Page 18 of Ruse
When I first arrived, I watched her from afar as she kept to herself, everyone around her going about as if she didn’t exist.
It was obvious on the first day of school that Phoenix Bancroft was not the same chick who reigned supreme over the halls of Malibu Cove High in the past. The precious princess had fallen from her pedestal thanks to the illicit affair between her father and my mother.
An affair that ended my parents’ marriage, got me kicked out of boarding school, and brought me back to this godforsaken town. But the thing I wasn’t expecting was that this new begotten reputation fits her like a glove.
The defiant, rebellious girl I never expected her to be is the one who’s driving me fucking crazy.
I’ve kept to myself as well, not looking to make any friends at a school I won’t be at long. Thanks to spending the first three years of high school at a college prep academy, I have enough credits to graduate after this first semester, which I plan to do so and get the fuck out of here. By then, my plan should have fallen into place, and I won’t need my father’s trust fund to get me started. Blackmail isn’t my finest tactic, but it’s effective, and it’s what I plan to do.
"It's a beautiful day out, isn't it?" I turn and find a petite blond who’s appeared out of nowhere beside me. "I'm Tate,” she says, as if I don’t already know. This chick’s been eyeing me like a piece of prime meat since the first day I stepped foot at MC High, and she looks just the part of vicious predator I’ve heard she is. Not to mention, the little standoff with Phoenix the other day proved the rumors are true.
Phoenix is everything Tate wishes she were. Popular, beautiful, and overall likable. Even if Phoenix isn’t sitting at the top of the school’s social pyramid anymore, I know when she was, she was untouchable. Loved by everyone for her easy-going nature, Phoenix is a marvel amongst the legions of spoiled rich girls in Malibu Cove.
“Maverick,” I reply curtly, not giving her what she wants, which is a full conversation, if not more.
“I know,” she coos breathily, fluttering her lashes. Though unlike with Phoenix, when Tate does it, she comes off desperate. “You’re the new guy, Brooklyn and Phoenix’s newbrother,” she states rather than asks.
"Stepbrother," I correct her, even though every chance I get I remind Phoenix I’m her brother. For some reason, I don’t want Tate to assume we’re close siblings.
“Riiiight.” She sarcastically elongates the word. “Her dad, your mom, the entire school knows what happened. What a scandal? Though if I’m being honest, I can't say it was a shock. Everyone around town knew Mr. Bancroft was a whore and his stuck-up wife belonged in the looney bin.”
Despite agreeing with pretty much everything Tate is saying, coming from her as rather an insult to Phoenix than a simple observation, it doesn’t sit well with me.What is it with my stepsister getting under my skin?
"That’s pretty cheeky of you, Tate. Given what I’ve heard of you."
"So, you have heard of me.” She winks, running her fingers over my shoulder and around to my chest. “What can I say? No one is happier to see the untouchable Phoenix Bancroft back on the ground with the rest of us mere mortals. It’s no wonder Chad dumped her ass when we found out, knocking her off the pedestal he and the rest of the school held her on.” I can smell the stark stench of jealousy radiating off Tate like rotten meat in the middle of a slaughterhouse.
"What have I told you about talking shit, Tate?” Suddenly Brooklyn appears beside us, making Tate jump in surprise. There is a warning in his words, but his indifferent, rather bored expression is giving mixed signals.
“Brooklyn, I didn’t see you there,” she squeals, jerking to run her fingers over his exposed chest.
“Yeah, that explains why you’re talking shit about my family, Tatum.” Ignoring her advances, Brooklyn chugs the can of beer in his hand, disposing of it on the ground once he’s done.
“Oh Brook, you couldn’t care less about the shit your family’s going through. Don’t stand up for her suddenly when you’ve been talking shit yourself all summer.”
Brooklyn’s gaze hardens as he stares at Tate, a warning loud and clear with the way he looks at her. I have had little interaction with my stepbrother, other than the few times we’ve seen each other around the house and at school, and that night last week we sort of bonded over careless, shitty parents while smoking a joint. Unlike Phoenix, who seems to be torn apart by my arrival, Brooklyn’s nonchalance is quite unnerving for a guy whose mom nearly killed herself over his father’s infidelity.
But I’m not here for him. No good will come from starting something up with Brooklyn who likes his father a lot less than I do. No, the only way I will ruin Austin Bancroft is by ruining his beloved daughter, and I might even enjoy myself while I do.
Phoenix Bancroft will pay for her father’s sins, and I will be her executioner.
* * *
After our uneventfultalk with Tate, Brooklyn leads me over to his group of friends, who are the same group that’s been hanging around his sister. They also are the only ones at this party, and back at MC High, who aren’t afraid to be caught near Phoenix, maintaining their friendships despite the scandal surrounding her family.
“Hey guys,” Brooklyn calls out, and the lot of already inebriated popular kids turn to look at us, “You’ve all met my new bro, right? Everyone, this is Mav, Mav, this is everyone.”
There’s an awkward silence for a moment, no one knowing how to react to my arrival amongst their tight-knit group, especially given the circumstances of my being here, before they all jump in to introduce themselves. A few are people I remember from my first week of school, and some unfamiliar faces I wouldn’t remember even if I had met them. Not only because they’re rather forgettable amongst the sea of lookalikes and wannabes, but I’ve made sure to only focus on the individuals who might be of use to me.
Not to mention there’s only one person here I’ve kept my eye on, and she’s the only one who watches me impassively, not bothering to respond at all.
“Phoenix,” I mutter, meeting her gaze and instinctively biting my lip as her eyes glaze over with desire. She thinks she hides her attraction to me well, but it’s written all over her face. Or at least I’m able to see it.
Her eyes glower down at me, annoyed I showed up when she clearly didn’t want me to come. “Maverick,” she utters curtly. The way my name rolls off her tongue does something very unsettling to me, even if it’s meant to be spit out like an insult coated in utter disdain.
"You came.” I smirk at her, hoping she caught on to my double entendre.
“Of course, I wouldn't miss it." Her blond hair falls against her shoulders in natural beach waves, bright blue-green eyes bear very little makeup, and her sun kissed skin is practically flawless except for the soft trail of freckles over the bridge of her nose. They’re perfectly placed, almost like one of those new filters on the gram. Deliciously plump and wet lips, glimmering with a light red tinted gloss, making me ache to taste them and discover if they’re just as sweet as I imagine.
