“Yep. Get ready.” Beau slides into the driver’s seat and glances at me in the rearview mirror. “Don’t worry, I’m with you most of the day. Except chorus. But Aria said she has that class with you. You’ll be okay.”
Despite his reassurance, the closer we get to the school, the more I begin to sweat. My palms are damp, and I’m pretty sure my pits are, too. Suck it up, Lyla. Time to show these crazy Roses what you’ve got.
Beau makes a right onto the long drive that leads up to the school and circles around to the student parking lot. And unsurprisingly, it’s a sea of other stupid-expensive cars. Holy crap.
“Does anyone drive anything normal around here?”
Micah grumbles. “Yeah. Thorns. Daph and Scar both have piece-of-shit cars. Or I should say Daphne had one. She wrecked it like a week and a half ago.”
“I think I’d be too nervous to park next to anyone else.”
He cracks up. “You and Daph, both. She always parks at the back of the lot.”
Beau laughs. “Scarlett never cares where she leaves her truck, but that’s neither here nor there since she mostly rides with Xander these days, anyway.”
“Scarlett seems nice, too. I didn’t get a cha—” My mouth clamps shut and I press my lips tightly together. I prop my elbow up on the edge of the window. I don’t want to bring up the fact that she’d seen me flip out after watching Beau with that girl. But hell, maybe she’d tell me who it was. I don’t even know. Up until now, I’ve preferred to think of her as the nameless, faceless blow job queen. I wonder if it would be smarter to find out who she is so I can avoid her. No way am I asking Beau. But maybe Scarlett could tell me. Or Aria? I don’t know if she’d have heard. Maybe I should text her.
Before I can get my phone out, Beau pulls into a space and shuts off the engine. The guys get out quickly, slamming doors behind them. I’m not as fast. My nerves are about to get the better of me. Wishing I could take Beau’s keys and drive right out of here, I swallow hard, grab my bag, and exit his fancy-ass car. A quick glance around at everyone hurrying toward the school kicks me into gear. As soon as they see I’m out, the guys immediately head toward the building, their long legs eating up the pavement. I, on the other hand, move slower, dragging my feet a bit. Worrying the corner of my lip, I get the sinking feeling this is not going to be the easiest day ever.
One look at the building has me doing an internal freak out. This place is huge and over-the-top swanky. From Simon’s description, the campus sprawls over acres and acres when the grounds and sports facilities are taken into account. The whole place is well-maintained, the windows streak free and the landscaping perfect. There are several big doors at the front of the building. Students stream through them, everyone in the same red-and-black uniforms. Girls in plaid skirts and blazers, guys in black pants and blazers with plaid ties.
I step off to the side and stop, trying to psych myself up. Oh my God, what am I doing here?
“Lyla?” Griffin’s voice comes to me from up ahead. “You okay?” He’s stopped and turned around, waiting.
I hear Micah tell Beau he’s going ahead to find Daphne and then Beau and Griff walk back to join me.
“I’m good.” I cross my arms over my chest, gripping my biceps with the opposite hands. “I need a minute.”
Griff cocks his head to the side, then chucks me under the chin. “Lyla, in case you didn’t know, you kinda come off as a badass. You’re going to be fine. Even if people are assholes today, once gymnastics starts and they see you’re a fucking star, no one will have anything to say.” He jerks his thumb over his shoulder. “I’ve got a test in precalc first thing or I’d walk to class with you.”
Beau gives his brother a look that I don’t miss. It’s something along the lines of Get the fuck out of here. That’s how I interpret it, anyway. It makes the corners of my mouth tug into a little smile.
He hooks his arm around my shoulders and starts walking with me.
It’s not thirty seconds later that we hear some fuckhead shouting, “Thorn!” from between cupped hands.
I frown, shooting a nasty look in the guy’s direction. “I think that asshole is talking about me. Who is he?”
“Absolutely nobody. Keep walking.” Beau tucks me more tightly into his side.
“Look out, that Thorn’s digging in already!” Different asshat this time.
From beside me, Beau shouts, “One more person opens their mouth, I’m going to put my fist in it. Don’t think I won’t.”
“Outta my way, fuckers. I’ve got important business this morning.” Like a whirlwind, all of a sudden Aria is on my other side, linking arms with me. She’s picture-perfect, from her gorgeous makeup application down to her shoes that I’m sure cost a ton. She grins at me. “Let’s go. And don’t listen to any of these douchebags. No matter what. Got it?”
I nod quickly. “Got it.” I hold my middle finger in the air for anyone who needs to see it.
Just outside the office, Beau pulls me to a stop, his gaze scanning the crowd. He clenches his jaw. “Are you good? I can come to the chorus room at the end of class and walk you to precalc if you want.”
Aria gives him a look and smacks his arm. “Stop. We’re fine. You know I can handle any shit that comes our way. And I’m in your precalc class, Beau. I’ll make sure everything is cool.” She gives a look to a guy who’s eyeing us. He goes to say something and before he can even get it out, she shouts, “Go fuck yourself, douche!”
I raise my brows at Beau. I think we’ll be just fine.
He presses his lips together. “Okay. I’ll see you next period, then.” He gives me a wave that seems a little unsure and walks away.
Aria lifts a brow. “Is it just me or are you and Beau figuring out how to deal with each other?”