Prodigal Thorn

Chapter 7

Monday I gave myself the biggest pep talk. Seriously, I made sure my uniform was pressed, my black vans perfectly tied, make up and hair on point. Pulling up into the parking lot, I was ready... I think. When I got to my locker though, I was not prepared to see one Luca Rossi leaning casually on it.

"Good morning, Alexandra. How are you-" he starts. I push his lean frame out of my way so I could open my locker.

"I'm sorry, did I miss the part where we're friends, Luca?" I barely spare him a glance. His pine and cedar scent surrounded me and once upon a time, I'd welcome it. But now, now I wanted it to disappear...along with him. He leans into my space, his brown eyes appearing in my line of vision. "I get that you're angry with us. However, you still have an obligation to the Collective. I've scheduled you for your Stim test."

Great the last place I want any of them is in my brain. Stim tests are known to dissect a person's psyche. Most of the time they turn into full on lie detector tests. I grab my bag out of my locker and slam it shut. "Fine, but let's be clear. Just because I have to train with you doesn't mean anything." I turn on my heel and head to class.

Of course the looks and whispers followed me through the day and by lunch, I was exhausted. I opted for a turkey burger, truffle fries and a coke and I stay as far away from the Thorn table as I could.

"Geeze, you really got beat the hell up, huh?" a snarky voice appeared over my shoulder. I took a deep breath and turned fully prepared to unload on whatever bitch wanted to try me. Coincidentally it was the blonde bitch from the office, flanked by her redhead sidekick and a brunette who looked like a fucking model. "Look, I'm not in the mood, whoever the fuck you are"

"To think you're a fucking Thorn." The redhead snarks with an eye roll. "Kara, didn't you say Thorns are like elite or something?" The blonde, Kara, twirls her bottle blonde hair. "If this trash is a Thorn, evidently not. Hey Loser, do us all a favor and disappear. You just want attention and sorry but Nate is off limits, you parasite."

I just want one lunch where I'm not interrupted. Just one. As if on cue, all heads from the Thorns table turned in my direction. Nate's steel grey eyes narrow on me, challenge in his gaze. Prove my worth. Fuck him. "Hey Kara, right?" Her brow arches in response and I smirks, "Do everyone a favor and get the fuck out of here before I drop your bottle blonde, fake nose, botched boob job ass. FYI Nate doesn't do fake and honey, you're the fakest bitch here." I shoo them away with my hands. The cafe erupted with 'oohs' and 'burns' and I could care less.

As if I wasn't already in a shitty mood, my last class of the day is gym. I stood in front of my gym locker, in a daze, when someone taps my shoulder and I jerk back. "Sorry I didn't mean to scare you. I-I just wanted to see if you're alright?" A blonde haired girl asks, her blue eyes cautious. "Um don't take this the wrong way, but do I know you?"

She laughs, but averts her eyes and my skin prickled a little. "Uh yeah. We have gym together. I'm also your Shrub, but I understand you've had some memory issues since the accident." She winced as my eyes narrow. Accident? Is that what they're calling it? "I'm Sophie Davenport." She smiles brightly and extends her hand. I shake it, but something tugs at the back of my mind. My memory from that day have came back in bits and pieces.

"You're Nurse Davenport's daughter?" I tilt my head to the side a little and I see the resemblance in Sophie's features. She nods, moving out of the way of passing girls, "Yeah, Mom asked if I'd met you already and I told her briefly." I quickly change into my gym clothes and Sophie tucks her arm in mine. "I'm not gonna let them hurt you again, Alex."

I pause and gape at her. "You were there?" She nods, her blonde locks in two French braids. "The whole class was and Coach saw it happen. I tried to get to you...but well... There were too many of them and they threatened me. I'm sorry, Alex." Sophie sniffles beside me and I engulf her in a hug. "You did what you could, Soph. You know what? I think we're friends now" and that we were.