Prep School Experiment (4 page)

Rhys nodded. “A swim sounds good.”

***

Despite the fact that he’d done fifty laps and was exhausted, Rhys couldn’t sleep. He rolled over and reached for the bed’s remote control, increasing the density of the high-end mattress. He flopped to his back and then adjusted the remote again. No luck. He tossed the controller aside. The sleep setting was fine. The lighting was fine. The temperature was fine. The problem in the Wentworth’s unfamiliar guest room was his spinning mind. Despite the madness, he must have slept, because a tap on the door awakened him.

“Come in.”

A uniformed maid brought in a glass of orange juice on a silver tray. She set it on his night stand. “I’ve laid out clothes in your bathroom. Breakfast’s in the blue dining room in an hour.”

“Thanks.” Rhys chugged the orange juice, hit the shower, and put on more borrowed clothes. He had to ask directions to the breakfast room. Everyone else had already assembled, including Bob, who appeared to be the most rested of the group.

Today, he and members the Wentworth family resembled each other: shadows under their eyes, awkward glances, and no appetite. For the most part, everyone in the household pretended to eat while staring at him like he was a two-headed calf. Rhys made it through two bites of oatmeal before putting his spoon down.

Bob ran down the plan. No more Trallwyn High School. Also, he’d already couriered a letter to Mom at the trailer park. It outlined Rhys’ boarding school admission, eligibility for a scholarship, and the monetary stipend she’d get while he was gone. Bob said he’d take Rhys to see Mom and get his stuff. Then, they’d head to Houston’s Intercontinental Airport.

As early as it was, Rhys was relieved when the clock ticked six-thirty and he could leave. He didn’t envy Christian, heading back to class after all the weekend drama. He would have liked a little more time before leaving. But he’d experienced moves with less notice. Sometimes avoiding all the sentiment was for the best.

Mrs. Wentworth hugged him, crying. The senator hugged him next, and then Christian, and then Mrs. Wentworth again. They were a touchy family, like a bunch of primates. Going on no food and no sleep, he felt the emotion being flung at him as if he were separate from his own body. He welcomed the cushion.

He and Bob hit THS first, where he caught a couple of friends and said good-bye. He didn’t see Portia, but once word got out he was on his way to Alaska, a few of Elena’s and Thane’s friends sent messages for him to take back to them. The Alaska news plus the decathlon news made him hot property in the hallway. But, Bob had given him only twenty minutes to get in and get out.

Rhys took thirty.

Next, they went to the trailer park. Bob drove, his gaze seeming to miss nothing of the dirt road, junker cars, or clothes lines.

Rhys sat straighter and reached for the door handle the second Bob put the car in park.

“I’ll wait in the car,” Bob said.

Rhys nodded and got out. He hadn’t intended to invite him in for toaster pastries.

Both Mom and Stepdad #4 were up. They stared at Rhys like they didn’t recognize him—and they didn’t know the half of it. He headed to his room, grabbed a duffle and threw his clothes inside, going on autopilot.

Mom and Stepdad #4 watched from his doorway.

Stepdad #4 kicked the doorjamb. “Like Alaska ain’t going to make him weirder.”

“Hush.” Mom moved into his room and handed him a stack of books to add to the pile. “This is a real good opportunity for Rhys. That school’s going to pay us a little stipend. Not enough, mind you, but something. He’ll get a good education and money for college.”

“We can rent his room out, once that burnt smell from all those chemistry experiments dies down.”

“I said, hush. Why don’t you go start the bacon?” Stepdad #4 didn’t move. Mom said, “You hungry, Rhys?”

His stomach turned at the thought. “No thanks. The car’s waiting for me.” Rhys shouldered his tote and headed to the door. The sick feeling of going somewhere new settled into his bones. Better the devil you know, but that wasn’t an option. He squared his jaw.

“I can’t believe the boy spent his last weekend at home at a friend’s house,” Stepdad #4 said, to ride him. “Giving no thought to his mother.”

“It’s fine, dear,” Mom said. “Now don’t go worrying about me. Rhys is doing the right thing.” Mom had faint approval in her bloodshot eyes. That was a first.

Holly freaking A.

She isn’t my mom.

He stared at her, searching for some knowledge, recognition, or awareness. There was nothing.

“You think there’s going to be a delay before we get that check?” Stepdad #4 asked.

