Page 38 of The Devils They Are

Even today, I was stuck in a classroom with the three of them, and they barely glanced my way. A few heated looks here and there, but for the most part, they kept away.

I organized for a small group of Cedar students to hang around after school, standing guard in the hallway to make sure no one tried to sneak into the detention room. Mrs. Smythson barely glanced at me when I arrived, and surprisingly, I was instructed to study rather than fix desks.

Huh—I wonder why that is.

Four o'clock rolls around and I meet Archie, Millie, Steele, and Parker outside the room. Millie, of course, volunteered to assist, which meant Parker was hot on her heels, guarding his baby sister. According to our sources, Hunter and Tai left academy grounds when classes finished, but they hadn't seen Rylan. That was surprising to me because I thought for sure I'd be facing the three of them, even if Rylan did say it would be just us.

Pulling out my cell, I double check the time, and reread Rylan's message with the meeting location. "If you stay outside the main building, you'll probably be able to hear if I need you. I'll shout down."

"Are you sure being on the rooftop with him is a smart idea?" Arch asks as the others nod in agreement with him.

"I can handle him," I say, offering a small smile. "Steele will catch me if I get pushed off the roof."

Not one of them laughs at my little joke. Rude.

Steele steps forward at the mention of his name, placing a hand on my waist. "I can come with you. I don't mind."

I pinch his cheek. "You're so cute when you're protective, Steely."

He grimaces at the nickname, rolling his eyes but yields his argument.

I gesture for them to follow to their station at the back of the main administration building. According to my research, if I go past the staircase to the dean's office, I'll find an emergency door further down the hallway. Behind it, there should be a stairwell leading to the roof.

It doesn't exactly screamsafety procedurebut alas, we should be able to keep our meeting private. Personally, I don't mind if people see or hear, but something tells me that Rylan doesn't feel the same.

Waving goodbye, I push inside the quiet building, daring a glance up the staircase to check the coast is clear. Most of the staff have appeared to have left for the day, and no one interrupts me when I duck through the emergency doors.

The stairwell weaves and curls upwards, and I grumble to myself about the extra cardio workout. Trust that asshole to make me do extra exercise when I barely survive gym at the best of times.

Finally coming to a door, I push it open, relishing in the feeling of fresh breeze as it whacks me in the face. My hair whips around my face, the orange hues of the sun casting shadows on the rooftop.

Rylan is standing on the other side, back facing me as he looks over the field with his hands in his pockets. The door slams closed behind me, and I mutter, "Shit", watching as he turns around at the sound of my arrival.

"You actually listened," he scoffs. "I half expected to be cornered by your little posse."

"I'm not afraid to be alone with you." I roll my eyes, the two of us meeting in the middle of the rooftop.

His eyes rake over me, a small, amused smile appearing as he watches my hands hold down my skirt.

"Keep your comments to yourself," I direct when I take notice. "If your academy wasn't so sexist, I'd actually be able to wear a pair of shorts outside of gym."

My comment lands exactly where I take aim, his expression dropping at the unpleasant reminder.

"Chill, Spencer," he grunts. "I'm in no mood for your attitude today."

"And yet, you're the one who summoned me here," I quip back. "What is this all about? Another warning? A threat?"

"A truce."

My body stills at the suggestion. I never pictured Rylan Astor saying those words in a million years. I almost had to strain my ears to hear them, and even now, I'm still not entirely convinced I heard him correctly.

"Sorry, what was that?" I ask, entertained.

Sharp blue irises narrow on my face. "Don't push your luck, Spencer. You heard what I said."

Snorting, I let go of my skirt as the breeze eases off, folding my arms. "You're not capable of a truce, Astor. Save the fake attempts of power and admit I've got you by the balls."

Rylan's jaw tenses, his eyes darting back to the field. "You do," he admits quietly. "Which is why no one can know about this meeting."

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