Longview Academy 1: Bitter Lies
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Rachael Stitchy
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Caught between three powerful rulers who move through the world like they own every shadow, Marla fights to keep her voice steady and her heart guarded. Their attention is intense, consuming, and far too focused on her. She refuses to be treated like a prize, yet their pull wraps around her with a heat she can’t quite shake. Each king brings a different kind of danger, and together they push her toward a fate she never asked for. But Marla is no quiet plaything. As their world closes in, she rises with fire of her own, ready to claim her place instead of being claimed.
Chapter 1
MARLA
The bell rings, signaling the end of class. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to being in such a fancy environment.
“Great work today, Marla,” Miss Lawson says as I walk past her desk.
I’m not great at history, but she explained things really well. I walk to the bathroom that’s located in the main hall, feeling proud for sticking my arm up and answering a question. I got a wave from a girl who was in my class, and I got a hello from a girl who was wearing shoes that cost more than a small car. She was pretty with curly hair.
Most of the students have been nice to me. But some have not. And I say that because if looks alone could kill me, I’d be ten feet under.
The bathroom looks like one of those you see in a fancy hotel. One that I would have never been able to afford to visit. They have scented flowers sitting next to the soap, for Christ’s sake. I do my business, wash my hands, and then check my reflection in the mirror. It’s been a weird few days, that’s for sure, but not at all bad.
The door opens, and I have to stop myself from rolling my eyes when the number one queen of the school walks in with her two lap dogs following. I’ve heard so many things about them. Not all of it good.
“Well, well, well. Look who it is. The girl everyone is raving about. Marla this. Marla that. I don’t know what all the fuss is about. Do you girls?”
I don’t acknowledge her for a beat because it wasn’t a question, and her friends look just as confused. So dumb. So high school. Her jealousy shines through.
“Don’t tell me you’ve gone shy all of a sudden, because you certainly weren’t shy when you told half the school that you’re an orphan, or when you were talking to my boyfriend a few hours ago.”
Now we’re getting somewhere. Her sneer follows her statement. She’s what you would call a classic bully. But she can’t bully anyone without Crystal or Amy to back her up—not that they’ve said much.
“Is there a point to all this? It’s not my fault half the teachers want me to talk about my past,” I finally ask, turning and leaning my butt on the counter.
My voice is scratchy from not being used often. What can I say? I prefer to stay quiet. I stopped talking regularly when I was young. I think I was around six. But the reason why is a story for another day. Let’s call it a minor trauma.
“Oh, there’s a point all right.” She steps forward, invading my space. “Stay the fuck away from Alex. I saw you and him talking. You’re new to the school, so I won’t beat your ass. But this is your one and only warning, bitch.”
This time, I do roll my eyes. Lucy is a pretty girl. Stunning, if you like the fake Barbie, blonde-haired, stiletto-wearing, no-brains type of girl. And don’t get me started on her makeup. It’s thick, like her.
“Alex approached me. I have no say in what he does or doesn’t do. Or who he does and doesn’t talk to. Alex will do what Alex wants. Your insecurities are showing.” I smile back.
I won’t admit that Alex has me intrigued. He’s a typical bad boy with a hot body. But he was the one to approach me. He simply told me his name, held out his hand for me to shake, and I replied with, “Okay.”
“You think you’re hot stuff, huh? Coming here from another country. Talking in a different language.”
I almost laughed. “I’m British. I speak English just like you.”
She sneers at my comment. Her other two sidekicks haven’t said a word. But then, why would they? This is the Lucy and Marla show.
“You know what I meant.”
Her stupid is showing. I did know what she meant, but I’m not telling her that. I finally look at Crystal and Amy. “Hey. I’m Marla. Nice to meet you.” I grin, and they both look to each other for support.
“Don’t talk to them. I’m in charge here. You listen to me.”
Would she be offended if I yawn? Deciding I’ve had enough of this shit, I stand taller, causing Lucy to step back. “This has been lovely and all. But I do have to get to class,” I say, stepping toward the door, which Crystal is still blocking.
My hair is grabbed from the back, and my body is pushed to the nearest wall. I hiss when my chest is crushed, causing my breasts to flatten.
