Kingsley Academy

Chapter 11

I wake up with a pounding headache, my body heavy, and everything feels... wrong. My mouth is dry, my head's spinning, and there's a thick haze in my memory. I squint at the light streaming in through the window, groaning as I try to piece together what the hell happened last night.

The coke. The bar. Kade.

Bits and pieces come back, but nothing solid. I remember being on the floor—on the stairs, maybe?—and Kade... Did he carry me? No, that doesn't make sense. My brain's too foggy to sort it out, and honestly, I'm not sure I want to.

I sit up, groaning as the room tilts slightly. My stomach churns with nausea, but I push through it. I've been through worse. I force myself to stand, feeling the dull ache in my body, and head toward the bathroom.

When I catch my reflection in the mirror, I wince. My eyes are red, my skin pale, and my hair's a mess—wavy and wild instead of the sleek, straight perfection I usually demand. I don't have time to fix it, not today. The thought of dragging a straightener through my hair right now makes me want to pass out all over again.

I brush through it half-heartedly, leaving the waves as they are. Whatever. I throw on a pair of oversized sunglasses—big enough to cover the redness in my eyes—and stare at my reflection again. It'll have to do.

I glance at the pair of heels lined up neatly by my bed. But my head's already spinning, and there's no way I'm putting up with the torture of heels today. Not in this state.

Flats it is. I grab the pair of McQueens that I haven't worn since I don't even know when. As soon as I slip them on, it feels strange, almost wrong, like they don't belong on my feet. But whatever. I can't care today. The goal is survival.

When I step out of my dorm, sunglasses firmly in place, I'm hit with the sound of students bustling around campus, everyone in their usual cliques, whispering, gossiping. I pull my jacket tighter around me, trying to block out the noise, but I already know what's coming the second I walk into class.

I push open the door to the classroom, and immediately, all eyes are on me.

"Wow, someone partied too hard last night," someone whispers, loud enough for me to hear.

Another voice pipes up. "Where are the Louboutins, Allison? Not feeling it today?"

I roll my eyes behind my sunglasses, keeping my expression blank as I walk to my seat, but I can feel their stares. I know I don't look like myself—no heels, no perfectly straight hair, no flawless, icy demeanor. But today, I can't even be bothered.

"Looks like the queen bee's having an off day."

I flip them off as I slide into my seat, leaning back and crossing my arms, making it clear I'm not here for anyone's shit today. 

Eric, sitting a few rows away, raises an eyebrow at me and grins. "Tough night?"

I shrug, not in the mood for banter. "You have no idea."

Lily smirks from her seat next to me. "Well, whatever happened, you've got everyone talking."

"Good for them," I mutter, sliding lower in my seat, adjusting my sunglasses to cover more of my face.

I'm halfway through the class, trying to ignore the throbbing in my head, when I hear the unmistakable sound of someone sitting down in the seat next to me. I don't need to look to know who it is—his presence always comes with that same, infuriating energy.

Kade.

"Nice sunglasses," he says, his voice low and teasing, loud enough for only me to hear.

I keep my gaze forward, refusing to engage. "Not now, Kade."