Page 23 of Framed

“For what?” I pretended to not know what she was referring to. It was clear this wasn’t a topic she discussed willingly. “I should go catch up to her.”

***

Gwen stopped walking and I almost walked straight into her back.Almostbeing the operative word.

“Did you hear me?” Gwen sounded annoyed as if she had repeated herself multiple times. She might have. I wouldn’t know. I tuned Gwen out for most of the tour. She was a decent guide and knew a lot about campus but she was a tremendous gossip. She was also enamored by the sound of her own voice. Did I already mention that it was annoying as hell? Never thought I would see the day when I preferred listening to Sally’s news stations or watch one of Briggs’ western movies over anything else, but here we were.

“Hm?” I said as I kept my gaze pointed at the scenery. The campus was breathtaking. Finely cut grass and arrays of floral beds placed perfectly throughout the grounds made this place appear as if it was on the cover of an environmental magazine. Which was on par with the students, magazine-worthiness wise.

I felt her scowl at me but she repeated herself. “I said, the football players are off limits. Especially the quarterback. Only the Royals can date them.”

While I didn’t plan on dating anyone, let alone football players, I couldn’t help but ask, “Royals?” Dr. Masters and Briggs hadn’t mentioned the term to me.

“Like the heiresses and A-class celebrities. You know, like the elites.” She said this as if I was the dumbest person alive. I’m positive there was a “duh” on the tip of her tongue but she doesn’t voice it.

Is she serious?

Absentmindedly, I flicked my gaze back to her. If I had to use one word to describe the look on her face, I’d say sour. She was serious.

“Aren’t you all a little too old to still act like high schoolers?” I replied.

She didn’t like that question. Nope, she did not like it not one bit. Her face, ears, and neck turned the brightest shade of pink under her fake tan. She was livid.

“I don't know how many dicks mommy had to suck to get in after the deadline nor do I know what hole you crawled out of,” she snarled, pointing her finger in my direction. I resisted the urge to break it. “But we have a hierarchy for a reason. For trailer park trash like you. People who think they can just come and mingle with the rich and powerful. You don't belong here.” She clucked her tongue and shook her head. “I don’t know why I’m like even wasting my breath. They’ll never go for a girl like you.”

She stormed away. Honest to god, hand on the bible or may he strike me down now,stormedaway. Or at least, she attempted to. The sight was the most dramatic display I’d witnessed since Dan Tadley finally caught his cheating girlfriend in the act. Considering he ran out of the locker room crying and cursing Delilah seven ways to hell, while the entire football team laughed, it was pretty hard to top.

Halfway across the quad, she tripped on her shoes, slightly stumbling before she was able to regain her footing. It was instant karma, probably from that Jesus Christ she prayed to.

What a great person to have representing the school.

Many students who were also on the quad gaped at Gwen’s retreating figure incredulously. Which was probably because she resembled a two-year-old having a hissy fit after being told no.

And when she was no longer in view, those gazes shifted to me, watching and waiting to see if I too was going to put on a show. Plastering a tight smile on my face and holding my head up high, I made my legs move. If she thought that was going to send me away running, she’d have to try a lot harder than that.

I strolled casually across campus, chin high.

Just pretend they aren’t there, Scarlett. You are out here alone, I kept repeating as I made my way past multiple buildings. It wasn’t until I was halfway across the quad in the opposite direction that I realized I had absolutely no clue where I was going.

Damn it.Where was that map when I needed it?

chapter ten

Kane

“Cap,didyouhearme?” My backup quarterback, David Thomas, tapped my shoulder in an attempt to get my attention, but I couldn’t tear my gaze from the black-haired, tan girl wandering aimlessly across the campus.

She was lost and I didn’t even think she realized that this was the third time she’d passed this section of the quad. Though, that wasn’t the reason I was having a hard time taking my eyes off her.

No, it was the fact she looked familiar. I found myself watching her like a laser. I couldn’t place it. She wasn’t the type of girl you’d forget. With soft feminine features and a natural beauty most girls paid thousands for, I didn’t think I’d ever forget her face. But… I couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t the first time I’d seen her.

“Repeat that,” I said, my eyes not leaving the girl as she started rounding the same corner she’d gone around for thefourthtime now. Her sense of direction was terrible, almost comical. There was no doubt she was new. I thought about stepping in and assisting her wherever she was going, but decided against it. Eventually, I figured she would figure it out on her own.

Clearly not.

“Coach is thinking about benching Adams for the rest of the season.” That got my attention.

This was the first I’d heard about it. Xavier Adams was the best quarterback this school has ever seen and a crowd favorite. To the team, however? Not so much. He was a brooding son of a bitch who practically growled whenever someone got too close. Given his history, they all thought he was a ticking time bomb. Not sure what they expected from a guy whose sister was murdered.

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