Blood Money (1) | The Inheritance Games

"There were flashing lights, at least I had the decency to keep my nights out of sight. Only rumours bout my hips and thighs and my whispered sighs, oh, Lord, I think about jumping off of very tall somethings, just to see you come running and say the one thing I've been wanting, but no."

I see Avery sheepishly treading down the halls at school. I don't struggle to make pace with her, even when she was originally an entire hallway ahead from me. 

"Did you see the news about her Dad?" A girl murmurs as she passes. I see the way it affects Avery, the way she tenses up and her body goes rigid. Her Father just made headlines by stating that all he wanted was his daughter back. 

"Did you see the news I shoved my fist so far up your ass it came out your mouth?" I call back over my shoulder with a false gasp of shock the way her friend had at her original statement. 

It causes a few people nearby to either snort, stare or 'oooh' as if expecting a fight. I keep walking, slipping an arm around Avery. "Don't listen to them. That blonde one's jealous of anyone without a present Father because hers refused to buy her veneers." I snort, hoaxing a small chuckle from Avery. 

"How's life Grambsy? You get that cat video I sent your way?" I wink playfully, she laughs, stopping when we reach her locker and opening it. "Which one?" She asks before completely freezing with fear. 

Lockers at Heights Country Day don't have locks. It's a stupid and pretentious way of saying 'rich people don't steal' which may be so, but rich people are also snooping ass holes. That's why I bought a padlock for my locker. Sure it stands out, but I'd rather be the girl with the padlock on her locker than the girl with her stuff open to anyone's inquisitive minds.

I furrow my brows, anticipating an explanation. Avery cracks the door open a little more for me to see. It's a picture of her Father, cut out the newspaper. 

"I wouldn't worry-" I start before she reaches a hand into her locker. At the bottom of her locker is a pile of cut up scraps of paper. I sigh, stepping aside and calling Oren. As I do so, I watch Avery intently look over each scrap, then read text from one over her shoulder. 

"They're comments." I tell Oren with realization. 

Each slip of paper is a different nasty and hurtful comment, and Avery reads each and every one before I notice and tell her to stop. 

When Oren gets here he asks Avery and I to step aside while he assess the scenario. 

"It's nothing. Just some jealous loser. People are cruel, I really wouldn't bat an eye. But.. do me a favour and ask Oren to see the list." I mutter to Avery in thought. "What list?" She hums. "Just ask him for 'the list' he'll know what you mean. It's a list of everyone that might have reason to hurt you. We all have one." I say with a shrug. 

"Who's on your list?" Avery asks. I think about it for a second, "You know, I've actually never seen it." I realize. 

Oren reproaches us, then nods for me to leave them. I give Avery's arm a quick squeeze and continue on down the corridors. 

In the corridor outside my next class, a large figure is slumped against a locker like a sack of potatoes. 

"Noah?" I scoff, jogging to his side and inspecting his posture, or therefore lack of. 

"Hm?" He mumbles, looking disoriented. "Is he drunk?" Oren asks, walking Avery to her next class and stopping when he saw what I saw. 

"Are you? Fuck you mean 'is he drunk?' Have you met Noah?" I scoff. Oren hums and keeps walking, but the second he's gone I grab Noah and hiss to him. "Are you drunk?"