Alexander
The news broke this morning and all I can think is Eva is going to get in between Natalya and I. She is the Principal’s wife, for fuck’s sake. It gives her power I can’t contend with. I stalk after her down the path toward the cottage, knowing I have to get her alone and warn her off. There’s no way I’m letting her screw this up for me, not now.
“Eva,” I call her name.
Eva’s back turns tense as she stops, turning around. “Alexander, what do you want?”
I smirk, crossing my arms over my chest and leaning against the wall flanking the path. “Why don’t you come and sit?”
Eva shakes her head. “I’m alright here, thanks.”
Rage coils through me as my eyes narrow. “Just because you’re now the principal’s little pet, don’t get any ideas about Natalya and me.” I close the gap between us. “You may think it gives you power, but with Natalya, you stay the fuck out of it.”
Eva’s eyes flash with anger. “Why don’t you stop messing with Nat and admit that you have feelings for her already?”
It feels like she slaps me in the face with her words. Feelings for Natalya Gurin? “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Eva tilts her head. “I think you know what I mean. Why else would you be so obsessed with her?”
It’s a word that has come to my mind a bit too often of late. “Obsessed?” I repeat it half in a question. “I’m not…” I trail off, knowing it’s a lie. Natalya has been an obsession of mine long before I took her virginity.
“Did the penny just drop?” Eva teases.
I glare at her, clenching my fists by my side. “Just stay out of my way, understand?”
“I understood you the first time, Alexander. And have I gotten in your way since?” she asks.
“No, but I’m saying don’t get Oakley involved.”
“I had no intention of doing so.” Eva holds my gaze. “Now, if you don’t mind. I’m going home.”
Eva glances to the left, drawing my attention to Principal Byrne, who looks ready to murder me for being close to his wife. “Alexander, what the fuck are you doing here?” he growls.
Shit.
Eva places a hand on his chest. “It’s okay. We were talking.”
I grin, trying to pretend that the Principal doesn’t scare me. The guy is a tank and could knock me on my ass with little trouble. “Yeah, are you getting so jealous Eva can’t even talk to guys anymore?”
“Not boys that fucking throttle her in empty corridors,” he growls.
I hold both my hands up in surrender. “Alright, calm down. I’m leaving.” I turn away and stroll up the path, despite wanting to run away from the rabid principal. It’s crazy that he’s married to a student. The fall out is going to be immense and yet he seems so fucking sure that no one will care.
As I walk the path, Eva’s voice repeats over and over.
Admit that you have feelings for her already.
It’s like a taunt I can’t erase from my mind. Eva doesn’t know what she’s talking about. She’s been here all of five minutes and she thinks she knows what is going on between the two of us.
Rizzo is sitting on the bench at the end of the path and his brow furrows when he sees me. “Where’ve you been?”
I shrug and sit down next to him. “I went to give the new Mrs. Byrne my congratulations.” I smirk at him.
He shakes his head. “That shit is fucked up. I’ve never been to such a weird fucking school before.”
I laugh. “Right?”
“Good winter break?” he asks.
I shrug, as it was one of the hardest breaks I’ve ever hard. With being away from Natalya and forcing myself not to contact her, to finding out more to the story surrounding my mother’s death. The visit to her grave has played on my mind ever since, and I think it’s because a part of me blames her now. If she kept her mouth shut, she might still have been alive. “Not the best,” I reply.
Rizzo sighs and nods. “Mine neither.” He shakes his head. “After all the shit my dad did last year, things felt weird this year. I can’t explain it.”
I nod, as Rizzo had to leave a couple of weeks before winter break because his mom got shot. He found out his father had been drugging her, making her ill for years. It all sounds like a shit show, to say the least. “Right, sorry I asked.”
“So, what is your plan for this semester?” Rizzo asks, looking me in the eye. “Still harassing that Gurin girl?”
My stomach twists at the mention of Natalya. “Of course,” I reply, but even to my own ears, I don’t sound certain about it.
“What’s that all about?” he asks.
I shrug. “What?”
“Why do you hate her so much?”
Hate.
According to Eva, I don’t hate Natalya.
“It’s a long story.” And it is. My hatred for Natalya was born out of a misguided belief that my mom died because of the Gurin Bratva. That my entire world was turned upside down all because of her family. Over time, the reason for my torment of her faded and the desire to take my rage out of her became twisted and obsessive. Somewhere along the line, I believe that hatred for her did change into something more sick and depraved.
“She doesn’t seem that bad, is all. I don’t get why you hate her so much.”
I glare at Rizzo as he’s overstepping the mark, questioning me. “What is it to you, anyway?”
“Nothing, I’m just curious.”
“Well, keep your curiosity to yourself.” I stand and give him one last glare. “I don’t like being questioned.”
He shakes his head. “I gathered that.” He stands. “Do you want some advice?”
“Not really,” I say, irritated when he follows me down the path up toward the academy.
“Well, I’m going to give it to you, anyway. If you want her, then stop being a jerk.”
I glare at Rizzo. “I don’t know what you are talking about.”
He smirks, and I have to claw myself back from punching it from his smug face. “It’s classic bully tactics. You like Natalya. That’s why you get such a kick out of tormenting her. It gives you power over her, but it’s not the best way to win her heart.” He winks at me and then marches on ahead. “Just think about it.”
Motherfucker.
If it wasn’t bad enough having Eva tell me that I have feelings for Natalya, now this son of a bitch is also suggesting I like her.
Do I like Natalya?