Page 11 of Filthy Elites

My heart is hammering madly inside my chest as I walk over to return his violin. He holds my stare as he takes the instrument from me.

“Thank you,” I say.

He doesn’t reply.Fine. You want to be rude? Be my guest.

I find a seat across the room and far away from him. My head is filled with theories and questions about his behavior, so I barely hear what Mrs. Simpson is saying. Each student plays a short solo, and then the class is over.

Jason is the first out of the room. Sloane scrambles to follow him and ends up dropping half the contents of her bag on the floor. No one offers to help her pick them up.

On my way out, Mrs. Simpson stops me. “You need a new violin a soon as possible, Ms. Devlin. We have a recital in a month, and I’d love for you to play a duet with Jason.”

“Uh, what?” My voice comes out as a squeak.

“Are you deaf?” Sloane asks on her way to the door.

She doesn’t wait for my reply—not that I’d be able to offer a retort in my current freaking-out state of mind. I wasn’t expecting to perform so soon. It wouldn’t be a big deal. This is a small town and I doubt the press would be interested in covering the event. I think it’s the idea of a duet with Jason that’s making me nervous.

“We have a recital to celebrate the beginning of the school year. It’s also a charity event. Usually, Jason has a solo, but I think it would be a breath of fresh air if we have a duet this time. You’d be amazing together.”

“Uh, I don’t know. It’s such short notice. Maybe we should let him have the solo this time.”

She tilts her head. “Are you intimidated by him because of who his mother is?”

“Should I know who she is?”

“Oh dear. She’s Victoria Petrov.”

My eyes bug out. “The pianist?”

Mrs. Simpson nods. “The one and only. As you might know, she retired from playing professionally when she married into the Novak family. She’s still a legend though.”

“I had no idea. Is Jason’s family a big deal, I mean the Novaks?”

“Oh, I forget you are brand new to Triton Cove. Yes, they are a big deal. They founded the town; one might say they own it.”

No wonder Jason acts the way he does.

“Well, good. Then it’s all settled.” Mrs. Simpson continues.

“Have you asked Jason if he’s okay with it?”

She furrows her eyebrows. “I understand that Jason is some type of king among the students, but he has no say in my classroom.”

She can’t force me to perform, and I know Jason is going to make my life miserable. But practicing with him will maybe shed light on his behavior. Keep your enemies close and all that.

ChapterSix

Nicola/Isabelle

I hopedI wouldn’t see Jason for the rest of the day, but during study hall, he finds me in the library.

He pulls up a chair next to mine and leans his right elbow on the table, angling his body so he’s facing me. “I just received the news I’m to partner with you for a duet.”

He seems less edgy, but his eyes are bloodshot, and the scent ofeau de cannabisemanates from him. No wonder he’s not giving me a death glare.

“I tried to get out of it.”

Why did I tell him that?

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