Page 18 of Wicked Prince

Anthony still seems hesitant, but he nods. "Okay. I'll see you around?"

"Yeah, definitely. Enjoy the rest of the party," I say, smiling in my best attempt to look normal.

Once I'm outside, I finally let myself take a deep breath. I can still taste Lorenzo on my lips, which is the only thing that reassures me I didn't just imagine all that.

And I really wish I had. My life at Bainbridge just got so much more complicated, and something tells me I just made yet another powerful enemy I can't afford to have.

ChapterNine

AMELIA

The next morning, I walk into class thoroughly expecting some bullshit. Lorenzo isn't here yet, but I know that doesn't mean anything. It's clear he runs on Rossi Standard Time, unlike the rest of us peasants.

I walk toward my seat in the back, and I’m almost there when I trip on someone's ankle stretched out into the aisle. It wasn't there a second ago, and I dive face-first into the next table, sending it scooting across the floor and almost into another student.

"Watch it," the girl at the next table says, glaring at me like I'm pond scum.

I turn my head and look back at the girl whose ankle I tripped over. She’s snickering with her friends. My eyes narrow and I'm tempted to call her out right there, but I've already gotten into enough shit, and my first week isn't even halfway over.

Instead, I choose to ignore them, figuring they want attention anyway.

"Sorry," I mutter to the girl I almost face-planted into. I adjust my bag on my shoulder and take my seat so I can focus on getting out my notes.

I spent most of last night tossing and turning, unable to shut down my thoughts enough to purge them of Lorenzo.

And the kiss.

I can't believe I did that, but the only conclusion I was able to come to that would let me sleep was that it was in my best interest to just pretend like nothing happened, keep my head down, and try to carve out some semblance of normalcy.

Given the way this day is starting off, I think that's going to be easier said than done.

Once class starts and there's still no sign of Lorenzo, I realize his absence is every bit as distracting as his presence, if not more so. I'm trying to focus, but I keep glancing at the door and wondering if he's coming in. And if he isn't, I have to remind myself there's no way it has anything to do with me.

Right?

The rest of my morning is relatively uneventful, and I have forty-five minutes before my next class, so I duck into the bathroom to freshen up a little. As I finger-comb my hair, trying to get it back into a ponytail that can withstand the humidity, the door opens and a few girls walk in. I don't recognize them, so after a cursory glance, I go back to fixing my hair when the blonde lingering by the counter speaks up.

"Hey, new girl," she says, her arms folded. The way she's looking at me up and down makes it clear that new or not, she's already got some preconceived notions about me. "Are the rumors true?"

The other two come around her, waiting expectantly. My heart immediately drops into my stomach.

Rumors. Does that mean they know who I am already? My first thought is that Kayleigh said something to get me in trouble, but that seems risky even for her. Besides, I very much doubt she wants people knowing we're related any more than Dad does. Being some distant cousin is bad enough.

"What rumors?" I ask, trying not to sound phased.

She exchanges a look with the girl on her right, who says, "Everyone is saying you had to leave your last school because you were fucking a teacher."

I stare at her blankly. "What? No! This is the first time I've even been to college, and no way I'd do something like that."

"You got cozy with Lorenzo Rossi pretty fast," the third girl says, smirking even though there is a malicious gleam in her eyes. "Or was that not you he was making out with upstairs at the party?"

My heart is pounding now. What the hell? At least now I know why she looks vaguely familiar. She had to be at the party. So much for hoping no one caught any of that.

"No," I snap. "I mean, it was me, but we weren't making out."

"Sure," the blonde sneers. "Look, I don't care if you are the Carillos’ charity case. We don't need some trashy skank ruining the school's reputation."

"Skank?" I echo, unable to keep an incredulous laugh from escaping my throat. "I'm not the one who would be flashing the world if she bent down a fraction of a degree."

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