Expensive Favours - Favours Series #1

Chapter 22

The plan doesn't go as I wish. But it goes in some direction, so I remain satisfied in the least. Katrina hadn't anything drastic after my provoking, so I wondered if I would be seeing Michael's nastier side again.

Our back and forth was something I missed since I bluffed my way through them and got them to stop pulling tricks. And a truce was boring I realised. Drama was always more entertaining. Especially when you can sit back and watch.

But he was a quiet and arrogant boy today in class. So boring. But I too, focused, not wanting to fail one of the subjects I actually liked.

The article caused ripples in Katrina's following which made me smile to myself. Her usual posse was lacking. But to replace the mediocre mean girl group, Rose and Vivian stepped up. They flanked the ivory haired princess and her narrowed honey eyes.

It was a pathetic way to convince everyone else that the article was false. A month ago these three weren't on talking terms. Now all of a sudden they together at every turn?

But for the smartest and most elite students in New York, the Thornton majority was buying it. I suppose they had to. If you believed otherwise and actually dared to the question the royals, your entire reputation is in shambles.

It really was a shame their power was so dulled. If only they had a leader. I chuckled internally.

I was the first to the table. So I waited patiently, eating my sandwich and then drinking my smoothie. That's when I realised, I had been excluded from the group chat.

They were having a meeting no doubt. And me, sitting here was making it awkwardly clear they might be avoiding me. Again!

Fucking hell. I got up, not waiting for the royals to show up. I stalked through the cafeteria, phone in hand, like I myself had gotten the message to meet up. As if I ever would.

I think of the places I could catch all of them, talking, whispering, wondering how to get rid of the nuisance that is me, because I was starting to unravel their well kept secrets. I head to the library then, thinking of where I first found the boys together, on my very first day.

Oh how innocent and nervous I was. Yet so bold and confident.

I missed my personal sanctuary. I hadn't been here in a while, since Evora confessed actually. I was honestly annoyed and upset to be left out of their plan, and played so obviously.

But as I ran my hand through the hardcover spines and walked silently between the shelves, I did not find a single royal. Only two studious girls hunched over their books and a few freshman, doing a project. Without wasting time reading book titles, I wandered out and hurried through the hallways, not finding them near their lockers, nor in the student longue.

I clicked my tongue and even peeked at the courts and lacrosse field. Nothing. Empty everywhere. As a last ditch effort I climbed the stairs to search the labs. Instead of finding them there inside, I find the red fire escape door ajar, beside the door to the lab, leading to an extended roof. It had to be braced open with a wooden door wedge, so it wouldn't shut, locking everyone outside.