Ever After (East Raven Academy Book 1) Read online

“I suppose,” she answers. “Mostly, everybody is from the East Coast, but there’s one girl from Northern California. Last year we had a transfer student from China, which was pretty awesome. Everybody was bummed when the semester was over and he had to go back home. And Dawson Roland is from London. His accent is so sexy.”

  I laugh, thinking that Teagan reminds me of Charlie’s ex-girlfriend.

  Charlie dated this girl for a few months who was kind of my friend—well, at least while she dated him. We would hang out and go to the mall, or to the movies, a couple of times a week, and she loved to talk about other guys. There was hardly ever a guy we saw that she didn’t comment on—good or bad. I liked her, but that kind of got on my nerves. I was glad when Charlie finally dumped her, because she was not good enough for him, but I did miss her friendship afterwards.

  “Do you have a boyfriend back home?” Tegan asks, as we enter the student center.

  “No,” I answer.

  “Not even a boy you were interested in?”

  “Not really,” I answer, shrugging my shoulder.

  Because there’s not.

  I mean, there were plenty of attractive guys, just none I would consider dating. I find high school boys to be a bit immature.

  “What about you?” I ask.

  “No boyfriend, but I am talking to a few guys. Nothing serious,” she says. “There is this one boy who goes here that I’ve crushed on since freshman year, but we’re just friends.”

  “It sucks to be in the friend zone, but once you guys finally start dating, you’ll be glad for the time you spend just getting to know one another.”

  “You’re right,” Teagan says, grinning at me. “I like your optimism.”

  I have to admit, it’s rather hard to be optimistic when you’re whole life has been torn away from you. Right now, I am living a lie, and it’s hard not to be a little depressed about it.

  We walk into the auditorium. There are probably about one hundred people sitting, already. All juniors and seniors.

  East Raven Academy is a pretty small school of about three hundred and fifty people.

  As I follow Teagan up the bleachers, I can’t help but wonder if I will make friends with any of these people. I certainly hope so. I don’t have a lot of friends back home. Except Charlie. People tend to not like me. They think I’m a snob, but really, I’m just not good at talking. I’m shy. And, okay, maybe a little sarcastic. But I make a good friend. Maybe I will make a friend here.

  We take a seat by some boys. They both smile at Teagan when she sits down, and seem genuinely happy to see her.

  “Hey, guys,” she says.

  She sounds so cheerful when she says it.

  “This is my roommate, Phoenix Underwood,” she tells them, motioning towards me.

  It shocks me for a second to hear Underwood. I’m so used to hearing Phoenix Black.

  “Sup,” one boy says, nodding his head at me. “I’m Jason Thorton, but everybody calls me Thor.”

  “Not everybody,” Teagan says.

  Jason, or Thor, whatever his name is, ironically, has blond hair and blue eyes. Though, he looks nothing like the fictional comic book character. He’s super skinny and really tall. He has a little bit of muscle, but I’m pretty sure I could take him in a fight. He’s cute in a nerdy kind of way.

  “I’m Ian Starling,” the black haired boy next to him says, extending his hand.

  Ian is cute. His dark brown eyes are so big, and he has long lashes... the kind most girls would kill for. He’s got a great smile and, of course, really white teeth.

  I shake his hand, thinking it feels weird to shake the hand of somebody my age.

  “Estaine Rinaldi,” the last boy says.

  Estaine?

  What kind of name is Estaine?

  But then again, what kind of name is Phoenix. Rich people name their kids weird things.

  Estaine gets up and moves to the spot on the other side of me.

  Uh. Why?

  “So, what brings you to East Raven Academy?” Estaine asks, as he sits down beside me.

  Estaine is definitely the most attractive of the three boys. He’s got dark brown hair and gray eyes that have tiny flecks of blue in them. His skin is tanned, and I can tell he must have spent a lot of time outdoors this summer.

  “My uncle sent me here because I got kicked out of my old school,” I answer.

