Whitethorn Academy

Chapter Thirteen

We hadn't gotten far down the sidewalk before someone stepped into her path. At first glance, I thought it was Mari. But though she was also blonde haired and blue-eyed, it wasn't Mari.

"Celeste," Jason greeted her, but there was no enthusiasm in his voice. He sounded irritated, actually.

"Jason," replied Celeste with a sneer. "I didn't expect to find you with the new girl. I thought you'd still be pining for your ex."

Jason didn't reply, which made nerves flutter in my stomach. Still pining for his ex? What was that supposed to mean?

Celeste turned to me, her blue eyes amused. "I can help you get revenge," she said.

"Revenge?" I asked, confused.

"On Mari," Celeste said, as if that was the most obvious answer.

I gave a scoff. Mari was irritating, but I had no intention of painting a larger target on my back. "No thanks," I said, before attempting to skirt around her on the sidewalk.

But Celeste stopped me, gripping my arm tightly. "I can make a wonderful friend," she warned, her voice low. "Or a very good enemy. The choice is yours."

"I think I have plenty of friends, thanks," I replied, anger lacing my words.

Celeste's friendly smile turned bitter, her blue eyes narrowing. "I don't think you heard me."

My anger swelled. "I heard you just fine, Celeste. My ears aren't broken. I just have no interest in a fake friend that wants to use me as bait in her war with the other mean girl."

Celeste sneered. "You'll regret your choice soon enough."

She moved toward me, but Jason was there, towering over her. "That's enough, Celeste. She said no. Move along."

With a curl of her lip, Celeste looked up at Jason. "Have fun with your consolation prize, Jase. Though I'm not sure how much of her will be left by the time your ex is through with her."

Then she turned on her heel and stomped away, toward Alpha Hall.

I watched her until she was out of sight, then I blew out a sharp breath of relief.

Jason's shoulders were tense and he was not as carefree as he had been before Celeste had shown up.

"Are you okay?" I asked him, watching as the emotions flickered across his face.

He turned back to me with a smile, but I could tell it wasn't genuine.

"She definitely knows how to push people's buttons," I said, unsure of what else to say. It seemed clear that Celeste had definitely hit a sore spot with her words.

"That she does."

Without anything else to say, we walked in silence to Omega Hall. The easy-going conversation we'd had before Celeste had lifted my spirits, but I was left wondering why I always seemed to be the target of the mean girls. Was it just because I was the new girl?

The walk to the classroom felt entirely too long. As the silence stretched between Jason and I, the tension thickened to an uncomfortable amount.

I thought Jason would sit away from me, but he slid into the seat next to mine, though he was still silent. The rest of our class began to file in around us, and I fiddled with my notebook and pencil to distract myself.

I felt it when Mari and Alek entered the room. A shiver slid up my spine and I looked up, only to lock gazes with Mari's ice blue eyes. She looked amused as she turned her gaze to Jason.

"Wow, yesterday's trash found the rest of the garbage. Why doesn't that surprise me?"

Jason didn't look up at Mari's words, but I could tell that it deflated him. Alek stood behind Mari, though he seemed bored by the whole situation.