I nod my head. “Apparently all the new students have to.” Bryce and Danna look at each other again. “Okay, let me guess, you haven’t heard of that either? It could be something he does with only students coming here through scholarships.”
Bryce nods his head. “I guess.”
“I saw this monster symbol in a book in the principal’s home office yesterday.”
Danna’s eyes light up. “Whoa. That would be a story. Principal of Ryland Academy part of a secret society! That sounds pretty juicy.”
Chase Aldridge walks up to us. “Hey.” He says to me. “Hello.” He says to everyone else.
Dana looks at him. “Chase Aldridge, is your father a member of the secret society known as the Beasts?” She says half jokingly.
Chase smiles at her. “How the fuck should I know, Danna Abbott?” Danna looks at Bryce as if she’s amazed, he knows her full name. “Now please don’t misquote me if you print, and if you use me in your story, I demand my picture be on the front page.” Chase turns to me again. “I heard you had- a not so pleasant day. I’m sorry on behalf of the school for some being- dumb fucks.”
I sigh. “Did your dad tell you to talk to me?”
“No. I heard what happened. I think it was shitty. I’m hoping that because of what happened you may want to join me tonight?”
“For what?”
“Our gun date. Whenever I get red with rage, blowing things up seems to cool me off. You would be amazed how exhilarating it feels once you pull the trigger.”
I smile. “You know what, that sounds amazing.”
“I can pick you up, say seven-ish?”
I wave my head. “That’s okay. I can have Thomas drive me.” The truth is I was a bit nervous of getting my hopes up again. I wanted an easy way to leave in case the night wasn’t going how I would like.
Chase smiles at me and says he will see me later tonight. When he leaves, he takes a few steps, looking back to see if I’m still looking at him. I am. He smiles again.
When he’s out of earshot, Danna turns to me, unable to contain the excitement in her eyes. “Are you going on a date with Chase Aldridge tonight? Holy Crapola!”
“There’s a title for your next article.“ I joke.
Danna turns to look at Chase walking away and makes a satisfied moan. “Now, that guy, is certainly a beast- in the bedsheets.”
Bryce looks at me. “Just so you know, if you sleep with him, which is cool by the way, everyone will know the next day.”
“In fact, probably sooner.” Danna adds.
Bryce laughs. “That’s just how this place works. How do you think everyone found out I was gay? Before I could even come out there were rumours of what I did with who. If it wasn’t for gossip and rumours, this place wouldn’t be able to function.”
The girl from English class, the one who I threatened to aggressively place an article of clothing in her rear, walks by our table with her two snotty friends following closely behind. All three give me a cold stare.
“Is she a Beast too?” I ask.
Bryce laughs. “Just a bitch, which is even worse. The queen bitch is Selena Jensen, captain of the cheer squad. All round shitty person. Her two minions are Jenn and Mary.”
I look at the three bitches as they walk through the cafeteria. All three are getting everyone’s attention as they do. “Which one is Jenn, and which one is Mary?’
Danna smiles. “It honestly doesn’t matter. They both suck.”
Chapter 9
After greeting Davis Aldridge at the door, I meet Chase in the indoor patio. Chase smiles at me when he sees me. I smile back but I’m taken aback by his choice of outfit. He has a green and black hunting jacket on, with red tape wrapped around the center of it.
He looks down at his jacket. “I know it doesn’t look very- hot, but it’s worth wearing. Sometimes we get unwanted hunters in the woods on my property. They wander in not knowing it’s private property. I’d rather wear this than accidently get shot. I have an extra jacket for you.”
I agree to wear one. Chase helps me put it on and turns me around. He whistles. “I didn’t think there was any way for you to look more attractive, but this is it. Have you ever wanted to be a hunter?”
“Depends what I’m hunting.” I say with a devilish smile.
Chase brings a heavy black case with him and we walk through his backyard towards the woods.
I was worried about seeing Jaxson tonight, and what I would say to him if I did, but Chase reassures me he wouldn’t be around. It would just be me and him.
At one point I trip and almost fall on uneven ground and Chase grabs my hand. Even when I maintain my balance, he continues to hold it.
I know Chase is aggressive when it comes to women, and he seems to have a reputation with the ladies according to Danna. Even though the idea of how experienced he probably is scares me, he brings out a flirtatious side of me I didn’t even know I had.
Part of me wonders what will happen when we are in the woods together, alone. Will we only be shooting guns? I don’t suppose in that large black case he has a bunch of condoms.
I wonder what it would be like to be with a man like Chase. The more I think about it, the more I’m warming up to the idea.
I try and remind myself that I’m out here to get an education and become something in life, not flirt with boys and hook up. I look at Chase for another moment, and none of that shit matters right now. I’m going to just go with the flow. Maybe tonight he will be- my first.
In the wooded area, the sunlight barely manages to shine through the
