Wow, I'm so sorry about the long wait! I'm finally out of school for the summer, and my schedule has lightened considerably. Thank you for your patience! Let's jump in!

Thank you to Mel for the beta work!

TWELVE

Edward

"You should never ask anyone for anything. Never—and especially from those who are more powerful than yourself."

― Mikhail Bulgakov

A couple of days passed before I got a chance to talk to New Girl again. She was good at pretending we'd never spoken before, almost too good at it.

It made me wonder if she would be one of the very few commoners to marry into the Sixteen.

It happened, perhaps once in a generation, if that. One of the families lower in the pecking order might take in a commoner that had been trained and groomed. Most buckled under the pressure of being part of the Sixteen, but a few rose to the occasion.

I wonder what New Girl would do.

My mind ran over the lower ranks of the Sixteen, wincing when I realized none of them would be interesting enough to keep New Girl entertained. She seemed like someone who thrived on a challenge, and those dweebs would never be able to stimulate her. She had more drive in her than those idiots, and she would be wasted on them.

Still, it was the only future I could see for someone like her.

I was taking morning runs, specifically because I knew she liked to sneak off to study in the early hours, and I wanted to give us the opportunity to cross each other's paths… in case she needed to ask questions or something.

But of course, those first few days, I barely saw her. Outside of class, she was like a ghost.

Then, one morning, I ran into her, quite literally, out on the grounds.

I was out for my morning jog, zoning out and trying to forget everything in and about my life. I didn't see her until I was tripping over her, because she was hunched over on the ground, writing in a notebook.

I willed myself not to shout as we tumbled to the ground, not wanting to draw attention from anyone inside the building.

"What the fuck is happening?" she screamed, seeming to not have nearly the same concerns I did.

I reached out to her, clapping a hand over her mouth to shut her the fuck up. Her eyes were wide and frantic as I yanked her body across the gravel and between two hedges where I was currently wedging myself. My ass slipped over the gravel, and I winced as it bit into me, but I needed to get us out of sight.

"Stop fighting me." I hissed when she started clawing at me. I got her between the hedges and finally let her go only to have her turn around and smack a hand against my shoulder. It didn't hurt, but it was surprising.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing?" she screeched.

"Keep your voice down or I'll gag you," I warned.

Her dark eyes narrowed. "Try it and you'll lose a finger."

I don't know what it was about her violence that amused me so much. Maybe it was because it was like being swatted by a kitten. Maybe I was just a masochist who needed a few threats in my life.

It was impossible to say.

"What the fuck are you doing out here?" I asked, settling my back against a hedge. To my surprise, she shifted, leaning next to me. I hoped we were out of view from inside the building.

"Burying a body," she deadpanned. I actually glanced down at the gravel before realizing she was fucking around. My eyes cut to her face in time to see her smirk. I rolled my eyes.

"I'd hope you were smart enough not to bury anything here," I said, shaking my head. "Not when we have a perfectly working incinerator on campus."

Her smile fell. "What?" she hissed, alarm in her eyes. It was satisfying riling her up.

"It's in the south wing. I think a few nerds use it to cook pottery."

When she realized I was fucking with her, she rolled her eyes and punched me in the shoulder again. She was too close to do any damage, and I let out a little chuckle. "You're violent," I noted.

"Violence doesn't count if you're on the defense," she said back, her tone light given the heaviness of her words. I considered that, weighing them in my mind. Was there ever a justifiable excuse for violence, like she'd implied? Or was it always bad?

She cleared her throat, and I blinked, pulling myself out of my sudden and unexpected philosophical reverie.

"Is it true?" she asked, and I glanced at her, confused.

"What?"

"That your parents own the world."

I swallowed hard, turning to look back toward the gardens. I could feel her eyes burning into the side of my head.

"Yes," I said after a minute. I didn't want to talk about it, and I found that now that I knew she knew, I was disappointed. I'd liked her better when she'd been dumb and oblivious.

She let out a breath. "I want more than a hundred dollars a day," she said quietly.

I barked out a surprised laugh, only barely remembering to keep it quiet. I turned to her to see her giving me a small, half smile.

"That was the most idiotic request I'd ever gotten," I told her.

She snorted. "Just goes to show how different our worlds are." She huffed. "I've never seen that kind of money."

This sobered me, remembering that she basically came from trash.

"What did you do?" I asked, glancing at her. "To get in here?"

She looked surprised at my question then shook her head, turning to the gardens. "I'm not sure," she said slowly. "I'm smart, and I was top of my class back home, but it never felt like enough. I kept pushing to do more, to be more."

"Only to end up here," I said quietly. I thought about the life that was likely ahead of her. She'd either donate her genetics and get paid so much she'd never have to work again, or she'd get lucky enough to marry in. Either way, her life was no longer her own. I wondered if she realized that.

I shook myself out of my thoughts, shifting to look at her. Even sitting side by side, I was taller than her. "Did you make any progress?"

She let out a breath. "Some," she said vaguely. "I'm working on it."

I wanted to ask, but I got the sense from her expression that she wouldn't tell me. That was fine, as long as she got somewhere.

I didn't want her knowing how desperate I was for the information, so I let it go, deciding to play it cool.

Never show your hand.

"The ball is coming up this weekend," I told her, letting out a breath. I was already bored just thinking about it. It really was too bad New Girl couldn't come. She would be like taking a bull to a china shop—bound to be entertaining.

"Where do I get into the archives?" she asked.