  Uh, I sound like such a rebel. Maybe I am a rebel. But I don’t get caught. I’m a good rebel. And I only rebel against rules I think are stupid.

  “Kicked out for what?” Estaine asks, grinning at me.

  He’s intrigued by me. Which is good, I guess. Maybe I will make friends after all.

  “I hacked the school’s computer system. I made it so everybody could go on social media sites from the school computers—undetected,” I answer. “It’s funny, because the school still hasn’t figured out how to get the program off the computers. I would have never gotten caught if people had kept their mouths shut.”

  If I’m going to lie about my past, I’m going to at least make it fun.

  “That’s awesome,” he says. “You are, seriously, one amazing chick.”

  I smile at him.

  He thinks I’m amazing.

  I wish I could think of something cool to say back, but I’m lame.

  Teagan is talking to the other two boys and laughing about something. I wish I could be carefree like her.

  My phone vibrates, so I pull it out.

  I love cell phones. Mostly because of situations like this. Where I’m surrounded by people I don’t know, and I have no clue what to say. Being social is hard.

  CHARLIE: What could I do that would get me in enough trouble that my dad would send me to school with you?

  “Is Charlie your boyfriend?” Estaine asks, looking at my phone.

  I lock my screen so he can’t see the texts. I have no idea what else Charlie and I have texted to each other, but just in case, I don’t need him to see anything he shouldn’t see. “Snoop much?”

  “Just curious.”

  “Charlie is my brother. Stepbrother. His dad married...” I stop abruptly.

  Crap.

  I’m not supposed to have a stepbrother. Just an uncle and a cousin.

  “It’s good you get along,” Estaine says.

  I smile, and try not to look like I’m freaking out, but I am. I’m freaking out badly. Uncle Matty and Jake are going to kill me.

  Maybe I won’t have to tell them. Maybe I can just pretend I never spoke a word about Charlie, and then lie my way out of the situation, if I have to.

  Yeah, that will work.

  The lights dim slightly as a middle aged man steps up to the podium. I recognize the guy as Derek Raven. He is the dean of the school, and also one of the few people in this place who knows my real identity. He is the one who approved me coming.

  “Welcome back to East Raven Academy,” he says. “Or, if you’re new, welcome. We here at East Raven Academy take pride in our values and traditions. Our school is home to...”

  Estaine distracts me from the speech. “We’re all hanging out at the docks after curfew tonight. You should come and hang.”

  “After curfew?” I ask. “How do I get out after curfew?”

  “The window,” he answers. “Teagan can help you. She’s been sneaking out for two years now.”

  “Right,” I say.

  I pick up on the last of what the dean says.

  “…fire marshal.”

  Fire marshal?

  Oh, my gosh. What kind of school am I going to? Seriously.

  I look at Estaine. “Did somebody set fire to the school?”

  “Yeah, it’s a long story,” he says. “But basically, when I was a freshman, a bunch of the senior guys decided to put a few bottle rockets in the fireplace in the guy’s dorm. It was epic.”

  Well, maybe my original idea of wanting to pretend to be an arsonist isn’t as bad as what Uncle Matty made it out to be. I could come up with a
story way more epic than bottle rockets.

  “You guys are crazy.”

  “Crazy brilliant,” he says. “But they check out dorms more often, now. I think they’re worried somebody will bring fireworks again.”

  “I bet.”

  4pm.

  The details aren’t important.

  After orientation, I decide to text Charlie back. We have a couple of hours until dinner, and Teagan is taking a nap. I’m too wired to sleep.

  ME: Pretty sure you could light your school on fire and your father would find a way to get you out of trouble.

  What is up with me and fire today?

  CHARLIE: You’re probably right. It’s rough being the only child ;)... really, the only child now that you’re gone.

  CHARLIE: How goes it?

  ME: I’m in purgatory, aka, prep school. How do you THINK it goes?

  CHARLIE: Your optimism never ceases to amaze me.

