Welcome to Gravemont Academy

REINA

“Move,” his tone had me swallowing hard past the lump in my throat that just wouldn't go down.

“W-well I-it s-sor” Just as I was about to mumble an apology for standing in his way, his gaze dropped from my face, down to my shoes.

He was starting at my shoes now and I had never felt more self conscious in my entire life. I was on cheap scuffed sneakers that looked out of place against the polished floor and polished bodies around me.

His gaze then began crawling upward inch by inch until it reached my face, and by the time it did, my skin was burning everywhere, as if his stare alone had stripped me bare and marinated me in heat.

But instead of surprise or curiosity, his eyes only filled with boredom, disinterest, like I was nothing worth pausing for, then came that expression of judgement that made my chest tighten and my breathe catch.

Before I could even get a single word out, he brushed past me, his shoulder slamming against mine so hard it cramped the muscle and forced me to stumble back.

The people trailing behind him, three boys with the same arrogance stitched into their veins, did the exact same thing, bumping me on purpose, one even chuckling under his breath as if I were some toy to knock over. I didn't even notice them initially, his towering figure had swallowed them.

I felt my balance slipping and I was seconds away from collapsing in front of everyone when a hand caught me firmly from behind.

“Whoa whoa there, careful you'll hurt yourself,” a girly, cheery voice said giggling softly.

I turned, already embarrassed, and found myself staring into the face of a girl so gorgeous she almost didn’t look real.

She had glossy lips, eyes rimmed with perfect eyeliner, Auburn hair smooth like silk, and she was staring at me with those enchanting emerald eyes that could make anyone fall for her in seconds.

Her gaze was on my uncovered face since my hoodie had already flown back, with a look of actual shock.

Jeez. She knew. That look just says it all that she recognised me. Why wouldn't she? My face was all over covers and news stations after the arrest. I should've known everyone would recognise me! What do I do now!

My blood froze as panic began spiking in my chest, because recognition was what I feared most. Someone had seen me, someone had recognised the fallen Cole girl, the disgraced princess, and now it was over. My new life over before it even began.

But then she breathed out, “Oh my god, you’re so beautiful.”

I blinked at her in confusion. “What?”

“Seriously. What are you even wearing?” she frowned at my oversized blazer and hoodie, then waved her hand dismissively,

“Never mind that. How can a person be absolutely gorgeous... In that. I’ve never seen freckles look more, God I sound lesbian and I swear to you I'm straight but your freckles are like, sexually appealing. What’s your skincare brand? I’ll tell my dad to get them endorsed immediately.”

“What—” I just stared at her because my brain couldn’t compute what the actual fuck was going on.

But she wasn’t done. She leaned even closer to me, inspecting me the way one might inspect a priceless painting. “Though your skin looks kinda dry. Is that the new thing? Dry chic? I mean, I don’t think so, but maybe you’re onto something. Still, I bet you’d look like a total goddess if I just put some moisturizer on you. Can I? Please please please.”

I jerked back a little. “Who—what? Why?”

She gasped, nearly smacking herself in the face with her palm, then bit down on her glossy lips like she’d just committed a crime. “Where are my manners? I'm so sorry for ambushing you like this. I’m Ivy Johnson. Yes, that Ivy Johnson, daughter of Senator Schumer Johnson. And you are?”

Her eyes sparkled at me expectantly and my tongue twisted in my mouth “Reina Co—” I stopped myself and cursed inwardly “Moore. Reina Moore.”

Ivy’s brows creased as she tilted her head. “Hmm. Doesn’t ring a bell. I don’t know a Reina Moore. Your face is unfamiliar too. What branch of business is your family in? Tch never mind that I'll search them up.”

Her hand already moved toward her phone and her fingers began typing a bit too fast, making my stomach dropped. I reached forward, stopping her. “I’m just… a scholarship student. My mom’s a nurse and my dad is…” I faded off realising I hadn't thought out a good backstory yet.

“Is what?” she asked softly.

