, Hannah Montana? Got a wig for your secret performance?" Tave asks, laughing at his own joke. He does that often.

"I have practice, smart ass. And Coach says you need to stop slacking and start coming to practice," he replies with a roll of his eyes as he steps over Tave's outstretched leg.

Tave and Theo, I learned, are both on the lacrosse team. It explains their broad shoulders and fit bodies that are obvious beneath their knitted sweaters. But Tave is also in almost every sports team the school offers—lacrosse, soccer, swimming, and tennis. I don't know how he has the time and still keeps up his grades.

Theo casts one last look at me before turning away. I watch his back become smaller and smaller until he turns a corner and disappeared.

After a few minutes of peaceful eating, Zain speaks again. "So you've never had a serious relationship?"

I shake my head. "I've had a few flings here and there but not a serious one, no."

"Good," she dramatically sighs in relief, "I thought you'd tell me you've never had your first kiss too."

"I'm not a prude, you know."

"I had a friend once that wanted to save herself for marriage. She'd blush when I brought up the subject of boys."

My lips lift in a smile at her finding it so incredulous. She's a heart-breaker and boys loved her.

"Zain, not everyone thinks boys are temporary games like you do," Tave says with a knowing grin.

"You're one to talk."

"You're just mad I can pull both genders while you, on the other hand, can barely stay committed to one."

My eyebrows raise in surprise. I look back to Tave who's smirking above his book. He is undeniably attractive and has that jock-boyish charm that screams 'I'm a womanizer', so this is news to me.

Before she can actually start pulling at his teeth, the bell rings outside, saving both Tave and I. As nice as they are, I didn't think I can sit through their bickering any longer.

We pick up our belongings and start making our way to the classes. Tave lazily hangs his arm around Zain's short figure, squeezing her cheeks.

"You know I love you right, Zains?"

They meet eyes, and for a second, I feel like I'm interrupting something private. It's subtle but the blush creeping up her tan complexion does not go unnoticed by me. I stare at the ground instead, feeling uncomfortable.

She shrugs out of his grasp and pushes him away. "Get in line, Octavian Gray."

༺༻

"A party? Already?" Marli exclaims.

She sits across me in the subway, her thick-lensed glasses perched on the crown of her forehead. We each have a can of soda and leftover fries from some cheap diner we picked up before catching this train. The subway is mostly empty save for a few people standing or holding on to the overhead handles, and the air is muggy, making my shirt stick to my sweaty back. I don't know where we're headed but I don't mind the obliviousness; it's been a while since we've done this.

"I know," I reply, taking a sip of my soda. The carbonated beverage fizzes at the back of my throat. "But that's exactly what we need. The sooner I get into the twat's house, the better."

"How do you even know what we're looking for is there?"

"I don't. But we gotta start somewhere, Marls."

She nods and swirled the liquid in her can, deep in thought. The subway slows down until it comes to a stop. A rush of cold air rushes through the train as the doors pull open. People hop in while others mill out before the doors shut closed and the transport starts to move again.

"And that twat you've been cursing at this whole time," she muses with a small smile and teasing eyes. "You sure there aren't any mixed feelings that you mistake for hate."

"Ugh," I groan at the thought. "That guy's a total dick. And don't even get me started on the daddy issues."

"Daddy issues?"

I chew on my lips, thinking of how to put it into words. "Yeah. He does anything his dad tells him to. He won't even question him. He just sits quietly and nods like a poor puppy. And as soon as he's not with him, he starts barking at me like a pit bull terrier," I paus, thinking better of it. "Actually, he looks more like a Chihuahua barking with a pricey collar."

She giggles at the expression. "So no cute Nate Archibald's in that preppy school?"

I sigh. "No. No Nate Archibald's for me. And I'd prefer it that way. I'm only here for one reason and I don't want any distractions."

The little flings I've had in high school are nothing worth mentioning—a few dates that never lead to more than a 'thank you for tonight' text.

Her face softens. "Sage, you can let yourself have fun. You may as well." She shrugs a shoulder.

"This school is filled with snobby kids that were fed with silver spoons. I doubt they'll even talk to me when they find out," I scoff.

"What about those two friends you mentioned earlier. Uhh . . . Zain and Tavi?" Her eyebrows furrow as she tries to recall their names.

"Zain and Tave," I answer quietly, remembering Theo's words. "I don't know, Marli. I've only known them for a few days."

A bag of chips, another soda, and three more stops, we arrive back home. Marli's mom has been lonely ever since her husband's death so her sleepovers at my house have lessened a great deal. But today is not one of those days, and she decides to spend the night with me.

It's like old times' sake; we binge on empty calorie food and Roan pesters us with his superhero talk until we're finally convinced to watch a Marvel movie. And as usual, Roan ends up sleeping halfway through and we're too engrossed to change the movie.

I don't know when I doze off but the buzz from a text wakes me up. It's a text from an unknown number that makes my blood run cold.

Be careful, Sage. You're playing with the big men now.