I shook my head. "The only entrance I know is off the headmaster's office."

"Fuck," she hissed. I nodded, wondering if she'd really be able to pull any of this off. Maybe I hadn't thought this through enough. "Okay," she grunted. "I'll take care of it."

I glanced at her. Her eyes were on the garden in front of us, but there was a stubborn, determined look on her face. She looked fierce. It was becoming apparent that New Girl threw herself full-heartedly into everything she did, and for a moment, I wondered what it would be like to care about something so much.

Then she looked up at me, and I blinked, turning away from her heart-shaped face.

"Is there anything else that I need to know?" she asked.

I thought about it. "If there is, I'll text you."

At this, I glanced at her to see her blush. I'd tried texting her, asking for updates this week, but she'd ignored every message.

"Sorry," she muttered, sounding unrepentant.

I rolled my eyes and shifted, ready to stand. As fun as it was to sit with her and chat, I had shit to do.

"Wait, Edward." She reached out, her hand landing on my arm. It was the first time she'd ever said my name. For some reason, that thought ricocheted through my mind, making me a little dizzy. "I need to know if I get caught or captured, or whatever the fuck else could happen…" Her mouth shut, and I watched her swallow before continuing. "If something should happen, will you have my back?"

It was one of those big questions, the kind where I wasn't even sure she understood all that she was asking for.

Loyalty.

It wasn't handed out amongst the Sixteen. It wasn't even earned. We were loyal to ourselves, to money, and power. That was it.

But here she was, asking for it, like it was nothing.

It was too high of a price. I'd give her all the money she wanted, but this? This I couldn't pay.

My silence must have been answer enough for her because I watched her swallow, and then her small warm hand slipped away from my arm.

She leaned back against the hedge, and I could almost watch her shut me out, hardening herself against my coldness.

It was for the best, I told myself as I got up. She shouldn't trust me. I had no loyalty.

"I'll see you later," I said quietly.

She was still curled up on the gravel, leaning back against the hedge. She nodded stiffly.

I wanted to say something more, but for once, I didn't know what to say. Instead, I let out a breath and stepped away from her.

"Edward," she said, and her voice was so quiet, I almost missed it. I looked back at her. "Thanks for the uniforms and the phone."

I swallowed, nodding once. Even though I'd just disappointed her, there was no mistaking the genuine tone of gratitude in her voice. Somehow, that made everything worse.

I turned on the path, jogging away from her.

I felt like a knife was digging into my gut, twisting deeper and deeper with each stride.

…

"Where have you been?"

I looked up as Rose came into the common room, throwing herself onto the sofa near me.

"What are you talking about?" I asked.

She motioned around. "I feel like I haven't seen you in days," she said. It was a weird thing to say. We literally spent hours together every day between meals and classes.

"What the fuck are you talking about?" I grunted. "Don't get clingy."

Rose rolled her eyes. "Don't be a bitch about it." She huffed. "You've just seemed preoccupied."

I swallowed. Fucking Rosalie was way more observant than I gave her credit for. "New pussy," I told her, shrugging one shoulder. "It'll distract even the best of men."

Rose snorted but thankfully seemed to accept my words.

"Are you bringing this new pussy to the ball?"

It was my turn to snort, and Rose grinned. "Don't be fucking insane." I grunted. "You know I'd never."

She nodded in agreement. "I thought about finding someone vulgar to bring, just for the entertainment." She sighed. "My parents will be there, you know."

I winced. It happened sometimes, that parents showed up at the balls. My parents didn't usually attend, but it didn't mean that they wouldn't now.

"Fuck," I said in response.

She nodded. "Maybe I can tell them I'm pregnant," she mused. "Really get things going for them."

I glanced at her, arching an eyebrow. Rose had both older and younger siblings, her spot wasn't guaranteed at all. But Rosalie Hale was the most ruthless person I'd ever met, and I had no doubt that no matter what shit she pulled and no matter how many other siblings she had that were qualified for it, she would get that top spot.

"I wouldn't mind watching good old Walter Hale have a conniption," I said, smirking. "Make sure I'm around before you tell him."

Rose snickered. "It'll be the most eventful thing to happen at one of these boring ass balls." She sighed.

I nodded in agreement.

"Hey," Rose said, looking at me. "I heard that you put a hit out on your new baby brother."

I blinked, surprised. "Is that what people are saying?" I mused.

Rose's eyebrows narrowed slightly. "Apparently, his security tripled this week."

I rolled my eyes. "I'm a couple of years away from getting that spot," I told her. "Why the fuck would I have to stoop to killing a kid to ensure it? I know I'm good enough without him," I lied.

Rose's sharp eyes searched my face. "You're certainly arrogant enough for it," she said after a moment. "And I'll be honest, I don't envy you."

I glanced at her. Everyone here had only one parent they had to impress, one parent they had to convince to give them the seat at the head of the family. I had two. That meant double the pressure, double the expectation, and twice as much to lose as anyone else. If I couldn't convince both of my parents I was good enough, I was done.

My mind flashed to New Girl, how I had foolishly pinned all my hopes on her being able to do an impossible task. She would fail, and I would become a puppet for my parents to manipulate until they decided whether or not I was worthy of power.

My future should have been bright and full of possibilities. At eighteen, I was supposed to have the whole world ahead of me. But all I could see were the strings wrapping tighter and tighter around me, stripping away my freedom and free will, binding me until I was left with nothing.

Until I was left as nothing.