Page 23 of Filthy Elites

I can’t believeI ran away from Isabelle again. I’m a fucking coward. I just have to admit I’m fucked in the head and somehow my hatred for her has evolved into some sick physical attraction. Instead of denying it, maybe I should let it play out.

I come to that realization as soon as I see the campus buildings. And then comes the guilt. I left her alone miles and miles away in the dark and without a cell phone. I want to make her suffer, but I don’t want her to actually get killed in a hit and run.

Jesus. I pass a hand over my face.What the hell am I doing?I make a U-turn and press the pedal to the metal. I try not to look too closely at my contradictory feelings. Hate, guilt, attraction. What’s next? Love?

I laugh out loud. If that happens, I’ll voluntarily check into a psych ward.

It hasn’t been that long since I left, but when I don’t find Isabelle anywhere on the way up to the lookout point, a sinking feeling hits my stomach. My worry grows exponentially. If I think logically, the most probable explanation is that she got a ride. But what if she didn’t?

I hurry back to campus, and once I’m in the building, I make a beeline for her room. I knock on her door, and when she doesn’t answer, I use my master key.

Her room is empty.

Hell. Where is she?

I’m not prone to panic attacks, but I think I’m having one. This isn’t the first time Isabelle has messed with my emotions. When I heard she died, I had a fit of rage, and then came the depression. I couldn’t understand what was happening to me. I hated her for so long that I felt cheated out of retaliation when she died. But then she came back into my life like a ghost, and the old wounds reopened. They never healed in the first place.

This would be the perfect opportunity to raid her room and find clues about her past, but I can’t think about anything besides making sure she’s safe.

I call Finn, the only person I can trust with this shit.

It takes a while for him to answer, and when he does, I hear loud noises in the background. “Hey, Jason. What’s up?”

“I need your help.”

“What’s wrong?” His tone changes to match mine.

I run my fingers through my hair. “Hell, I fucked up. I left Nicola stranded near Trident Lookout Point, and now, I can’t find her anywhere.”

“Well, today is your lucky day, cuz. She just walked into Dennis’s Diner.”

“What? How did she get there that fast?”

“I’m guessing Luke and Sage gave her a lift.”

A wave of relief washes over me. “Thank fuck.”

“I didn’t know you were dating her.”

“I’m not,” I grit out. “And if you value your life, don’t ever repeat that out loud again.”

“Sorry. Are you coming here?”

“No.”

I end the call. It was rude as fuck, but there’s too much going on in my head. I’ll apologize to Finn later. I guess now that I know Isabelle is not in the hands of some psycho getting chopped to bits, I can raid her room without an ounce of remorse.

ChapterEleven

Nicola/Isabelle

“So,Nicola. Tell us more about yourself,” Finn asks, grinning in a cocky way.

Now that I know he’s Jason’s cousin, I can’t stop seeing the similarities. They could pass for brothers.

I was afraid this would happen. Naturally, Luke had to open his big mouth and tell his friends where he found me and why.

I shrug. “There’s nothing to tell. My parents have a busy work schedule, and they decided to send me to boarding school.”

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