A new rank for my father means a new city and school for me. I hate all this moving. When I was little, I didn't mind as much.
But when I got into junior high, I started to hate it. I barely got to make friends before we'd move again. And don't get me started on trying to date.
Even if we stayed in one place for a couple of years, my dad scared every boy away with just a glare. And now I must spend my senior year in a new school. Worse yet, we moved three months into my senior year.
After I graduate, I no longer have to move—the only silver lining whenever the Air Force tells me. I'll be in college and finally free.
One thing that is always the same no matter where we are stationed, my dad always sends me to a private school.
Which means I always have to wear a uniform.
Ravenwood was going to be no exception. For the first time since primary school, I'll be in a coed school.
I don't know how often I told off some guy who saw me walking home from the bus stop and made some creepy comment.
I wonder if dad ever realized making me go to these schools with uniforms just play into the average boy's fantasy of Asian girls in a school uniform. They need to learn the difference between reality and delusions.
I sighed, looking at my reflection. This school's uniform was red, black, and white color palette. My red plaid skirt touched my knees, a matching plaid tie popped against the crisp white dress shirt under the black jacket with white edging and a shield with the letters RW stitched into the lapel.
"You can do this, Riko. This will be the last school uniform you need to wear,” I tried to psych myself up as I adjusted the braid in my long black hair.
With that, I slung my bag over my shoulder and headed for the bus stop near our house. Dad is already on the base, not having waited to say goodbye or to offer to drive me. I'm used to it.
And he can't just be late to work to take me on my first day at a new school. The bus ride was at least uneventful. Yes, many people watched me and whispered since I was new. But I ignored them.
As much as I like to say I can ignore everything, there are some things that no one can forget. I’d just gotten my schedule from the main office and looked at it and the map, trying to figure out where I needed to go as I left.
I should have been paying more attention as it suddenly felt like I ran into a brick wall. I was startled as I found myself falling to the unforgiving floor.
“Watch where you’re going, loser,” a snooty-looking blonde girl spat, glaring down at me. She’s a dime a dozen, interchangeable with every other arrogant bitch I’ve crossed paths with at every school I've attended. But she’s not what I ran into. No, she's not the brick wall that knocked me on my ass.
I opted to ignore her. Instead, my eyes found a pair of icy blue eyes watching me under an arch blonde brow. While the brick wall was wearing the same uniform as every other guy in this school, they looked tailor-made.
No way an off-the-rack uniform would fit that well. The black slacks molded to what I was sure were muscular legs, the dress shirt and jacket had to be custom to accommodate his broad shoulders and chest.
I’ve been to plenty of schools and seen my share of good-looking guys, hell my father is in the air force, and I have seen my share of handsome older men too. But not a one compared to the Adonis standing above me.
The living barbie girl, which it’s possible was more plastic, clinging to his arm. “Come on, Darius… don’t bother with the trash,” she whined, tugging on his arm.
Darius?
His icy blue eyes drifted to the barbie, and there was a sharpness to them. Annoyance? His gaze returned to me and briefly to the worn tan backpack I’d used sewn on patches to hide holes.
His lips turn up ever so slightly. “Uchiha,” was all his deep voice said before he stepped around me and his barbie girlfriend had to struggle to keep up in her sky-high heels.
Uchiha? I was confused until I looked at my bag and remembered that I had recently patched it with the Uchiha crest from the Naruto manga and anime. Does he know it?
I would not have pegged him as the sort to read manga or watch anime. I shook my head and managed to get to my feet. Dusting myself off, I groaned as I heard the bell and rushed to my homeroom.
I just managed to slip into the room as the teacher shut the door. “I see you have chosen to grace us with your presence, Miss Shiraishi,” the bored-looking middle-aged man sighed.
Of course, he knew who I was. I’m the new transfer student, and every teacher will know I’m new and, therefore, my name. “My apologies, sir. Got lost,” I shrugged.
Glancing to figure out where I’d sit, I froze as the only empty seat was next to the Adonis. How’d he get here before me? I could have sworn he went the opposite direction.
“Mhm. Well, I trust you won’t get lost on your way to your seat. It’s the empty one by Mister Frost,” the teacher instructed, pointing his finger.
I nodded and quietly made my way to the empty desk. Stealing a glance at the Adonis, I realized he was watching me from the corner of his icy eyes. Still, otherwise, he was sitting up straight facing the whiteboard.