“Now, Hon, they’re taking away a breadwinner. That wouldn’t be right.” Mom opened the front door. “Rhys, don’t you go giving ’em any trouble at that school now. You hear?”

Stepdad #4 snorted. “He’ll be tossed out and end up back here before the first government check arrives. Mark my words.”

Rhys rolled out his shoulders and tightened his grip.
Let it go. Let it go
. “Bye, Mom.”

She hugged him, a cloud of hairspray, candy-scented perfume, and a faint hint of beer on her breath. She’d been celebrating early. “You take care, Rhys.”

He listened for some affection, but heard only happiness. Things had worked out for her with this move. Maybe if he hadn’t lived with his grandparents so long. Or maybe if the drink hadn’t drowned the core of emotion inside her. Or maybe if he really was her kid, she would have cared.

The sunlight beat down on him. His shoes crunched over the patchy dry grass as he headed out to the four-door sedan with government plates. Bob popped the trunk without getting out. Rhys stowed his gear and got in the front.

He looked back at the sagging wooden porch and watched the door of the trailer shut on the familiar. Shit. For all he knew he
was
her kid. Wentworth labs could return any result they wanted, and the librarian had a soft spot for him. She was probably sending him away to boarding school to get him out of the trailer park. She knew he wouldn’t take her charity. Rich people could easily buy test results--especially when they owned the lab. His wound up emotions eased as he thought about it. What was more likely: That he was a senator’s son or that he belonged here?

The Wentworths would break the truth to him once he was in Alaska. He was Rhys Zukowski. He belonged in the trailer park. That his mom didn’t love him—well, that was on him.

Boarding School in Alaska

Kaitlin

Blue lights flashed above the doors. Kaitlin snagged her sweatshirt and fell in with the other students who were headed to the auditorium. The auditorium was always cold—or maybe it just seemed that way. She pulled on the sweatshirt while she walked and caught a flash of her roommate and their team leader.

“Elena, Thane, wait up,” Kaitlin said. “What’s going on?”

Elena tucked Kaitlin’s arm into hers. “New arrivals, I saw them. Kids from our old schools. Rhys Zukowski is here.”

A surprised excitement rushed through her. “
My
Rhys?”

“Yeah.” Elena seemed worried as they took a spot by the main entrance.

Kaitlin understood. The amphitheater was where the school director delivered major news. And here, every piece of good news arrived with a jagged edge.

Your roommate, Geneva, is okay after her injury—but has been sent home to recuperate.

We’re dividing you into teams for a series of competitions—the ultimate prize is a visit home.

Kaitlin didn’t want to go home. She liked it here where she’d made real friends and never went home to an empty house. Not that she could admit that to her roommate, Elena, who had lit up when the prize was announced, like she could see her Texas flag waving over a TexMex restaurant where all her family waited inside.

But not today. Today’s news was a rush. New students were arriving.

Rhys. She’d get to meet Rhys. This would be wonderful. Really amazing. Geneva might even get to come back. She didn’t share that thought with Elena. If Geneva didn’t show, she didn’t want her to be disappointed.

The director appeared on the stage. The microphone whined in preparation for his mouth. “We are privileged to announce a surprise. New arrivals. New students who also tested in the top percent of their classes.”

Elena’s information was spot on.

Thrilled murmurs rose and everyone peered around, looking for the new people.

“As we said in the beginning, we always anticipated a larger number of students, but we wanted to start with caution. Your successes here have allowed us to broaden the population. In fact, we have been so pleased by the immersion that we plan to continue in that vein. Alaskan music. Uniforms.”

Students groaned, and Kaitlin thought about her closet. She did miss her closet at home. Her friends back home, Raven and Regina, would never survive here in the uniforms.

“I know you will make the newcomers feel welcome. Please remember your nerves from the first day, and welcome your newest classmates.”

The first new student entered. He peeped at the crowd, paused a step, and then continued down the sloping aisle toward the stage without looking up again. He wore black sweatpants and an olive T-shirt. The poor guy appeared terrified.

Kaitlin joined everyone in clapping and shifted a little to see past the tall girl who’d moved in front of her. Other newcomers filtered in, all moving slowly, as if knowing she was dying to catch a glimpse of Rhys.

Another guy crossed into view.

Oh.

Wow.

