Chapter 3

Sarah

I had a lot of catching up to do. I had to go home early yesterday to rest and had missed three classes. I copied a fellow student's papers at campus university. I had to give him twenty dollars for it. Since I had no friends, I had to do it.

I had crawled into a small corner of the library and started writing everything down neatly on my paper.

I had one of my headphones in my ear and was listening to music while I tried to ignore the commotion here. As if everyone had to go to the library two weeks after the semester started and were fighting for seats.

"Sarah ..."

"What do you want from me? If mom sent you, I'm busy, I'll write to her when I come back," I mumbled and continued to look at my paper. Ace never spoke to me before, what did he want now?

But instead of leaving, Ace Taylor just stood next to me and watched me write on my paper.

I rolled my eyes and packed everything up calmly, whereupon I pulled the chair back further than I had gotten up.

"There, if you need a place to sit, old man," I said to him, grabbing my jacket from the back of the chair and heading towards the exit. But he grabbed my arm and pulled me back. "What do you want, Ace?" I asked him. He looked at me sharply and took a deep breath. So deep that I felt like he was breathing in my scent. "Do you like Ezra?" he asked me quietly.

I looked at him for a long time. Because it just didn't occur to me who Ezra was.

"Who?" I asked him seriously.

"Ezra Brown," he said slowly.

"Brown," I mumbled.

"Davis Knight?"

"Isn't that your friend you hang out with?"

"They're both my friends. We're the Kings of the North Side," he let go of my arm and ran his hand through his thick brown hair.

"Why would I like your friends? They're the ones who keep asking me for my number. Thanks for never giving it to them," I said quietly. "Can I go?"

"Why aren't you in a fraternity?" he asked me coldly. Ice dripped from his voice. He was always like that to me. Ice cold. "I'm more of a loner," I murmured. He came closer and closer to me and I bumped into a bookcase. He put his hand on my waist. "Tell me little sister," his lips were close to my ear. His black hoodie, which was loose, touched my arm lightly.

"Did you really apply for the lady position for the South Kings? Tell me it's not true and they were just trying to set me up." I looked at him in shock. "Lady? You mean the position as king's whore?" His expression darkened. Of course he must have a lady too, or were the North Kings still looking for one? "Exactly." I shook my head. "In such a way I won't let myself sink to a level."

"Your mother has fallen too," he hissed.

"Your parents were separated for years before my mum married your dad. I understand that you have a problem with that. I have my problems with that too."

"Well, your level isn't so high that you could fall. The Queen, as she is now after graduation, has the highest rank here; no other girl is above her."

I look at him for a long time. "Just because she spreads her legs for three men at the same time?"

"Because," he said sharply. "She controls three men at the same time and, if she's seductive enough, she also controls them. Some even marry each other and go out into the world as a strong couple."

"That doesn't change the fact that she fucks three men at the same time."

"You're too short-sighted. You don't look into the distance," he snorts.

"Oh really? Since you're so talkative today. What do you think is foresight? Oh great mighty Northside King?"

He laughed. He really laughed. I had never heard that before. He was always serious and cold. Unapproachable like me. I looked at him in surprise.

"The Kings are like brothers and they have to concentrate on the big things. Collect the most points. Win fights. Then arguments like this about who fucks which woman are inferior. So we'll choose one and push our fraternity forward."

"I'm not interested in political games. When you're done with the politics lesson, Ace. I'd like to go."

"Do that," he stepped aside and let me go.

"Thank you."

He nodded at me and let me go.