The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy novel Chapter 239

“How do you know this shit,” Jackson mutters, shaking his head, letting himself be led.

“You handle kicking the shit out of the bad guys,” Jesse says, giving Jackson a broad grin. “I’ll handle the girls. Besides, Rafe and I reserve the right to yell at Ariel tonight. We’ve known her longer, we get first dibs. You come to breakfast at our place tomorrow before the train leaves – really give her a piece of your mind then.”

“If you say so,” Jackson sighs, his eyes moving upwards to the window he knows is hers – or, at least, the one closest to the nook in which she sleeps. There’s still a light on, which means she’s still up.

“Trust me, Jacks,” Jesse says, giving him a little squeeze, “I wouldn’t do you dirty. We’re friends now, after all. Best friends.”

“Don’t push it,” Jackson grumbles. But as the pair walk back into the castle Jackson has to admit…the whole friendship thing, it does have its perks. Even if it involves a lot more talking than he’d prefer.

“So, how’d you know?” Ben murmurs, sitting at the other end of the couch while I stretch my legs between us. He digs into his half-eaten third slice of cake with abandon.

“Benny, my love,” I sigh, lifting another forkful of chocolate icing to my mouth –

“You’d better be careful with that word –“ Ben says, pointing his fork at me with a wink. “Men have been beaten tonight for expressing lesser sentiments –“

“Oh, shut up,” I murmur, rolling my eyes and kicking him, which just makes him laugh. Ben - he’s really been an angel over the past hour or so, cajoling and teasing and being sweet to me by turns, all in the effort to get me back to myself, to make me realize that no permanent damage has been done. After all, all I did was tell the truth.

In…absolutely the most disastrous way possible.

Because I didn’t even tell the truth – I was so much of a coward that I couldn’t even tell my mates the reality of our situation – I had to wait for them to just stumble upon it. God, what the hell is wrong with me –

“Don’t go there,” Ben murmurs, leaning back against the arm of the couch now, as Luca so often does, and tapping my foot with his fork. “You’re betraying the cake, and the insane piece of gossip I just handed you, if you just…ignore it and delve into your despair. Honestly, Ariel, I gave you my best distraction. Sooo? How’d you know?”