He leaned one arm on the rail and his gaze under his overlong dark blond bangs checked out the crowd, the seating, and the dome. His head cocked at an angle that said,
I’m not here to impress you—but know you are awed by me
. After his assessment, his expression read,
Bring it. This school is mine.

“Who’s that?” Kaitlin’s voice squeaked, a little nervous, a little excited.

Elena bit her lip. “Rhys Zukowski.”

“
My
Rhys?” Kaitlin stared at him in wonder.

“Uh, maybe you shouldn’t call him that.”

Kaitlin tugged on the hem of her sweatshirt and would have pulled it off if that wouldn’t have made an even bigger mess of her hair. She tucked the loose strands behind her ears and wished for her clippy.

That was Rhys Zukowski. Her Rhys Zukowski.

The weird exams they’d taken to get in here had matched
her
with
him
.

She was 98% destined to be compatible with him.

Oh.

Wow.

As if Rhys sensed it and knew where she stood, his head turned and his eyes narrowed. He pointed, and said, “You.” Rhys put one foot on the rail, climbed up and over, and was in front of them fast.

Thane moved in front of Elena, his big body blocking Kaitlin’s view. She leaned left. Rhys was even more gorgeous up close. Tan. Tall. Perfect mouth.

Rhys dodged Thane, and his fingers gripped Elena’s arm. His eyes lit like green fire. “Why did you pull me into your little game?”

Somehow the Texas accent surprised her, though she knew it shouldn’t have. He came from Elena’s and Thane’s home town.

Thane grabbed Rhys’ shoulder and wrenched him away, a wild, barbaric move, quite unlike their usually rational team leader. Thane swung his fist, landing a punch on Rhys’ jaw. Rhys’ head snapped back.

Violence tightened the air. Kaitlin’s body shook in reaction.

“Stop,” Elena said.

Rhys rebounded, his face wild and pissed off.

Kaitlin just stood there.

“Guys,” Elena said. They ignored her. Rhys kicked hard into Thane’s ankle, and Thane went down, landing in the aisle. The students around them jumped back and formed a circle. No one tried to help break it up.

Rhys crawled over to throw a punch at Thane’s cheek, but the back of a bench caught his arm, slowing the motion. Thane’s head snapped to the side. He used his larger weight to shove into Rhys.

Rhys fell back, his T-shirt untucked and tangled around his six-pack. Thane stumbled to his feet.

Maybe it was over.

Kaitlin looked between the two guys, read Thane’s braced stance, and knew it wasn’t. He’d go after Rhys the second he got to his feet.

She had to help. Kaitlin threw her body over Rhys, her arms straight out. “Don’t hit him,” she said to Thane.

Rhys’ hard arm slid around her waist and pulled. Kaitlin grabbed his shoulders, hanging on. If she were in front of him, he was safe from Thane. “I’m Kaitlin.” Her hair fell around their faces, and the brown curls blocked out everyone else.

His body was a shock under hers—hard, strong, bigger than he looked.

Rhys’ hand threaded through her hair, holding it aside, enough so he could stare at Thane. “I owed you one. But, you get only one.”

Kaitlin bent to his ear. “It’s okay.” She touched the reddened mark on his jaw. “I’ve got you. He won’t bother you. I won’t let him.”

His green eyes caught hers and sparked, going from anger, to curiosity, to heat. The expression in them read,
Which way to your dorm room?

Her body softened, melting into his. “I’m Kaitlin. You’re mine.”

His eyes widened.

Geez. I’m going to freak him out.
Kaitlin fluttered her eyelashes and tried to find the words to explain. “There was a soul mate project…”

“Here now, here now.” Coordinator Steele, their dorm manager and least favorite coordinator, moved in. “None of that. What are you doing?”

“Just greeting my old friend here,” Thane said, offering Rhys a hand up. The strength of the tug and Rhys’ tight arm around Kaitlin’s waist pulled them both up. Rhys maneuvered her away from Thane.

“That right?” Coordinator Steele asked.

Rhys nodded with a feral grin. “That’s right.”

Coordinator Steele narrowed her eyes at Rhys. “Okay then, up on the stage with you, young man.”

Kaitlin’s hand lingered on Rhys’ arm. She trailed after him, trying to explain about the matching, and percentages. Rhys glanced down at her a few times, not saying much. Coordinator Steele took him away before Kaitlin could finish explaining.