Page 22 of Vengeful Queen
Forty minutes later, we reach the main road, heading into Ivymore. Charlotte tenses and turns down the music. She slides down in her seat and watches the reflection in her passenger side rear-view mirror.
“What’s the matter?” I ask her.
“I recognize the car behind us.” Her voice is breathless, and her hands grip the seat. “It’s the car that Eddie was driving.”
I didn’t get a look at Eddie’s car when he sped off. I was with Charlotte. I look into the rear-view and watch a late-model Honda Civic driving behind us. I can’t tell Charlotte she’s paranoid because I’m not sure. The woods border both sides of the road, and the exits around here lead into small towns. Not likely we’ll find help there.
“Charlotte, I think it’s time to take your sister up on her offer.”
“And hire private security?” She glances out the window. “I agree, but what are we going to do in the meantime?”
“I am driving us straight to the College Hill police department,” I reply, confident in my decision. “They won’t want to follow us there.” But by the time we drive into town, the car is gone.
CHAPTER 10
Charlotte
I have one class without anyone I knew from the dorms. I signed up for World History 101 to fulfill my requirements. Hudson walks me to class, and Jaxon walks me back. But this Wednesday, Jaxon has tryouts for the school musical. He has been practicing twenty-four-seven, letting his music dictate his schedule. I don’t want him to lose focus on a goal that means so much to him, and I assure him I’ll be okay for a day. I promise to stay with the crowd, and besides, people are forgetting my notoriety except for a few trolls.
Instead of returning to the dorm, I walk over to the school theater to watch his audition. I figure I can sit in the back unnoticed. A lump rises in my throat when I see Raine on the steps of the theater, priming a massive stretched canvas for scenery. She spots me before I can duck out of sight and looks as ill at ease as I feel.
“Hi.” I barely open my mouth.
“Are you here to audition?”
I let her snotty tone slide because she deserves one free shot. “No.”
She frowns. “The auditions are closed if you’re not auditioning.”
“Can we talk?” I ask.
“We are talking.”
I glance over at the other girl working, and she concentrates on her brushwork as if she’s painting a Van Gogh and not priming an old canvas.
“I’m sorry. I took my shit out on you, and I shouldn’t have.”
Raine shrugs her shoulders. “It’s okay.”
“No, it isn’t. You’re my friend.”
“It’s okay.” She starts to paint again.
“I put you on the spot because I got kicked out for what I did.”
Raine spins around. “That’s not it, Charlotte. I’m loyal to my friends. Gamma had a vote, including the pledges. I didn’t vote against you even though you acted really bitchy. I’m sorry, but I don’t want to be friends again. I don’t hold a grudge. We’re too different. I made excuses for you, but we don’t match up.”
“If you met my sister, you’d instantly know that’s wrong,” I tell her. “I’ll introduce you to her someday.”
Raine eyes the other girl, who is obviously listening, and motions for me to follow her. “Your friend with the ink,” she whispers. “He’s not getting in.”
“What?”
“He slept with too many girls in the drama club. They’ve already voted him out. They’re letting him audition anyway, so they can have fun rejecting him. It’s a shame because he has a good range. I know because I’m also playing piano for the musical.”
I frown, staring at the theater doors. “They should’ve said something instead of letting him think he sucks.”
“I’m just letting you know because it’s not right.”