The Princes of Ravenwood novel Chapter 6

“That is just so not fair,” I grumbled as I got my stuff from my locker. “You’re so dramatic, little brother,” Darius rolled his eyes from his locker to my left.

“No, I agree with Forrest. So not fair. You got to have a full conversation with her, eat lunch together. Fuck she fed you. It’s bullshit. You are swapping lunch periods with one of us tomorrow,” Elijah chimed in from my right.

“Whatever,” he rolled his eyes. “Just keep in mind she will know the difference,” he added, shutting his locker.

“We know that. That’s why we like Riko. Granted, it is fun to fool people. But it would be nice to be acknowledged as individuals,” I pointed out. My brothers both raised an eyebrow at me.

“What? I can have a coherent and deep thought. I’m not always joking,” I grumbled, rolling my eyes. “We know, baby brother. It’s just not often you do,” Darius taunted, patting my shoulder. “Let’s head home. We can discuss this more later,” Elijah sighed.

The beginning and end of the school day were the only time the three of us were together. I couldn’t help wondering where Riko’s locker was. Would we run into her in the parking lot? Or did she ride the bus?

It was strange that she was the focus of my thoughts, and I barely knew her. Thinking about her did help me ignore how people looked at the three of us as we walked side by side. You’d think they’d be over it by now. But no, we are still some abnormality or whatever.

Granted, today, much of the looks were confusion and anger. Jane and her pals were, of course, giving us the death glare. Lance and his friends didn’t look thrilled either.

Not that I care. Darius did the same thing any of us would have. Lance and others like him needed to be taught a lesson about not touching people. Stupid fuck. Sexual harassment is no joke.

As we headed out the main doors, I raised an eyebrow at a crowd that had gathered. Nodding to my brothers, we headed in that direction to see what was going on. As we got closer, we saw what was going on.

Jane and her trio of airheads were throwing Riko’s bag back and forth, using the fact they are taller to play an unnecessary game of monkey in the middle. “Have I mentioned I don’t like your ex?” I asked.

“Not in the last twenty minutes. A new record,” Darius grumbled. “So, do we get involved? This isn't like Lance. We can’t just hit a girl. Mom would kill us,” Elijah questioned, looking as displeased with this as we were.

“True. Too bad none of our cousins go here. I bet you money if Reese was here, she’d knock them all out,” I chuckled, thinking of our cousin Reese who lives in Brooklyn with our mother’s twin brother, his second wife, and her twin brother Clay.

“Reese could beat up the football team. These girls she’d have to tie both hands behind her back to make it a fair fight,” Darius snickered. “We should do something, though,” Elijah commented.

“Um, I don’t think that’s necessary,” I said, watching Riko. “What do you mean?” he asked. I nodded to Riko just as she kicked Jane in the gut and took her bag, swinging the bag to knock one of Jane’s pals away. “Leave me the fuck alone, you plastic bitches,” Riko glared at the other two.

As if somehow finally sensing the fight, a couple of teachers rushed forward, helping Jane and her friend up. “What is going on here?” Miss Pethel asked. “She kicked me in the stomach and hit Katie with her bag,” Jane cried her crocodile tears.

“Is that true?” Pethel asked, looking at Riko. “Yes. They stole my bag from me and started shoving me. So, I defended myself,” Riko sighed, fixing her clothes and slipping her bag over her shoulders.