Kingsley Academy

Chapter 3

The night should have ended after Kade's little visit to the bathroom, but of course, it doesn't. By the time I step back outside, the party is still raging, even more out of control than before. People are drinking, dancing, some already too drunk to stand properly. The lights around the pool cast a hazy glow over everything, and the music pounds in the background, loud enough to make my head spin.

I can feel Kade's eyes on me before I even see him. He's still by the cabana, now with the same girl from earlier clinging to his side. I recognize her as one of the upperclassmen—Natalie, or Nicole, or something equally forgettable. She's giggling, pressed against him like he's her lifeline, but Kade looks bored, his dark eyes scanning the crowd like he's searching for his next target.

And then, those eyes land on me.

"Hey, princess!" Kade's voice cuts through the noise, loud enough to grab the attention of everyone nearby. Conversations stop, heads turn. It's like the entire party pauses, waiting to see what he's about to do.

I stop in my tracks, heart pounding, but I force myself to keep my chin up. I'm not going to let him get to me. Not here. Not after everything.

Kade's smirk widens as he takes a step forward, pulling away from the girl at his side. "Enjoy your little bathroom break?"

My stomach drops, but I keep my expression neutral, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. "What are you talking about?"

"You know," he drawls, his voice dripping with fake innocence. "That powdery stuff you were so into. Not very princess-like, huh?"

Laughter ripples through the crowd. My face burns, but I still manage to glare at him, my fists clenched at my sides. How dare he?

"You should really be careful with that stuff," he continues, ignoring my glare. "Wouldn't want the new girl to make too many bad first impressions."

My pulse races, the humiliation tightening in my chest like a vise. People are staring, some whispering, others laughing, their eyes fixed on me like vultures circling a dying animal. I feel sick. He's doing this on purpose, trying to break me in front of everyone. And it's working.

"Shut up, Kade," I snap, my voice sharper than I intended. "You don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh, I know enough," he says, taking another step closer, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "But hey, if you're into that kind of thing, who am I to judge? Just don't expect anyone here to take you seriously."

Before I can respond, the girl he was making out with steps up next to him, looping her arm through his like she's claiming him for herself. She shoots me a look, a smug little smile curling at the corners of her lips.

"You should really lighten up, Allison," she says, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. "I mean, it's all fun, right?"

The next moment happens so fast I barely register it. The girl moves to walk past me, and then suddenly, her shoulder slams into mine with enough force to send me stumbling backward. I feel my feet slip against the wet tiles, and before I can catch myself, I'm falling—arms flailing, heart racing—and then...

Splash.

The icy water of the pool closes over my head, shocking me to the core. For a moment, everything is muffled, distant—the sound of laughter, the flickering lights, the ripples of water all around me. I kick up, breaking the surface with a gasp, water streaming down my face, my clothes clinging to my skin.

The laughter is louder now, and as I wipe the water from my eyes, I see them—Kade, still smirking like the whole thing was a joke, and Natalie, pretending like it was an accident.