Skye cleared her throat, walking around the open space of the room. Her voice boomed and bounced off the walls. She narrated the following words as if she stood before a theater audience.
“I wanted to transfer schools. I’ve thought of attending Woodlands Academy since I moved to town years ago but haven’t been able to for family reasons. This year I finally got a chance and one night, we were going to make arrangements for me to stay with a few relatives… but then, I saw this girl.”
Skye did a dramatic turn, clapping her hands together for effect.
“Come to think of it.., she looked somewhat like you” She sneaked a glance towards Alex, “You have the same blonde hair, same gray eyes… except I saw her in a blue dress when she reached the top of the stairs.”
Alex’s body went hollow. Her head felt light. She didn’t need to hear the rest of the story to know what Skye meant. Somehow, the pieces fell in place. Skye’s and Carla’s stories went in sync—despite not mentioning the other person.
Skye smirked at her reaction. Then, she continued to pace, “She was in such a hurry that she ignored everything else in the room and headed to one table booth. Then, I saw her companions… faces I am very familiar with.”
She stopped in front of Alex, standing sideways. She tilted her head until their gazes met. The mischief in her stare vanished. Displeasure etched into her facial muscles. Her black eyes gleamed like cold obsidian.
She sneered, “They had such an interesting conversation… and from that, I knew. I knew I couldn’t transfer. At least, not anytime soon because there was a pest lurking around the school and the town—a pest that I can’t touch.”
There it was.
“The restraining order” Alex breathed out. She saw it coming. She had her suspicions but she couldn’t connect it thoroughly.
It was the agreement from that time when Skye was arrested. Since she was a minor, they opted for a compromise. This was how she knew that Skye wouldn’t openly attack her, why she’d do things like using Carla instead. It was the only reason Alex could think of.
It was also why she could risk coming to Freccia Prep.
Skye sighed gravelly, “Yes, even if you’re pretending to be someone else, you’re still Alexandra Greenwood. That restraining order is still valid. There wouldn’t be a way for me to stay with you around.”
She probably wouldn’t have a chance at all, Alex thought. Given their history, Principal Parker should know about it. Alex believed her father gave them a list of possible threats—students that can’t be enrolled while she attended the school. It seemed a bit extra but none of them would take the risk.
Since that was established, it was time to move on to more important questions.
“Why do you even want to transfer schools?” Alex inquired. She shook her head, shrugging her shoulders, “Aren’t you living the life? Freccia Prep is one of the most prestigious schools. You’re recognized as an elite everywhere you go in that uniform.”
Among the high socialites, only one school ranked in a different level above others and that was Freccia Preparatory Academy. Scholarships existed but only a few got the chance for them. The selection process was brutal due to high demand, including the lower classes.
It was the dream school of many—except for Alex.
Well, she had her personal reasons for that.
Skye snorted in amusement, “Why I want to transfer or not is none of your business.”
She turned her back on Alex and stared out the windows. The trees swayed under a breeze. They couldn’t feel it since they were locked. Beacons of light peeked through the leaves. Branches hit the glass panels, scratching them.
A peaceful view compared to the tense atmosphere inside the room.
Alex cursed in her mind. Then again, she already expected it. There was no way she would be able to leave with all the information. She just needed to focus on key ones and the others can be dealt with in court, one way or another.
She shifted her attention. Her gaze narrowed on Skye’s back. She couldn’t tell if the girl wanted her to ask or not. Either way, Alex had to try another approach, “Is it Logan? Because it is my business if it is.”
Skye whirled around, both of her eyebrows raised. Her wide eyes lit up in laughter. The curved corner of her lip twitched, “Have you.. Have you fallen for him?”
Things just seemed to get better and better, she mused. Her old childhood friend with her ex-boyfriend? Oh, how funny was fate’s humor. It intertwined their strings and knotted them. Then, it pulled them together.
Alex wrinkled her nose, “Logan thinks of me as a guy.”
“I’m not asking for Logan’s feelings. I’m asking for yours” Skye pointed out. She approached Alex as if she was a shiny new toy. The gleam in her eyes said it all, “He must be like the first male friend you have. And he is one of the sweetest persons alive.”
Memories of their relationship surfaced in her head. Logan acted difficult after she moved into town but it only made the good moments much sweeter. Whenever she was sad, he’d pop out a white chocolate candy. He seemed to never run out of them.
She stared at the floor, reminiscing. Her voice dropped to a soft tone, “Once he considers you as an important person in his life, he’d give undying loyalty, protect you and put you first. Can’t really blame you if you did develop feelings for him.”
Alex felt conflicted. It was the same feeling she had when she overheard their conversation. Some part of her wanted to believe Skye’s feelings for Logan had been true but… whether they were real or not, Skye had chosen something over it—something more important to her.
“If he’s such a great guy then, why did you seduce Jae?” Alex bit her tongue. She didn’t mean to make it sound harsh but Logan’s scream from that day echoed in the back of her head.
It made her skin crawl.
Skye cocked an eyebrow at Alex. It seemed like she wasn’t the only one who did her research, “Who did you hear that from? Jae? It’s probably Jae unless he finally told Logan about it.”
“You’re not denying it?”
“Would you believe me if I did?” She scoffed. What would even be the point? Xandra had already seen her bad sides. What was the use of clearing her name in front of this person?
“Absolutely not.”
“Exactly” Skye smiled.
Alex shook her head, “But I want to know why you did it.”
Jae had his theory but it was only speculation. Even with Skye’s history of exploiting her riches, it wasn’t solid evidence. Why would a person risk a loving relationship to climb up the ladder? Did it really matter who would the heir be? Not only did strain her affiliations with them but also it affected the connection of the two siblings.
Just, just…, why?!
“For what?” Skye demanded. She moved from her spot and circle around Alex, “To tell Logan? I’m pretty sure that you already know how things ended last time between me and him. Why would you need it to ruin something already destroyed?”
“Oh?” Alex snorted. Her head tilted to one side. A taunting look emerged on her face, “Were you not planning to get back together with him once you moved to Woodlands Academy? You loved him so much, didn’t you?”
In the two days she saw her childhood friend in Woodlands, the girl seeked out Logan twice. Only a blind person wouldn’t be able to see she had intentions about him.
Skye sneered at her words, “You think you’re all that because you’re now his best friend but I have known him longer than you. I was there at his darkest times. Whatever you have with him can’t compare to ours.”
Alex blinked. How did she come to that conclusion? She ignored that part and focused on the sudden blood thirst. Skye didn’t say it directly but she implied her feelings on the matter. It was good enough for Alex.
Now was the moment for the cat to show her fangs. She grinned, “Like you said, that something has already been destroyed. I’m the one with the upper hand.”
“You think Logan would forgive you for lying to him?” Skye glowered. She became livid. How dare Alex flaunt her current relationship with Logan, “Did you even hear him from that day? You’ll lose him the moment he finds out. Unless you’ll pretend to be a guy for the rest of your life.”
Alex wanted to laugh. Things just became too easy. Was she jealous of how close they are? They did ignore her for the most part at the Stitz Diner. Now that Alex was sure that Skye knew of her identity, she saw the scene from a different light.
And it was glorious.
“Just know that whatever you do, I’ll be there to keep you away from him.”
