I passed with flying colors.
How fucking strange that the people on the inside were better to me than those on the outside. There was a reason for it all, for sure, but one thing Venom taught me early was that it was best not to ask questions. I survived prison because of that tenet, and it was going to get me through the different-colored beast of high school.
When the bell finally rang to signify the end of class, I was beyond relieved. I filtered out, and no one bothered me as I did so. Everyone kept away from me still as I made my way toward my next class.
A few times throughout the day, I caught Cherri in the hallways. More than anything, I wanted to talk to her again, but she was surrounded by the other members of The Royal Court, and I couldn’t approach her. There was definitely something different about her. She was a borderline tomboy back in the day, but she was more frilly now. Her giggles were a little more high-pitched, and she carried herself with a resigned dignity that wasn’t bad, just a little different from the girl that demanded to be allowed to play basketball with the guys back in our old neighborhood and would gut-punch them if they tried to take it easy on her.
Those things aside, she still had her dorky snort and still seemed to awkwardly laugh when she lost interest in what someone was saying. On occasion, I’d catch her relaxing her stance and knocking her hip out to one side until she realized it and stood up straight again. Under that Royal Court mask was the same girl I fell in love with all those years ago.
I was happy to see that Cherri was doing well, and though I wanted to be with her, her involvement with The Royal Court changed things quite a bit.
6
Cherri
When I shut my locker, Nathan’s face appeared on the other side. I turned my back to him and started walking in the opposite direction.
“Come on, baby!” he whined. “I told you I’m sorry already!” The students around us parted so that he could easily come up to my side and walk in tandem with me. “I just wanted to see you.”
“You had me summoned like one of your little subjects,” I hissed back. “I’ve already told you that I refuse to be treated like an underling, and you know that I don’t really like Nikita. Between that and Miss Abrams, that’s three strikes for the day.”
“Cherri.” Nathan rushed a little ahead of me and stood in my path. “I’m sorry. I really did just want to see you.”
“Then why did you leave, like, sixty seconds later? Did someone tell you I was talking with someone outside The Royal Court? I’m allowed to have friends other than the eight of you. You don’t control what I do, and the second that you think that you do, I’m out of here.”
“I know, baby, I know.” He took a few steps closer to me, wrapped his arms around my waist, and pulled me in. He dwarfed me in size, and my body settled all too comfortably into his like pieces that don’t necessarily belong together but are close enough to let be. “Nikita mentioned that you were talking with some guy, and I panicked. You’d seen me with Je—Miss Abrams, and I was a little afraid you might retaliate.”
“I’m not that kind of girl,” I spat back.
“You’re not.” His hands combed into my hair and rubbed the back of my head. “You’re not that kind of girl. It was just me getting insecure because if it were me…”
“That’s what you’d do?” I finished. “So should I be worried?”
Nathan pulled away from me, cupped his hands on either side of my face, and leaned in to kiss me. “Look around. What else is around here for me? You are the most beautiful, intelligent woman for miles. I’d be stupid to—”
“Sleep with a history teacher?”
Nathan winced. “I deserved that.”
“Yeah, you did.”
He kissed me again. “Forgive me? I won’t do that again, I promise.” After a few seconds had passed, and after noting that a few surrounding students lingering instead of heading home were watching, I nodded. Nathan leaned in and kissed me again, then wrapped his arms around me and held me close as he looked down into my eyes. “What are you doing now that the day is over? Wanna go grab something to eat?”
“Sorry, your highness,” Avery’s voice sounded off behind me. “I’m afraid we’ve already claimed her for the evening.”
A second later, Avery’s arm linked through my left and Colette’s through my right. I had a strange boxed-in feeling with all of their arms around me, but eventually, Nathan uncurled his arms from my waist and stood back. Avery and Colette hadn’t mentioned doing anything together after school, but given that I would have rather chewed tin foil than done anything with Nathan, I was glad they showed up.
“That’s fine,” he said with a genuine smile. “Go enjoy some time with your friends. You deserve it.”
That was oddly sweet. “Thanks, sweetie.” That time I leaned in, and Nathan met me with a kiss before turning his back to us and waving a hand through the air before