  Funny. Earlier Teagan called me optimistic.

  I think Charlie disagrees.

  ME: Excuse me, for not being all sunshine and rainbows. I was kind of sent here against my will.

  CHARLIE: Feel sorry for me. I’m here without you.

  ME: Yes. Let’s feel sorry for you. You have freedom. Friends. And the Pacific Ocean out your back door. Me, what do I have? Rules. A curfew. Walls to keep me inside. Zero friends. And a FANTASTIC view of some trees. I see your point.

  CHARLIE: LOL. Cheer up, buttercup. It’ll get better. I promise.

  ME: I doubt that, but thanks.

  ME: I miss you.

  CHARLIE: I miss you, more.

  I highly doubt that.

  I put my phone down, not wanting to text anymore. It’s making me depressed.

  My phone starts vibrating and I look down to see who is calling.

  Estaine Rinaldi.

  How do I even have his number?

  “Hello,” I answer, trying to keep my voice low so I don’t wake up Teagan.

  “Phoenix, hey,” Estaine says.

  “How did you get my number? And better yet, how did your contact info get into my phone?”

  “The details aren’t important,” he says. I can hear him smiling over the phone, and it’s kind of hard to be mad at him for touching my phone when he sounds so happy. “A bunch of the guys decided to play a fun game of tackle football, and I think you need to come watch.”

  “Yeah, and why would I do that?” I ask.

  Maybe I’m flirting just a little bit.

  Just because I don’t want to be at East Raven does not mean that I can’t try to have fun while I’m here. Maybe I will make some friends through all of this.

  “Because, maybe I want to impress you with my mad football playing skills,” he says.

  He’s flirting back.

  OMG.

  He’s flirting back!

  Stay calm.

  “Fine. I’ll come. But you’d better win.”

  “Absolutely,” Estaine says. “See you soon.”

  “Bye,” I say, ending the call.

  “Who was that?” Teagan asks, scaring me.

  “Sorry,” I say. “Did I wake you?”

  “No,” she answers. “I was just hoping I could go back to sleep. I wasn’t ready to open my eyes, yet.”

  “Oh, well, that was Estaine,” I say. “I think a bunch of the guys are playing football. Want to come watch with me?”

  “Sure,” she says, jumping out of bed.

  Teagan and I start walking towards the football field together.

  The campus here is huge, but it’s laid out well. Most places we go aren’t too long of a walk, but either way, it’s nice to get in some exercise. In California, I had to drive if I wanted to go anywhere.

  “You and Estaine sounded like you were flirting,” Teagan says, raising her eyebrows suggestively.

  “Shut up,” I say, in a joking tone.

  “He’s cute,” she says.

  “He is,” I say.

  “And he’s single.”

  “I’m not... and he’s...” I let out a sigh. “I just met the guy today. Give me a break.”

  She laughs. “Fine. I’m just saying; if you ever are interested, he’s a good one.”

  “Has he had a lot of girlfriends?” I ask.

  “Nah,” she answers. “He dated Lindsay during freshman year, for a few months, but that’s it.”

  “Who is Lindsay?”

  “Oh, she doesn’t go here anymore,” Teagan says. “She got in trouble and is now at boarding school somewhere in Europe.”

  “Jealous. Why couldn’t my pare... uh... uncle have sent me to boarding school in Europe,” I say.

  “I know, right?” she says. “All those European accents. Seriously, all I want in life is a boyfriend who is taller than I am, and has a super sexy accent. Is that too much to ask for?”

  I laugh. “How tall are you, anyway?”

  “Five-eleven,” she answers. “I’m freakishly tall, I know. I was taller than all the guys, until recently. Some of them are catching up.”

  “I don’t think I could date a guy shorter than me,” I say. “I mean, maybe if I really liked the guy. But it’d be so weird.”

  “Agree,” she says. “Plus, all my brothers are, like, six-five and up. A guy shorter than they are would be super intimidated.”

  “How many brothers do you have?” I ask.