“Well…” I started, but the words turned into ash on my tongue. What was I supposed to say? My dad's in jail? If she asked why would I say embezzlement? That would only raise more questions. Think Reina think!

“Well my dad is-”

“Ivy!” Before I had to answer, two girls flanked Ivy, one blonde, one brunette, both pretty in the effortless Gravemont way, polished like porcelain dolls.

From their chatter it was obvious Ivy was queen bee of Gravemont Academy. But she wasn’t like the queen bees I’d known before. She wasn’t mean, or mocking, or waiting to chew me up like the other bullies. She was actually introducing me to her friends, like it was an honor for them.

“This is my new friend, Reina,” she announced. “Don’t let anyone give her trouble. Got it? I bite people that dare try to hurt my friends.”

They both nodded quickly, like soldiers saluting their general, and I just stood there blinking because I couldn’t believe what I’d heard. New friend? Me? Why?

Ivy smiled at me, so bright and easy. “We’re friends, right?”

“Uh—”

“Yes we are. You don’t get to turn me down.”

I gawked at her but she broke into a laugh. “Relax, I’m joking. I’m not that pushy.”

“That’s a lie,” the brunette whispered.

“Okay, fine,” Ivy rolled her eyes, “I’m a little pushy. But I swear I'm working on it. My therapist says I need to stop adopting people but, come on please? Be my friend?” She clasped her hands together dramatically. “ I'll be good to you, promise. Pleaseee.”

The ridiculousness of it pulled a laugh out of me. “Sure.”

“Yay!” She clapped. “Okay, so do you know your class yet?”

“Not really, I just got here.”

“Then I’m walking you to the headmistress’s office,” she declared like it was law.

She immediately grabbed my arm and pulled me closer. She was obviously unbothered about my crappy clothes or sad backstory. Very surprising for the senator's daughter. Shouldn't she be running for the hills or something?

Maybe Gravemont wasn’t going to be that bad after all. But then my eyes caught him again. The boy from earlier.

He was standing by the fountain in a casual stance that still screamed control, talking to his friends.

My smile vanished like it had never been there the moment my gaze landed on the side of his face. He glanced at me once, bored, his lip curling the tiniest bit, then turned away like I wasn’t even worth the dirt on his expensive shoes. The brush-off was so cold it made me scowl as heat creeped up my neck.

Ivy noticed immediately. “Oh, that’s Adrian Vale,” she said and I noticed her voice dropped, like even saying his name was heavy on her tongue. “His family is old money. Old everything. His father basically owns half the state and that includes this school.”

I muttered, “He’s just a spoiled rich asshole.” She smirked knowingly. “Oh my dear, you have no idea.”

We started walking, her friends flanking us like some royal procession, and as we moved she began filling me in on everything. About Adrian Vale. About his circle. About some organisation called The House of M.

“A cult?”

“Its not a cult,” the brunette corrected.

“Its more like a club,” the Blondie chimed in.

“It’s not an official club,” Ivy said. “It’s… more like a court. Elite, untouchable. The members basically run Gravemont. Events, funding, even disciplinary records. If Adrian Vale doesn’t like your shadow, you’re gone. Expelled. Ruined. You basically don't even exist anymore.”

“Sounds awful,” I muttered, my disdain for the prick only rising by the second.  “No one likes them,” Ivy admitted, “but Adrian Vale is too hot and too rich to actually be hated.”

“And he so happens to be the leader of their 'court' ugh” I rolled my eyes at the cliche.

By the time we reached the headmistress’s office, Ivy had given me every piece of gossip I hadn’t even asked for. One thing was clear, I really really do not like Adrian Vale.

As Ivy finished her latest string of gossip, I lifted my hand to knock on the headmistress’s office door when a blinding white light appeared for a second, followed by the unmistakable sound of a camera shutter.

I froze, my lungs caving in, because I knew that light, I’d lived in its violence before. My pulse spiked, nails biting into my palm as whispers darted across the corridor.

“Oh my god,” someone gasped.

“There’s literally no way it's her”