“Don’t talk to Alex. Stay the fuck away from him. This is your last warning.”
I don’t react right away. Her hold on my hair is so tight I can feel the strands snapping. “Are you done?” I breathe against the wall.
“Fuck you, bitch. You seem to be forgetting who I am.”
I, in fact, do not know who she is. “All I hear is you whining about Alex being yours. About how you have to fight people away. How you need to threaten people from talking to him. That’s a lot of insecurities to unpack.”
She brings my head back and slams it forward again. I feel the moment my lip splits open, and I use my tongue to lick away the blood.
The bathroom door bangs open, straight into Crystal’s back, and she yelps in surprise. Lucy drops me, and I spin around to lean on the wall, so I’m facing her.
“Marla. There you are. I thought I heard your voice.”
Nicole. My new best friend peeks her head around the door, her dark hair pulled neatly into a bun that sits behind her head.
“Hey, chick. I was just coming to find you.” I smile back, and that splits my lip a bit more.
Lucy nods to her friends, who step aside and let the door open all the way. “Let’s go. I think this bitch learned her lesson.”
I can’t help but smile and give her a salute. “Aye, aye, captain.”
Nicole watches them leave. Lucy turns red in the face. Her two buddies not having a clue how to react. It’s comical. But Nicole enters the room, and I can’t help the laugh that leaves my mouth.
“Are you crazy? Do you know what kind of shit she can do? How she can destroy your life and get away with it?”
I take a paper towel and dab my lip. Nicole has been dealing with the queens since middle school. I snort when I think of the name. It’s so cliché. “I’m not scared of her. She’s lucky I didn’t put her on her arse. She’s a bloody idiot if she thinks she scares me.”
“I know you’re new, and you’ve only been here a week. But I’m begging you, Marla. Don’t get in her way. She’s evil with a capital E. I really like you, and I want us to be friends. It would kill me to see anything happen to you.”
Friends. Something I’ve never had. I was always ignored. Kids can be so cruel when they think you’re strange for not talking much, because they think you’re different.
“Nothing is going to happen to me. I understand your concerns, but people like her—I’ve run away from my whole life. I won’t do it anymore. But I understand if you don’t want to stick with me. I can see how intimidated you feel around her.”
The more I speak, the more my throat burns. But I’m done hiding who I am.
We leave the bathroom and walk to my locker to grab my math book.
“She scares me.” I stop what I’m doing and look at my friend. “I’ve dealt with her and the others since I was six. I’ve learned how to hide. To run and to look the other way. It’s how I survived all these years.”
My heart breaks for her.
“But I won’t do it anymore. If I can find a way for you to avoid her, I will. I don’t want you to be kicked out. But…” She takes a deep breath. “If I can help you in any way, help to stop her dominating this school like the bully she is, I will. I don’t want to be scared anymore. So I’m afraid you’re stuck with me.”
She gives me a small smile.
Nicole is classically beautiful. Her face is small, and she has dainty features, but bright blue eyes covered with thick-framed glasses.
We turn when we hear Lucy yelling at Alex. He looks bored, wearing a frown of confusion, and I smile when I look down at Nicole because she’s shorter than me by quite a bit.
“What’s the face for? What are you planning?” she asks, chewing her lip.
I grab my notebook and pen. Scribble a short message on one corner and then rip it out, fold it, and begin to walk in his direction. Nicole has warned me about the kings. That’s why I didn’t give Alex my name earlier. He and his buddies Shane and Max run the school. I listened intently and tried not to scoff.
“Come on,” I encourage Nicole to follow me.
Alex watches me approach with his cool blue eyes. His hair is messy, yet styled that way. He is tall—over six feet at least. Slim waist, broad shoulders like a swimmer. Lucy stops speaking when I smile and hand Alex the slip of paper.
“I was rude earlier. My name is Marla. Nice to meet you.”
I wink at Lucy, turn, and walk away. Nicole is hot on my heels when Lucy screams from behind me.
“You’re fucking dead, bitch. You better watch your back, you hear me?”
I keep walking and don’t look back. Nicole snickers beside me, and I smile to myself. I think I’m going to like it here after all.
