“Our punishments aren’t cruel; we mete out justice in equal measure to suit the crime. Have you done something that would warrant being punished by The Elite?” I ask.

“No,” she cries. “I haven’t done anything. The school year only started yesterday and I didn’t see anyone but Court all summer.”

“If you haven’t done anything to break the rules, why would you think I’m punishing you?” I ask, genuinely curious why she’s so determined not to believe this is real.

“Seriously,” she deadpans. “I’m me and you’re you. Even if we disregard the differences in our socioeconomic status, before yesterday we’d never spoken to one another, I’d never even glanced in your direction for longer than a second. You’re an Elite and a senior, and I’m an antisocial outcast sophomore. This,” she motions between the two of us, “Doesn’t make any sense, ergo, this must be a trick, or a punishment, or hell, maybe it’s a bet. Whatever. I just think that enough is enough; you’ve had your fun, I’m thoroughly humiliated and humbled.”

“I’m not punishing you, little bird.”

We’re outside now and her friend is waiting with Evan, but I ignore them, taking Starling’s chin between my fingers and lifting it up, forcing her to look at me. “This isn’t a trick, a game, a bet or a punishment. I’ve wanted you since I saw you last year, but you were a freshman and completely off-limits, even to me. I’ve waited a full year to touch you, kiss you and tell the whole fucking world you’re mine. I won’t ever be cruel to you, unless you force my hand. You’re mine and when we graduate, we’ll name you Elite so you’ll be protected, I look after the things that belong to me.”

Her pupils are blown wide and her full pouty lips are damp, the bottom red from the way she’s nibbling at it as she stares at me. “I just want to be invisible; I don’t want to be seen or protected, I’m happy just being ignored.”

“The time for hiding has passed, you’re a queen now, better get used to it.” I smile, turning her toward Courtney and slapping her ass hard, propelling her forward as Clay saunters over to me, staying at my side as I watch Starling and Courtney walk away.

“Hate to see them go, love to watch them walk away,” Clay whistles.

“You better not be looking at my woman’s ass,” I spit.

“Nah, bro, my eyes are on the talkative cheerleader’s ass. That fucking uniform never looked so good before. If I could gag her to shut her up, she’d be the perfect fucking woman.”

“I thought you preferred feisty Latina girls? Courtney couldn’t be any more WASP if she tried.”

“She’s a cheerleader, she can bend like a fucking pretzel, imagine all the possibilities,” Clay says with a wistful sigh.

“You can do whatever the fuck you want to her now she’s a sophomore, you know the rules as well as I do. But she’s not sixteen for a couple of months and you’ll be eighteen soon, you know your parents would kill you if there was a scandal about you fucking an underage girl.”