Page 10 of Knot Your Romeo

“Car accident when he was sixteen. His uncle took him and his siblings in, raised him as his own. But Romeo’s never quite gotten over the loss. Tough age, sixteen.” Mr. Sampson’s expression grows thoughtful. “Some people carry their pain differently than others.”

I think about the anger I glimpsed in Romeo’s eyes, the way he seemed to resent even being in the same space as me. Maybe it’s not personal. Maybe he hates everyone. Yet, somehow, that doesn’t make me feel any better.

“The registrar’s office is in this building,” Mr. Sampson continues, pointing to the structure in front of us. “First floor, can’t miss it. And Miss Masters?”

“Yes?”

“Give Romeo time. He’s not as bad as he wants people to think he is.”

I’m not sure I believe that, but I nod anyway. “It’s fine. Thank you for the ride, Mr. Sampson.”

“Anytime, miss. I’ll be here at three-thirty to take you home.”

The registrar’s office is exactly where Mr. Sampson said it would be, and within an hour I have my class schedule, and a campus map that makes the layout look far more complicated than it actually is. My first class is biology but doesn’t start until ten, which gives me time to explore and hopefully figure out where everything is before I have to turn back and find the class.

The campus is beautiful in an old-money way that makes me acutely aware of my secondhand clothes and scuffed sneakers.

Students gather in clusters on the quad, their easy confidence, and expensive accessories showing how different I am from them. I pull the strings on my hoodie tighter and try to make myself invisible as I walk toward the science building.

It almost works.

“Excuse me,” a female voice calls out behind me. “Are you the new girl?”

I turn to find a petite blonde approaching; her smile bright. She’s wearing a cheerleader’s uniform—Silvercrest Ravens, according to the logo—and she’s flanked by two other girls who look like they stepped out of a catalog for expensive prep school fashion.

“Yeah,” I say carefully, noting how their eyes catalog every detail of my appearance.

“I’m Cerise, are you Jolie?” the blonde asks, her smile never wavering. “My boyfriend, Romeo, mentioned there was a new student starting today. Said you’re the housekeeper’s daughter?”

The way she says it clarifies that being the housekeeper’s daughter is several steps below being an actual student. I feel heat rise in my cheeks, but I keep my voice level. “That’s right.”

“How interesting,” Cerise purrs, circling me like a shark who’s just scented blood. “And you’re living on the estate? In the main house?”

“The cottage,” I correct, wondering where this conversation is heading.

“Oh, the cottage.” Her smile sharpens. “How quaint. The Silver’s must feel like they have a new pet. Isn’t that right, girls?”

The other cheerleaders giggle and I can feel other students paying attention to our conversation, some looking curious, others sympathetic. My face burns with embarrassment, but I force myself to stand straighter.

“If you’ll excuse me,” I say, walking away. “I have class.”

“Of course you do,” Cerise calls after me. “Biology, right? With Professor Benson? Romeo mentioned you’d be in his morning class.”

I freeze.How does she know my schedule? And why did he tell her?

“See you around, Jolie,” Cerise says sweetly. “I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot of each other.”

The threat in her voice is unmistakable.

5

Emmie

I’ve spent a weekbeing taken to school and back again. And I’m liking it here. I don’t like the way Romeo treats me like I don’t exist but it’s better this way.

I make it to the biology classroom with five minutes to spare, choosing a seat in the middle row where I blend in with the other students. The professor differs from the one who taught me before. This one is in his late twenties. He has light brown hair and warm hazel eyes, and he is setting up his presentation at the front of the room.

“Good morning, everyone,” he says once the clock hits ten. He turns to me and smiles, like he is expecting me. “I’m Professor Benson, and welcome to Introduction to Biology. Before we dive into today’s material, I understand you’re my new student, Jolie Masters.”

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