Page 74 of The Broken Note

Sol slips a hand into his pocket and stops in the middle of the hallway.

I stop too and look back at him. He’s staring at me, storm clouds gathering behind his dark irises.

My fingers tighten on my purse strap, but I don’t cower.

Sol was born on the south side.

He knows that life, even if he hangs with pricks like The Kings now.

He’s more like me than he is like them.

I draw near to him, no longer worried about class. The hallways are completely empty and the thud of my sneakers against the ground is loud.

“Is everything okay with you, Sol?” I frown at him. “You said you had something to tell me.”

“I did.”

I search his eyes.

He remains quiet.

“You can say it. Whatever it is, I won’t judge you,” I whisper gently. “We’re friends, right? People like us… we stick together.”

His lips arch up, but it’s not a smile. It’s too empty. Too broken. “We stick together.”

“Come on.” I grab his arm and tug. “Let’s get to class before our ‘tardy’ turns into an ‘absent’.”

“Actually, I don’t think I’ll go to class today.”

My eyes widen. “Why not?”

“I’ll catch you later, Cadence.”

As Sol walks away, a foreboding feeling scratches at my chest. What was he going to tell me? And why does it feel like his secrets are as black as all the others here at Redwood?

* * *

Jinx: Is Prince Charming Willing To Share?

Candles, flowers, and a gourmet breakfast were found dumped in the trash after Prince Charming failed to woo his very angry Cinderella. I guess private dinners aren’t enough to convince Cinderella to take our Prince’s hand.

But dry your tears, Prince Charming. You’ll need to keep your eyes wide open. You’re not the only one interested in popping Cinderella’s pumpkin. There are plenty of contenders in the kingdom. And just like mice can turn into footmen, friends can turn into enemies.

Until the next post, keep your enemies close and your secrets even closer.

- Jinx

CHAPTEREIGHTEEN

DUTCH

The moment the door clicks shut, Finn sets down his tablet and slams me with his dark gaze.

I slip a hand into my pocket and pointedly avoid the question in his eyes.

Between Zane and Finn, the one who makes me wary is my adopted brother.

Zane is pure emotion. It’s why he’s so good at the drums. He explodes in a mess of energy, feelings, and uncontrollable urges. The good, the bad, the ugly, it eventually comes roaring out of him until there’s nothing left.

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