Page 160 of The Forbidden Note

“Really?”

“Can’t you tell?”

“To be honest, it’s hard to tell anything under that mask.”

I give him an assessing look. There’s something about the way he watches me. It’s not rude or like he’s interested. But it’s brimming with curiosity, like he’s trying to figure me out.

I stare straight ahead. “What did Cadey say about me?”

“Oh nothing. Absolutely nothing.” He rubs the back of his neck. “I don’t even know your name.”

“My name is Grace Jamieson,” I say, pushing the trolley. My fingers flex on the handles. “But my friends call me Grey. I teach math—”

“I thought it was Lit?” I stare pointedly at him and his entire face blanches. “You’re smart.”

“And you’re a liar.”

He blushes. “Cadey might have mentioned a few things about you. You’re her favorite teacher, you know. Apart from the music guy who gave her the scholarship.”

“Mulliez,” I say. He was my only friend at Redwood before he got on The Kings’ bad side, was falsely accused and then left with his reputation in shambles.

Rick coughs. “Are you close with the band?”

“Not really.”

“How about one person in the band?”

I stare him down. “No.”

“Right. Right.” He glances at the trolley that’s nearly buckling from the weight of all the boxes. “You want me to push for a bit?”

“If anyone sees us, they’ll wonder why you’re acting like the wait staff.”

The music is louder.

We’re getting close to the dance.

I check my watch.

Have Sol and Zane set the fire yet?

Rick’s eyes dart around. “So this is Redwood.”

“Not that impressive, right?” I say sarcastically.

“Half the time, I don’t understand what goes on in this shiny world.” He gestures to the marble floors and high ceilings. “It’s like the rules don’t apply to you people.”

“That’s not true.”

“The rules do apply?”

“I shouldn’t be included in ‘you people’.”

“Come on. You belong here now. Even The Kings respect you.”

I almost laugh. He has no idea. “I’m just a cog in the machine. I work for the shiny people. None of their shine rubbed off on me.”

And I don’t want it to. My dream is to burn Sloane’s enemies to the ground and walk away smelling of smoke and revenge.

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