Ruling silverlake High

The seat at the head table

The heavy double doors of the Silverlake Prep cafeteria swung open, and the ambient noise of hundreds of wealthy teenagers instantly dropped by half.I stood at the entrance, my fingers gripping the straps of my faded canvas backpack so hard the fabric strained. The two-thousand-dollar envelope was buried deep in my pocket, feeling heavier than a block of concrete. I had paid my brother’s therapy bill this morning. I had bought my family three weeks of breathing room.And now, it was time to pay the collector."Aria," Chloe whispered from behind me, her voice trembling as she tried to pull me toward the crowded, chaotic tables in the back where the normal kids sat. "What are you doing? The senior lounge tables are in the center. We can't go near there.""I have to," I muttered, my jaw set. "Go sit down, Chloe. Don't look back."Without waiting for her reply, I stepped into the light of the massive, glass-domed dining hall. I forced my posture straight, keeping my chin up as the whispers began to ripple outward like a wave.In the dead center of the cafeteria sat the "Head Table." Raised on a slightly elevated wooden platform, it was a sleek, custom-designed dark oak table surrounded by plush leather chairs instead of standard plastic cafeteria seats. Sitting there were the varsity captains, the cheer royalty, and the heirs to the city’s largest fortunes.At the very center sat Zander Sterling.He was slouched back, a bottle of expensive imported water in one hand, listening to Landon Chase talk about the upcoming weekend game. Tiffany Vance sat two seats away, touching up her lip gloss in a compact mirror, looking like she had already forgotten my existence.As my worn sneakers squeaked against the platform floor, Landon stopped talking. Tiffany’s compact snapped shut with a sharp clack.Zander slowly turned his head. His ice-gray eyes locked onto mine, a dark, slow smirk spreading across his handsome face. He didn't look surprised. He looked like a man watching a bird willingly fly straight into his cage."You're late, Montgomery," Zander said, his smooth, low voice carrying easily over the sudden hush of the surrounding tables."The line for charity-case lunches was long, Sterling," I shot back, keeping my voice cool and sharp.Tiffany stood up so fast her leather chair screeched against the wood. "Zander, what is she doing here? Tell this waitress to get out of our section before I call security."

Zander didn't look at Tiffany. He didn't even blink. He simply pointed to the empty leather chair directly to his right—the seat normally reserved for his closest inner circle."Sit," Zander commanded softly, his eyes drilling into mine with absolute authority.I swallowed the lump of pride rising in my throat. I felt the eyes of five hundred students burning into my back. I felt Tiffany’s murderous glare. But I thought of Leo walking on the parallel bars, and I pulled out the chair. I sat down right next to the King of Silverlake High."Zander!" Tiffany shrieked, her face turning a furious shade of red. "Are you insane? She threw trash at me last night! She’s under review! She’s leaving this school in three weeks!""The review is canceled, Tiffany," Zander said, his tone suddenly turning dropping its warmth, becoming flat and dangerous. He leaned sideways, resting his elbow on the table and tilting his head toward her. "I spoke to my uncle this morning. It turns out there was a... misunderstanding regarding the facts. The board won't be meeting."Tiffany’s jaw dropped. She looked at Landon for support, but Landon just raised his hands in a neutral gesture, carefully looking away."You... you countered me for her?" Tiffany whispered, her voice cracking with pure humiliation."I don't counter you, Tiffany. I decide," Zander murmured, his voice laced with a terrifying amount of calm finality. "Now sit down and eat your salad. Or leave. Those are your options."Bursting into angry, humiliated tears, Tiffany grabbed her designer bag and stormed out of the cafeteria, her cheer skirt fluttering behind her. A collective gasp echoed through the room. The scholarship girl hadn't just survived; she had just displaced the queen bee.I leaned closer to Zander, keeping my voice low so the rest of the table couldn't hear. "You didn't have to do that to her."

I do whatever I want in this building, Aria," Zander whispered back, turning his head so his lips were inches from my ear. The scent of mint and expensive leather washed over me, making my pulse spike. "And right now, I want everyone to see exactly where you belong."He reached out, his long, calloused fingers casually wrapping around the strap of my canvas backpack resting on the back of my chair. He pulled it closer to him, anchoring me to his side."Eat your lunch, sweetheart," Zander smirked, his gray eyes flashing with a possessive, victorious light. "We have a long year ahead of us."