The second the bell rings, summing up an uneventful day one, I’m out the door and soon the building. I continue past the groups beginning to form outside the school and make my way toward the Bray house, but before I can hook left, loud grunts and gasps fill the air.

I can’t help myself and glance over my shoulder.

The assholes from this morning stare at the SUV while others whisper beside them, wide eyes and all.

The groper slams his door shut. “Who the fuck did this?!” he shouts, stepping forward, and funny thing, the entire crowd moves back with his advance. He scans the masses, instantly halting when his eyes land on me, and he surges forward, his buddies hot on his heels.

I stand in the same place, not moving an inch, not changing my demeanor in any way.

And I think it ticks him off, all of them actually, because all at once their brows draw in above the rim of their dark shades.

Unlike this morning, I let my eyes travel the length of the three and I’m not disappointed. If I had to guess based on this moment alone, I’d say they’re the elite – sitting top tier on the pathetic little food chain high school demands.

Proof is in the way everyone cowers around us – too afraid to face full-on but too starving for gossip to walk away.

It’s funny though, it’s usually the preppy jocks with gelled up hair and button-ups who run around believing their dicks are magic who run shit. The ones with clean and clear paths to ivy leagues and legacies, those are the type most choose to follow, hoping for an arm in.

But these three ... they’re the exact opposite of a pretty boy.

The way they walk, all tall and assertive, forceful and dripping in swag, a physical dominance so solid it commands your attention – there’s nothing clean cut or classic about them. And if my intuition is as on point as usual, then the line they walk is a little more than crooked.

They’re rough around the edges, boys of power in the streets with something to prove.

Things to hide.

I know the type.

I also know what it feels like to be wrongly judged, so ...

“You better start running,” comes from my left and I glance over to find a curly haired girl eyeing the guys as they make their way to me but I make no move.

They’re in front of me in the next second.

“You keyed my fucking truck.”

“Did I?” I tilt my head and his brows jump slightly before he rights them.

He growls and steps closer, but his buddy clamps a hand down on his shoulder, and little pup takes the master’s order in stride.

The guy tips his chin and the herd around us starts to scatter like mice on a threat.

I roll my eyes and make a move to turn, but I’m flanked by the three before I can.

“You made a mistake, girl.” This comes from the dirty-blond.

“I don’t disagree. I mean, I’m here after all.”

The tall, dark-haired one, the big, boss man, I’ve decided, says nothing, but his intensity has the hairs on the back of my neck standing to attention.

“You’ll learn quick,” the groper warns. “We don’t put up with this type of shit—”

A humorless laugh escapes before I can stop it and all three of their pretty little heads tug back. I take a step closer. “I’ll learn?” I mock, popping a brow like a brat. “Touch me like you did again, and I’ll burn your sweet ride to the ground, you might even be in it when I do. Maybe then you’ll learn.” I flutter my eyelashes like a floozy, pulling on a man’s upper hand by deeming the one that hangs between his legs. “A girl needs a little lead-up.”

“Bitch—”

The big man raises a hand to cut him off and I swear his stare burns through those blackout lenses and into mine. Adrenaline bursts with each passing second, but annoyance wins and has my anger flaring.

Not a word is spoken, but as if all inner connected, the three turn and stomp away simultaneously. Groper, though, makes sure to throw a few glares over his shoulder.

“You’re so screwed.”

I spin to find the same girl standing off to the side, hidden by the shadow of the overgrown trees. “And you’re nosy.” I walk past her, but she catches up.

“Well, yeah but that’s beside the point. And you’re crazy if you think I was the only one watching. They all were.”

“Then maybe you all need to find something better to do.” As soon as I step off the school grounds, I stop to lean against a tree, pulling apart the worn rubber of my tattered pleather boots and slide my pre-roll out.

“Did you just pull a joint from the side of your shoe?”

“I wasn’t sure if they’d search me or not.” I shrug then wink. “And a blunt wouldn’t fit.”

She laughs and grabs it when I pass it her way.

When she stays at my side past the first two blocks, I skim her over from the faded black cargos and old band T-shirt. Not that it couldn’t be what she’d chose to wear on her own, but something tells me she’s headed where I am.

“You’re Raven Carver, aren’t you?”

I face forward with a frown.

“Sorry, but Maybell told me you were coming today. I didn’t think you’d be at school already, but usually the only new kids who come are people from the home.”

“Yeah, well, I wasn’t exactly given an option so, here I am.”

“Are you gonna run?”

I laugh lightly, shifting my eyes to hers. “Nah. I’ve got nowhere to be. Now I’m stuck in the system ‘til I’m eighteen anyway, so fuck it. May as well cruise through.”

“Those guys back there, you need to be careful. They’re... not like most high schoolers. People around here listen to them, follow their every move.”

So those are the guys the chick was referring to this morning.

“What you did today? They won’t allow that without getting you back. They can’t.” She shakes her head.

“I keyed his Denali.” I shrug. “Big fucking deal.”

The girl stops, her eyes widening. “Yeah, you got that part right. It is a ‘big fucking deal.’ If they let some nobody, new girl like you – no offense – openly disrespect them like that, it’ll threaten their entire system.”

“System.”

“Yeah. System. They’re a big deal around here, and not just at the school. You either kneel at their feet or get stomped under them. They’ll make sure you’re shamed, one way or another.”

We make our way up the dirt driveway. “He disrespected me first. If there’s one thing I know about guys, it’s if you let them walk all over you, they’ll take pleasure in doing it.”

The girl steps ahead, pulling open the screen door as she looks back at me. “If there’s one thing I know about the boys of Brayshaw, it’s that they’ll destroy anything that threatens to mess up their vision. Watch out, Raven. Your little stunt today may have gotten the guys you’re used to off your back, but for these guys? All you did was paint the mark brighter.”

I raise a black brow and she scowls at me.

“A target from them means a target from all their followers,” she spits.

Right. “Let me guess... you’re a follower?”

This time it’s her who pops an eyebrow. “Welcome to Brayshaw High.”