Page 5 of Mistaken Prejudice

A guy around my height, with blond hair and icy blue eyes, snarled in Diesel’s direction. Diesel took a step forward, and so did the other guy.

“And I repeat. I don’t take orders from little bitches like yourself.”

Coming between them, I spoke fast with my hand on Diesel’s chest.

“Whoa, whoa, what’s going on here?”

With his eyes still focusing on the stranger, Diesel answered me, “This little pussy over here thinks he owns this motherfucking place. Why don’t you go and cry to your rich daddy about how we took your chair?”

“You piece of shit!” The guy swore and tried to shove me out of his way.

“Hey! Don’t touch him!” Jess moved to come in, but I pinned him with a look, making it clear he stay out of this.

Noticing how Levi held Jess by the arm made me calm about the two of them not getting involved. Levi was handling Jess, meaning I was free to handle Diesel.

The atmosphere between Diesel and Jackass was charged, two kids trying to prove themselves in front of everyone. I didn’t know this guy’s story, but I knew Diesel, and his bite was a hundred times worse than his bark. If I didn’t act fast, we’d be out of here before the first day of school was even over. I was about to speak when another person joined the already tight circle.

“Shay-Lee!”

A sweet, melodic voice commanded, forcing us all to stop and look at the person it belonged to. All three of us turned to face Miles, who put his hand on the jerk’s—aka Shay-Lee—arm. I couldn’t miss how Shay-Lee’s whole expression shifted from infuriated to calm and… adoring? For fuck’s sake, were Prince Charming and wannabe Goldilocks a couple? There goes my chance. My one-person self-pity party came to an end when Miles spoke again.

“What the hell, Shay-Lee? I’m five minutes late, and you’re already picking fights?”

“I wasn’t picking any fights, Miley.”

Miley? Yep. Definitely a couple.

“Those idiots sat at our table and refused to get up. Even after I asked nicely.” He spoke directly to Miles like we weren’t right there in front of him.

“Nicely?” Jess asked in a high-pitched tone that made me think of a crow. A cute crow. “You threw my food away!” He pointed toward Shay-Lee as he squealed, then turned to face me. “He threw my food away, Andrei! Into the fucking trash can!”

“Not like you haven’t eaten from them before,” Shay-Lee sneered.

Waves of laughter followed his comment, and in the next moment, Diesel’s fist erased the smugness off the asshole’s face. All hell broke loose when Shay-Lee returned the punch, joined by his groupies. It took Jess and Levi less than a second to join the party, with Jess kicking some hulk in the nuts and Levi blindsiding a guy twice his size. I was busy tackling a redhead with freckles coating his face when I noticed Miles jumping on Shay-Lee’s back.

“For God’s sake, Shay-Lee! Stop it!” he yelled. “You’ll be expelled! I said stop it!”

“What’s the matter, puss? Used to taking orders from chicks?” Diesel smirked while wiping some blood from the corner of his mouth.

“Not cool—” I was forced to stop because a tray of food was thrown at me; thank God for my reflex. “Not Cool, Diesel!” I pointed at him with my finger. We all knew better than to use feminine titles as insults. Girls are just as much kick-ass as guys. If not more.

“The fuck, Chica? Whose side are you on?” he shouted and ditched a punch.

Watching Diesel right hook Shay-Lee’s face, I wondered how we managed to fuck things up so fast.

Chapter 3

Miles

Getting detention on the first day of senior year? That’s a new record right there. It was also the first time I’d gotten detention, so I bet my dads would be hyped, especially Daniel and his high work ethic. Looking at the bright side, we could have gotten a lot worse than that, considering the complete mess we made back there. The only reason we got off so easily was that no one came clean and admitted to throwing the first punch. Shay-Lee and his guys were just as much to blame as the new kids. It was also the beginning of the football season, and I bet the last thing Mrs. Morrison wanted was to suspend the entire team with her leading star, also known as my best friend. I mean, expelling Shay-Lee was probably what her wet dreams were made of, considering all the trouble the guy caused. Yet, given the fact he was the best quarterback her prestigious school had ever seen, and due to him being the son of a billionaire, her hands were tied. Growing up surrounded by the likes of her made me well aware of people’s ulterior motives and what they were willing to do to make them look good.

Beverly Hills meant growing up rich, and what’s being rich without showing off how wealthy you actually are? One look around the room proved my point—from the designer clothes to the newest phone models and all the way to the sports cars parked outside these walls. Money meant power, and it was much easier to show your wealth than your actual worth.

I am far from being righteous.

Sitting here in my newly bought designer clothes and playing with my sports car keys, who was I to judge? The difference was that unlike most of the people around me, I didn’t care about it. Not at all. Sure, my dads showering me with presents was fun, I wouldn’t lie about that, but it was their choice. I never asked for anything, nor did I plan on doing so. I also didn’t go around bragging about how rich I was when it was their money.

I’m not rich. My parents are.