“Um... hi, Darius. Sorry about earlier,” I apologized, quietly getting on my textbook. He raised a perfect brow at me, but there was no recognition in his eyes. “Chapter five, page 194,” was all he said as the class went into full swing.
I furrowed my brow but shook it off and quickly found the page he mentioned. At least he didn’t give me a bullshit page number, and I could keep up during the rest of class.
Darius didn’t say a word throughout class or when the bell rang. He’s not the talkative type. I watched as Darius got up and slung a black bag over his broad shoulder, everyone moving to get out of his way as he left.
Didn’t he have an orange bag when we ran into each other outside the office? I shook my head and left, finding myself in a sea of students.
Another two classes passed, and no one bothered to try to talk to me. I hadn’t bothered to speak to any of them either, so no grudges. I groaned as I looked at my schedule and saw what my next class was.
“Gym Class…” I frowned. I may have been raised in a military household, but that doesn’t mean I enjoy Gym class. I frowned seeing that same girl from this morning in the changing room.
No surprise here. Barbie had three fellow plastic-looking girls gossiping away. I thought, for just a moment, they hadn't noticed me as I found a locker. But of course, I was wrong. As I started to change, I heard their shrill laughs.
"You better watch yourself, skank. I'm going to make you regret that failed attempt to get my man's attention this morning,” Barbie snorted as she shoved past me. Her friends giggled, following her.
"The fuck is her problem?” I grumbled, changed, and hurried out to the Gym Class. Everyone had to wear the same gym clothes, a white tee with the school crest on the left breast with red shorts like the uniforms.
But like the uniform, the fit can vary based on body type. I am well aware that I’m not that big, especially in the chest or compared to Barbie and her plastic gang.
As I got into the line of girls, I felt someone watching me. I looked across the gym where the boys’ class were lined up. And my eyes locked on the icy blue eyes of Darius Frost were watching me. There was something different in how he was looking at me.
Compared to when I ran into him outside the office and later in my first-period class. What is with this guy? Each time I’ve seen him, he’s acted like he’s never seen me before.
I clenched my jaw as I felt my braid tugged roughly. I didn’t even need to guess who. “Keep your eyes to yourself, chink,” Barbie hissed. “I’m Japanese, you racist, cunt,” I growled.
“I don’t give a fuck what you are. Keep your eyes to yourself,” Barbie said, pulling my braid hard again. I was about two seconds from flipping this bitch over my shoulder and showing her exactly who she’s fucking with. But that would be counterproductive and just get me in trouble on my first day.
I wish the administration would change their policy and let my brothers and I be in the same classes. They’d save so much of a headache for every teacher who can’t remember our names. Instead, they just use the blanket ‘Mr. Frost’. It’s bad enough that our parents can tell us apart without color-coordinating us. However, in school, only our bookbags identify us, and still, no one notices. So far, this morning has been dull. However, I had gotten texts from my brothers regularly. This morning, Forrest had drawn the short straw of walking Jane to her homeroom. Honestly, Darius should just kick her to the curb. She didn’t know which brother was which, and I swear to God I might just break my ‘no hitting girls’ rule and hit her the next time she tries to kiss me, thinking I’m Darius. And now I had the worst class of the day. Not that I don’t like Gym class. I’m athletic. I am, after all, the pitcher for our varsity baseball team. No, I don’t l
I still don’t know what to think about what Darius did during Gym Class. Did he break up with his girlfriend for pulling my hair? But possibly the weirder thing is I don’t believe this was Darius. He looked exactly like the guy Barbie… I mean, Jane was hanging on this morning and the guy from my history class. But there was something different about him. All three interactions I’ve had with him have been off. Like he’s three different people. There are three of him, which seriously the world couldn’t handle that many of them or has multiple personalities, which also doesn’t seem right. I tried not to think about it as I made my way to my next class, physics. I could hear people whispering around me. “I heard one of them set their sights on her.” “I think it was Darius.” “Who knows.” “He dumped Jane for her.” “No way.” The various whispers circulated and did clear something up. One of them. So, there is more than one Frost. I felt a fluttering se