  “Four. They’re all older. My mom had me when she was in her early forties. She told me that she had to try for a girl one more time, but I honestly think my parents didn’t mean to have me,” she says, laughing. “What about you? Any siblings?”

  I want to tell her about my stepbrother, Charlie. And I want to tell her how excited I am that my dad and stepmom are having a baby soon. But I can’t.

  “No. My parents died when I was young,” I tell her. “I was raised by my uncle. I have my cousin, Jake. He’s six years older than I am, though. He just graduated from college.”

  “Sorry about your parents.”

  “I didn’t know them,” I say. “They died when I was a baby.”

  “Still, it’s got to be hard not knowing them. I mean, sure you have stories from your uncle, or whatever, but it’s not the same,” she says. “I can’t imagine.”

  I can’t imagine, either. I love my parents, and hate having to lie to her about this.

  We get down to the football field, which is full of guys.

  All the guys at this school are ridiculously attractive.

  Hello, boarding school.

  Maybe it won’t be so bad here.

  When Estaine spots us walking onto the field, he runs over to us.

  “Hey,” he says. “We’re just about to get started.”

  “Awesome,” I say, because I don’t know what else to say.

  “I need some motivation to win,” Estaine says. “How about, if I win, you hang out with me tonight. At the docks.”

  “Okay. Sure.”

  He grins, and then runs back towards his teammates.

  I turn to walk towards the stands and see Teagan smiling at me.

  “What?” I ask.

  “You totally have a crush on him,” she says.

  “I do not,” I say, but I’m pretty sure my face is red. “Honestly, he’s kind of cute.”

  Estaine looks like he stepped out of an Abercrombie ad. Even now, when he’s a little sweaty from playing football and his hair is slightly messed up, he’s adorable. Or, maybe it’s his soft grey eyes that I like. There is no denying that the boy is gorgeous.

  “He is cute,” Teagan says. “Like, the second cutest boy in the school.”

  “And who is the first cutest?” I ask.

  She grins. “You’ll have to figure it out on your own.”

  “Right,” I say. “So who is the cutest girl?”

  “Me, of course,” she says, completely in a joking tone.

  But she’s probably right.

  Teagan is beautiful. Charlie would love her.

  I open my mouth
to tell her I want her to meet my stepbrother, then I close it again. Phoenix Underwood doesn’t have any siblings. Phoenix Black does. But Phoenix Black doesn’t exist anymore.

  7pm.

  Start over.

  The dining hall is nice, as is the food, surprisingly. Even at my old private school in Malibu, the food was just... meh. But here, there are a ton of food options to choose from; but as soon as I see the sushi bar, my mind is made up on what I want.

  “This school is awesome,” I tell Teagan, as we walk to a table.

  I’m so glad she is letting me sit with her. I can’t imagine trying to find a place to sit if I was alone.

  “It’s definitely got its perks,” she says. “But we don’t get sushi every day. Just every Friday.”

  Still, it’s awesome.

  Teagan got pizza. The pizza looks good, but Charlie and I had pizza all the time at home. It was our Friday night tradition. Order a pizza and hang out. We’d either watch a movie, or play some pool. In the summer, we’d swim in the pool. I miss those times with my brother, and wonder what he’s going to be doing tonight, now that I’m here.

  Teagan sits down at a table with Estaine and the other two boys I met at orientation. Jason and Ian, I think.

  “Hot new girl,” Jason, or Thor, says to me as we sit down. “Hi.”

  I ignore him.

  “Hey, Phoenix,” Estaine says.

  “Hi,” I say to him.

  “You talk to him but ignore me?” Jason says, putting a hand over his heart. “That hurts. And here I thought you were going to be my bae.”

  I hate the word bae. It’s supposed to be a term of endearment, but it’s so overused.

  “I’d rather not be anybody’s bae,” I say.

  Jason grins. “Too bad. I already decided that you’re my bae. You and I are gonna be tight.”