At Luxford Academy, the elite boarding school for the ultra-rich, Adriana and Nicholas have been bitter rivals since childhood. Forced to live in the same dorm, their once-friendly pranks have escalated into daily clashes-sharp insults, constant bic...
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I'm halfway out the door, keys in hand, already mentally preparing myself for the chaos Adri's managed to get herself into. My phone is buzzing every couple of minutes with texts from her—mostly apologies and a few attempts at jokes to lighten the mood. I roll my eyes, more amused than annoyed, though I'm bracing myself for whatever condition I might find her in.
How the hell does she have a phone with her?
Just as I reach the front steps, I hear two voices behind me. I turn around, and there they are—Alejandro and my dad, each holding an iPad, eyes narrowed like I'm some kind of prime suspect. Great.
"Nick," my dad says, one eyebrow raised. "It's three in the morning. Where exactly are you going?"
Alejandro folds his arms, giving me the same look he probably reserves for boardroom interrogations. "You wouldn't happen to be sneaking out on some... personal business, would you?"
I shift uncomfortably, knowing full well I can't lie to these two. It's like they've got a superpower that instantly detects any fib I might try. I clear my throat, trying to find a way to phrase it that doesn't make Adri sound like she's in too much trouble.
"Well... so, here's the thing," I start, rubbing the back of my neck. "Adri... might have gotten into a bit of a situation with Katerina and Amara."
Hypothetically of course
My dad's eyebrow shoots up even higher. "Situation? Like, something minor?"
Is that even possible?
Alejandro sighs, already looking like he knows exactly what that "situation" is. "Are they in jail, Nick?"
I wince, giving a reluctant nod. "Yeah. Kind of."
Both of them exchange glances—half annoyed, half concerned. But there's something else there, too. Maybe a bit of amusement, or at least a hint of understanding. After all, they did worse things back in their teenage years. I know the stories.
"You're not going alone," my dad says, already pocketing his iPad and reaching for his coat. Alejandro follows suit, looking all too prepared to storm the police station.
How the hell are their pockets big?
I try to protest, but they just brush me off, motioning for me to lead the way. "Let's go, Nick," Alejandro says with a small sigh. "Better to have someone there who can talk to the officers."
The drive to the station is... tense, to say the least. They're quiet for the most part, though I can see Alejandro shaking his head every so often, probably imagining the worst. My dad just keeps checking his watch, clearly annoyed but ready to help Adri out of whatever mess she's gotten herself into.
When we finally pull up to the station, they both glance at me with a mixture of expectation and exasperation.
"Lead the way," my dad says, giving me a small pat on the back.