My brothers and I had been texting as usual during and between classes. The school had been sure to keep us out of the same courses, which was ridiculous. But whatever. It’s just a hassle for us. Forrest told us that Riko has managed to work out three of us and even identify ways to be different. That's rare indeed. This makes her even more interesting. Too bad none of us have had a class with her since Forrest's 5th-period physics. Now it was my lunch period, the last lunch period of the day. It is ridiculous to have lunch at the end of the day. But I'm not the principal or head of the school board that decides such things. I managed to get through the lunch line without issue. Of course, since I sat down with some of the guys from the football, baseball, and basketball teams, Jane has been watching me. She's probably looking for an opening to try and talk to me after Elijah dumped her on my behalf during Gym Class. The guys were talking
I’d planned to slap that asshole when he grabbed my ass. My father did not raise some weak girl that couldn’t protect herself. But I never got the chance. Whichever Frost was in the cafeteria reacted before I could. It caught everyone by surprise. And I just stood there stunned. He’d not only stood up for me but got away with choking one of his friends, well, if that guy was his friend, in the middle of the cafeteria. Afterward, he brought me outside to sit for lunch. I was still not sure what to make of it all. Why were he and his brothers giving me any attention? I must admit I like how his large hand so easily encompassed mine and the warmth I felt from him. It was also rather sweet that he used his jacket to directly ensure I didn’t sit on the cold metal chair. I knew this was the Frost I had in homeroom. The bag matched but also the posture and demeanor. I just needed to know what his name was. So, noticing how he looked at my lunch,
“That is just so not fair,” I grumbled as I got my stuff from my locker. “You’re so dramatic, little brother,” Darius rolled his eyes from his locker to my left. “No, I agree with Forrest. So not fair. You got to have a full conversation with her, eat lunch together. Fuck she fed you. It’s bullshit. You are swapping lunch periods with one of us tomorrow,” Elijah chimed in from my right. “Whatever,” he rolled his eyes. “Just keep in mind she will know the difference,” he added, shutting his locker. “We know that. That’s why we like Riko. Granted, it is fun to fool people. But it would be nice to be acknowledged as individuals,” I pointed out. My brothers both raised an eyebrow at me. “What? I can have a coherent and deep thought. I’m not always joking,” I grumbled, rolling my eyes. “We know, baby brother. It’s just not often you do,” Darius taunted, patting my shoulder. “Let’s head home. We can discuss this more later,” Elijah sighed. The
How did things end up like this? I had every intention of just quietly finishing my senior year. Sure, ice garnered attention at each new school I've attended over the years. But nothing like this. It makes me wish the Frost brothers had just left me alone. If they had, Jane and her friends would leave me alone. But it just seems every interaction with one of the brothers escalated their aggression towards me. They were culminating with an attack on me as I was heading for my bus. It's ridiculous. I didn't do anything wrong. Okay, so maybe Jane could be mad about my lunch with Darius. I'll admit feeding him wasn't innocent. But it still isn't a good reason for them to shove me, steal my bag, and continue to push me around as they encircled me. They were looking for a fight. And I had enough and gave it to them. It was when that teacher stepped in, I considered I had made the wrong choice. And once again, the Frost brothers got involved def
Dinner with dad went fine. I kept worrying that he was going to ask questions about who drove me home. I’m very thankful he didn’t. I wasn’t sure how to explain the triplets to him. And no matter how I explained it unless I could say they are homosexual; dad wouldn’t like it. Not only do I not want to deal with that, but I then also run the risk that he’ll try to transfer me to an all-girls school. And while I haven’t made any friends, unless the brothers count, and only really made enemies, I don’t want to transfer schools. After cleaning up from dinner, I prepped my lunch for tomorrow. I found myself wondering if Darius would eat lunch with me again. And found myself smiling at the thought of sharing my lunch with him and wishing his brothers were also in our lunch period. “That’s a lot of food for you,” my father commented as he loaded the dishwasher. I furrowed my brow and looked down. It was almost double what I’d packed for today.
I wished Riko had just texted us her address so we could have picked her up. I don’t trust that bitch Grace as far as I could throw our car. All three of us had tried to text her, but either she turned her phone off or was on silent. Which neither would be surprising. She seemed like one of those kids that followed the rules and wouldn’t want to be in trouble for her phone during school hours. Is her dad why she wouldn’t let us pick her up or drop her off at home? I mean, I know my share of intimidating dads. If Reese weren’t already able to intimidate every guy she’s ever met, Uncle Apollo sure would. I’m pretty sure the only reason dad even managed to date mom was because his dad, grandpa Adien, was friends with her dad, Grandpa Ares. We could handle a protective, military father. And I’m sure her dad would be cool with it if he understood that some of the girls at school have decided to target Riko thought that was our fault. But even m