Page 33 of Liars

“To surviving this place?” She paused for a moment, glancing at the aged brick building. “Fly under the radar.”

“I can do that.”

Her gaze followed another group of girls strolling by on their way into school. She was watching them, but they were staringat me. “I’m not so sure about that. Something tells me being the new girl is going to create quite the wave. In fact, I probably shouldn’t be talking to you. You could blow my cover of being overlooked.”

A prickle danced up my spine like the brisk wind was blowing in trouble.

I should get this over with. Just go inside and grab my class schedule. Sitting outside wouldn’t make the day any easier.

I just talked myself into going in when someone said, “Look, menace made it, and she made a friend.”

I groaned at the sound of Maddox’s voice. Kreed and Mason were on either side of him. They walked up the curb onto the sidewalk as a trio. The message was clear. Even an outsider could see they stuck together.

“Run into a wall, Maddox,” I retorted tartly, narrowing my eyes.

He chuckled. “I guess you have better direction than I gave you credit for. You’re just full of surprises.”

I spat my gum at him. A damn waste, but I couldn’t help myself. The chewed-up mint-green wad bounced off his chest and fell to his feet. I’d been aiming for his face, but the fucker was tall.

With a frightening scowl, Maddox’s features darkened, and he stepped toward me.

I braced myself for his retaliation.

“Maddox,” Kreed growled lowly.

The eldest twin glared at me, towering above my head like a giant who could crush me with his pinky. I never flinched. Our eyes locked. I gave him a smug, small smile like the one he’d given me earlier.

“Wait until I get you alone, menace,” he warned through his teeth.

Obviously, Kreed called the shots. I filed the little tidbit of information away for later. I blew out a shaky breath as I watched their backs disappear into the double doors.

“You never mentioned you knew the Raven Crew,” Poppy said with her eyes on me with a different sort of interest.

My brows wrinkled. “Who?”

Poppy started down the pathway leading to school. “Kreed, Maddox, Mason, and Nash Hart. The Raven Crew. Nothing happens in this school without their knowledge and approval. They’re idolized and untouchable, at least here they are.”

I followed with heavy feet, dread making them feel like they weighed fifty pounds each. “You’re joking.”

“I wish I was. You have guts. That little stunt definitely earned you enemy status. How do you know them?” She opened the door, waiting for me to decide if I was going to walk inside.

Here goes nothing, I was making good on my promise for revenge. “I live with them,” I informed as I ordered my feet over the threshold, stepping into Elmwood Public and into a world I wasn’t prepared for.

11

KAYLOR

The heavy metal doors slammed shut behind us, the buzz of hundreds of teenagers filling the hallways surrounding me. It was chaos. Bodies lingered in the corridors, blocking the flow of traffic as kids tried to get to their first class before the bell rang.

Pretty sure Public had twice as many students as the academy, and I suddenly felt very small. If I took another step forward, I would get swallowed by the sea of people, lost to the wave of mayhem.

“What did you say?” Poppy hollered to make sure I heard her, pulling me out of my drowning thoughts.

I looked at her, concentrating on just her face. “Um,” I mumbled, trying to remember what the hell we’d been talking about. Oh, right. The Corvos. “I-I said I live with them,” I stammered, thanks to the sudden nerves fluttering in my belly.

Her long, thick black lashes blinked, astonishment shining in her gold eyes. “You’re far more interesting than I gave you credit for. Definelivewith.” She looped her arm through mine.Perhaps she saw the overwhelming expression on my face and took charge. Regardless of her reason to help me, I was grateful.

Was it a mistake admitting to living with them? I knew nothing about the Corvos. I didn’t want their reputation to stain mine for the short time I was here. The plan was to be invisible and finish out my classes to graduate. Then get the hell out. Hopefully, I wasn’t wrong about Poppy and she could be trusted. “No one knows. And I want to keep it that way,” I added, deciding perhaps I should get a feel of the Corvos reputation before I associated myself with them. I didn’t want to murder my name the first day of school.

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