Elite (Empire High, #2)

by Ivy Smoak

To all the girls out there who think their voices are too small to be heard. You’re braver than you know. Don’t give anyone the satisfaction of silencing you.

“Don’t worry, Sanders!” Rob yelled. A car honked. “We’re coming to save you!”

Matthew Caldwell loved me. For just a second, my heart didn’t feel so broken.

I think we have something more important to do than first period. Don’t leave me hanging. I can only steal James’ car one more time before he completely loses it.

“I’ll never hurt your heart. You’re my forever, Brooklyn.” He smiled up at me.

I was his girlfriend right here right now, but I wouldn’t be at school later today. He’d keep his love for me hidden.

He smiled down at me. “It also helped that you ran into the boy’s restroom.” “I what?” I pulled out of his arms and spotted the urinals for the first time. “Oh my God, what is wrong with me?” “Not a single thing.”

“It’s okay, Rob,” I said. “No need to worry about keeping it a secret.” I shoved my notebook into my backpack. “Because Matt and I are done.” “Brooklyn!” Matt hissed as I stood up.

“Okay, but you should call Matt when you get a chance. He’s kind of…losing it. He stopped by about an hour ago and he looked awful.”

“How old are you?” The words tumbled out of my mouth before I could stop them. “Older than you.” He resumed eating, like that was a suitable answer. But before I could question it, he beat me with a question of his own. “So what didn’t he do?” Miller asked.

“For the record, a guy who doesn’t stick up for you isn’t someone who’s worth your time.”

“Oh, she threatened to have him killed,” Mr. Pruitt said like it was nothing. “You too I presume. But she knows the rules. She’s not allowed to escalate anything to homicide.

He was protective of me, despite the fact that he swore he only just found out about me. He treated me like I belonged. And he was trying hard to get to know me.

I stared at the empty table. I’d been right all along. I didn’t belong in their world. I didn’t want to be an Untouchable. And I didn’t want to be with someone like Matt.

“I loved her. But she never would have fit into this world. I know you don’t want to be here. I know all this isn’t you. But please try. Please be patient with my wife and Isabella. I don’t want to lose you too. You’re all I have left of her.”

“I’ll make you feel less alone whenever you want. I’ll let you see your friends. I’ll stop checking every room you walk into if that’s what you want. I’ll let you eat my ice cream and borrow my phone. I’ll give you the code so you can sneak out whenever you want. But don’t ask me to let you spend the night when I know you’re in love with someone else.”

I didn’t want their life. I wanted a little house in Delaware with a yellow kitchen. I didn’t want to be Untouchable. I just wanted to be loved.

“I loved your mom because she was everything I could never have. She didn’t care what people thought of her. She was beautiful inside and out. She was honest. She was…happy.”

“I made one mistake, Brooklyn. I should have told James right away, but I was being stupid. Isabella got under my skin. But that doesn’t mean I’m not allowed to be happy. That doesn’t mean you aren’t my forever. You are my forever. I know you are.”