Finally, Jace speaks, “Bianca, I get what you’re saying, but we still have to do something. What they did was…extreme.”

Cole nods in agreement. “I don’t care how much of a bitch you were to them in the past, it doesn’t warrant them attacking you the way they did. For fuck’s sake, you need crutches to get around. You couldn’t defend yourself even if you wanted to.”

“Which is exactly why they did it,” Dylan whispers, appearing deep in thought. “They wanted to strike while she was down.”

Sawyer huffs out an irritated breath. “Which means this wasn’t an impulsive mistake that got out of hand.” Her face scrunches up. “It was calculated.”

Cole rubs his forehead. “Man, who knew girls could be so damn vindictive.”

Sawyer and Dylan give him a look as if to say, ‘Duh.’

Dad holds up his phone. “I’m going to have them all arrested for assault and put behind bars.” Sadness flickers in his eyes. “Sweetheart, I know I haven’t always…” His voice trails off and he tries again. “I need to make sure you’re safe and those girls pay for what they did to you.”

Jace’s expression softens and for once he’s not looking at our father like he’s dirt on the bottom of his shoes.

“Hold on,” I say as the thought occurs to me. “I think I have a better solution.”

If Caitlyn and the rest of the cheerleaders want me gone and the entire school has a preconceived notion of me because of how I was…maybe, it’s best I go someplace new.

This way, this Bianca can have a fresh start and not be judged for what she did and how she treated people in the past.

“I want to change schools.”

Jace and Dad exchange a perplexed glance.

“Why?” Cole questions. “All your friend—” I can see the exact moment it dawns on him. “Right.”

Dad shakes his head. “Absolutely not. Royal Hearts Academy is a very prestigious school. One that looks spectacular on college applications. I’m not letting these girls ruin your future.”

Jace shrugs. “Plus, the only school you’d be able to transfer to is Royal Manor High.”

“And trust me, you don’t want to go there. That place is full of gangs and thugs from the bad side of town.” Cole narrows his eyes. “Not to mention their football team sucks balls.”

It’s all I can do not to roll my eyes.

“I was at RHA for four hours and got jumped in the bathroom,” I remind them. “Besides, going someplace new would give me a fresh start—”

“No,” Dad argues. “It’s out of the question.”

Agitated, I fall against the hospital bed. It’s clear he’s not going to budge without a fight, and I’ve had enough fighting for one day.

“I still don’t want them arrested—” I start to say until I remember something Caitlyn said to me. “The accident…”

I can’t even bring myself to say the words.

Jace’s brows pinch. “What’s wrong?”

The muscles in my back tighten as I force in a shaky breath. “Did someone die?”

Jace exhales sharply and takes a step in my direction, approaching me like I’m a bomb that’s about to go off at any minute. “Where did you hear that?”

I tell him the truth. “Caitlyn. She said my…” I pause because I’m still trying to wrap my head around it. Then again, nothing about my former life surprises me anymore, so I guess it’s not entirely out of the question. “She said my lesbian lover died in the accident.”

Needless to say, everyone is speechless.

Including me, because I don’t recall anything about this girl.

Jace clamps his mouth shut, like he’s trying to decide the right words to say.

I look to Cole for answers, but he’s locked up tight too.

I try Sawyer next, but she looks down at her feet.

“Can someone please tell me what happened.”

“We don’t really know,” Jace responds after another minute passes. “We weren’t there.”

Understandable, but they still have to know more than I do. “But you all know what happened after, right?” I press a hand to my quivering belly. “Did she…did she die?”

Lines strain along Cole’s mouth, like he’s trying his hardest not to speak. I silently plead with him to tell me the truth because after pretending to be Liam, he owes me that much.

“Hayley didn’t make it,” he finally whispers.

Despite the fact that the name isn’t one I can recall, my heart spirals with grief.

Another death.

I’m starting to feel like there’s a bad omen over my head and whoever I love is destined to meet the grim reaper.

“Oh, my God.”

My head whirls. I can’t take it anymore.

“I know everything sucks right now,” Jace says, pulling me close. “But we’re all here for you.”

For how long?

How long before they end up dead too?

I don’t even bother wiping my tears away.

I just let them fall.

What’s the point of living when everyone I care about dies?

Jace looks at our dad. “On second thought, maybe a fresh start isn’t such a bad idea.”

Dad’s expression is solemn. “I’ll take care of it.”

Chapter 13

If I thought Jace was overprotective dropping me off at RHA for my first day, it’s nothing compared to the way he is when he drops me off at Royal Manor High.

Only this time, he’s not with Dylan.

He’s with Cole.

And the both of them are driving me nuts.

“Don’t talk to anyone,” Jace says. “I don’t care if they seem nice.”

I want to remind him that it will be hard for me to make new friends that way, but then Cole says, “If anyone offers you drugs, don’t take them.”

Good grief. They can’t be serious.

“Say no to drugs,” I mutter. “Got it.”

“If someone tries to get you someplace alone,” Jace grunts, his hand tightening around the steering wheel. “Run away because it’s a trap.”

“But not before kicking them in the balls.” Cole flicks his gaze to me. “Because you never know. They could be sex trafficking.”

My mouth drops open. “Are you two done yet?”

Jace pulls into an empty spot and cuts the engine. “No.” He turns around to face me. “I got you something.”

“What?”

He pulls a metal object out of his pocket. A second later a small blade pops up.

I glare at him in disbelief. “You got me a knife?”

“A pocket knife,” he corrects. “Keep it on you for protection.”

I look around. Aside from everyone being dressed in regular street clothes and the faint sound of rap music blaring in the distance, it looks exactly like the Royal Hearts Academy parking lot.

Ergo, I’m no less safe here than I was there.

I adjust my backpack and grab my crutches. “I’m not carrying a knife.”

Not taking no for an answer, Jace slips it into my purse. “Just in case.”