Chapter 4

Cyrus Blackwood

I pulled out my lighter, a sharp metallic sound cut through the air as I flicked the flint to light my cigarette. I took a deep puff before slowly exhaling. I leaned my elbows on the hood of my car as I kept my eyes trained on the receding figure of the new transfer student. I did not need to look at her face to tell that she was seething. The way her shoulders stiffened when I waved was very amusing. She was catching up to my intentions. That made things clear. 

I sensed Ethan standing beside me, keeping his eyes on his phone playing some game. “She’s pretty audacious.” 

I hummed in reply, “she is pretty…” I trailed off as her small figure retreated to a corner, “audacious.” 

Suddenly, I felt the lights knock out of me as Ryan hooked his arm around my shoulder. His cologne and gym sweat invaded my sense of smell. “Man this is so unlike you,” He grunted, his voice vibrating in my ear as he headlocked me. “By this time you’d have us beating them to a pulp.”

"Gosh, let me breathe, you blockhead.” I shoved him away as I looked at my nearly burnt-out cigarette before sighing and throwing it away. 

“Come on man, this semester is no fun.” Ryan huffed before crossing his arms, “Last time that kid-”

“Ugh, don't mention him.” Lucas walked towards us as he waved his new fling away. He pulled out his cigarette and motioned for me to light it up. “By the way, heard someone berate you today?”

“Do you not live in this world? It happened right in front of you," Ethan retorted. 

I chuckled before answering, “Yeah but it was no big deal. This one’s a little different and I'll let her play for some time." 

The second I said ‘this one’ they understood that I did not take this easily. I may have kept an upfront of having a solid shell but internally I was itching to retort back. However, that was new so I wanted to observe for some time. 

Lucas murmured a small curse as he almost burned his finger from the cigarette before saying, “You know, the night is coming.”

I nod in acknowledgement. I knew the night was approaching. The night when the entire fraternity house held an annual party and this time it was our turn to host it. We had months to prepare. We hosted parties during our high school years and they always outshone every other party. This time it was no less than before. I had to up my game and for that I needed a scapegoat. 

We needed to hunt before the party but the prey just walked in our trap. 

“Nah man, I have a feeling it won’t be fun,” Ryan was still grovelling over the fact that he could not find a punching bag after his last one dropped out. 

“Don’t worry about it, you know it’s no different this time for you guys.” I said before I threw my cigarette on the ground, crushing it with the heel of my shoes. I needed to think fast before the party approached. "Alright, back to class.” 

As soon as we stepped into the building, a mask fell over my face. In these buildings I was the crown prince. The smile that I practiced for months fell politely on my face as I nodded and greeted people passing by knowing I had an image to maintain for people’s eyes and for the security cameras that my father undoubtedly checked.

Ethan fell into step with me while the rest of them groaned. “Can’t we bunk this time?” Lucas groaned. 

I shot him a cold look which withered him instantly as he adjusted his collars. They knew I could not play about missing classes. Sebastian already received more praise than needed. And I already received enough backlash. Being a brother of the most successful child of the house was hard enough on me. I did not need to add to the list of disappointments my father claimed I caused him. 

Knowing my father, he monitored each and every move of mine. He did not care what I did out of campus but as soon as I stepped in, all eyes were on me. Even my fathers.

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After the last class ended for the day I saw the new transfer walking away from her locker. A smirk formed on my face as I strode towards her and in her way. 

“Heya, we started on the wrong foot,” I started, “Heard you’re new around here.” I stated, feigning a genuine smile. Her jaw tightened as she realised I was not just passing by. 

“You’d know that already since you own the place.” She countered. 

“Ah, so you're familiar with everything now?” I asked as I raised my brow. 

“What do you want?” She asked. “I need to be somewhere right now.”

“Ohhh she’s a busy person.” Ryan whistled as he loomed over her, his shadow swallowed her whole as one heavy arm landed on her shoulder. But it looked awkward with the girl being short and Ryan being a giant. She rolled her eyes before shoving his arm away. The rest of them come over to surround her. 

I raised a hand to silence them. “At least introduce yourself.”

“I don’t have to.” She said lazily as she stared at me squarely. Something about her stare was unnerving but I liked this change. I saw something swirl in her hazel eyes. My smile got wider as she shoved past me and walked away without looking back.

“She’s such a bitch. I would've punched her right there if it weren’t for you.” Ryan seethed. 

“So why didn’t you?” I asked as I turned around to inquire. “Are you scared of her?”

He did not meet my eyes. The truth was that I had not given them the signal to go mess with her until now. They could have their fun until it was my turn to play. 

This was going to be very fun.