Behind the Dextros Gates

Chapter 4: The Rules Nobody Wrote

Tasha

Tasha barely slept that night.

Not because she was excited about Dextros.

Not anymore.

Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the same three things.

The boy in the library grabbing her bag.

Alex stepping in.

And James standing outside the library doors, looking at her like she had just walked into a game she didn't understand.

Yet.

That one word irritated her more than anything else.

Tasha rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling.

"Annoying."

Her phone buzzed beside her.

She reached for it.

Michael: You alive?

A smile immediately found its way onto her face.

Tasha: Barely.

Michael: First week already that bad?

She hesitated.

There was no easy way to explain Dextros.

She couldn't exactly text him, Hey, apparently my new school is controlled by three student factions.

Tasha: It's different.

Michael: Different good or different bad?

Tasha smiled.

Tasha: Both.

Three dots appeared.

Then his message came.

Michael: Just don't let anybody make you feel like you don't belong there.

Her smile softened.

That was Michael.

Simple.

Steady.

Home.

Tasha: I won't.

She placed the phone beside her.

For a few seconds, everything felt normal again.

Then James's face appeared in her mind.

Tasha frowned.

"No."

She pulled the blanket over her head.

"I am not thinking about that idiot."

By morning, Tasha had decided yesterday was simply a strange first day.

Nothing more.

She walked through the gates with her bag over one shoulder.

Students filled the courtyard, moving toward different buildings.

Some laughed.

Some hurried.

Some stood in groups.

And then there were the students who didn't seem to care about anyone else.

They walked through the crowd and people moved aside.

Tasha recognized the black emblem on their uniforms.

Black Fangs.

She watched them disappear through the main entrance.

"So much for ignoring them."

"That's the first smart thing you've said today."

Tasha turned.

Maya stood behind her.

"Good morning to you too."

"Good morning." Maya studied her. "You survived."

"Barely."

"I heard."

Tasha's smile disappeared.

"Heard what?"

Maya looked around.

"People are talking about you."

"Already?"

"You stood up to James."

"I bumped into him."

"You told him he was arrogant."

"He was."

"You told him you didn't care who he was."

"I didn't know who he was."

Maya stared at her.

"That might actually be worse."

Tasha laughed.

"Why?"

"Because now everyone thinks you don't understand what you're dealing with."

Tasha shrugged.

"I don't."

Maya blinked.

Tasha smiled.

"And I'm not ashamed of that."

Maya shook her head.

"You really are something."

"Is that a compliment?"

"I'm still deciding."

They started walking.

Then Maya stopped.

Tasha followed her gaze.

James stood at the top of the staircase.

Adrian was beside him.

James looked down at the courtyard.

Then his eyes found Tasha.

Their gazes met.

Tasha didn't look away.

Neither did he.

Maya grabbed her arm.

"Don't."

"Don't what?"

"Whatever you're thinking."

"I'm not thinking anything."

"You have that look."

"What look?"

"The I'm about to make things worse look."

Tasha rolled her eyes.

The bell rang.

Maya pulled her toward the building.

Tasha followed.

But she glanced back one last time.

James was still watching her.

History class brought another surprise.

A project.

Two weeks.

Pairs.

Tasha wasn't worried.

Until Mr. Carter read the names.

"James Vale and Tasha Adeyemi."

The room went quiet.

Tasha slowly looked up.

James leaned back in his chair.

Maya looked horrified.

Tasha raised her hand.

"Yes, Miss Adeyemi?"

"Can I choose someone else?"

A few students laughed.

"No."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

Tasha lowered her hand.

"Worth asking."

James's mouth twitched.

After class, he walked toward her.

"Two weeks."

Tasha folded her arms.

"Unfortunately."

"We'll work in the library after school."

"You're assuming I'll agree."

"You will."

She raised an eyebrow.

"Confident."

"Usually."

"Arrogant."

"Frequently."

Tasha stared at him.

For the first time, she almost smiled.

Almost.

"See you after school."

She walked away.

James watched her go.

And for some reason, he couldn't explain why he was smiling.

At lunch, Maya was still warning her.

"The factions aren't normal student groups."

"I know."

"No. You don't."

Maya lowered her voice.

"You don't challenge a faction leader."

"Too late."

"You don't interfere in faction business."

"I don't even know what their business is."

"You don't owe them favors."

"I don't."

"And you don't let them think they can control you."

Tasha nodded.

"That one I agree with."

Someone suddenly slammed into her shoulder.

Her books fell.

Tasha looked up.

A Black Fangs student stood in front of her.

She recognized him from the day before.

He picked up one of her books.

His eyes dropped to the name inside.

"Tasha Adeyemi."

He handed it back.

"Interesting."

Tasha took it.

"Do you need something?"

"No."

He smiled.

"Just wanted to see what all the noise was about."

"And?"

He looked at her for another second.

"Not sure yet."

Then he walked away.

Maya sighed.

"Tasha…"

"What?"

"You're making enemies."

"I didn't do anything."

"That doesn't seem to matter here."

Tasha looked down at her book.

A black mark covered part of the cover.

She brushed it away.

"I'm beginning to think this school has a problem with introductions."

After school, Tasha went to the library.

James was already there.

"You're late."

"Three minutes."

"Still late."

He placed several books on the table.

"I brought sources."

Tasha looked at them.

"You actually prepared."

"You sound surprised."

"I am."

They began working.

For the next twenty minutes, James barely spoke.

He was surprisingly focused.

Organized.

Intelligent.

Tasha glanced at his notes.

"You're annoyingly good at this."

James looked up.

"That's almost a compliment."

"Don't get excited."

A faint smile appeared.

Tasha hesitated.

Then asked,

"What exactly is your problem with me?"

James's smile disappeared.

"My problem?"

"You've been watching me."

"I observe people."

"You observe me a lot."

He looked at her.

For a second, neither spoke.

Then he said,

"You're noticeable."

"Because I'm a scholarship student?"

"No."

"Then why?"

James didn't answer immediately.

Tasha waited.

Finally, he said,

"Because you don't act like everyone else."

She leaned back.

"And that's a problem?"

"I haven't decided."

Her phone buzzed.

She looked down.

Michael calling.

Her entire expression changed.

James noticed.

Tasha stood.

"Excuse me."

She walked away.

James looked back at his notes.

He told himself not to listen.

So he didn't.

At least, he tried not to.

But he heard her laugh.

Quiet.

Warm.

Different from the voice she used with him.

When she returned, James kept his eyes on the book.

"Boyfriend?"

Tasha paused.

"Yes."

"Does he go here?"

"No."

James nodded.

"Good."

Tasha frowned.

"What?"

"Nothing."

She stared at him.

"You're strange."

"So I've been told."

She sat down.

They returned to the assignment.

But James found himself reading the same sentence three times.

He couldn't concentrate.

And that annoyed him.

Because he had never had trouble concentrating before.

Not like this.

Not because of a girl.

James

I didn't know why I kept looking at her.

That was the problem.

There was nothing particularly special about Tasha Adeyemi.

At least, that's what I told myself.

She wasn't the richest student at Dextros.

She wasn't the most popular.

She wasn't trying to impress anyone.

She wasn't even trying to fit in.

Maybe that was what bothered me.

Everyone at Dextros wanted something.

Attention.

Power.

Connections.

Protection.

Tasha didn't seem to want any of it.

She just wanted to be left alone.

And somehow, that made me want to know more about her.

I hated that.

I hated even more that I couldn't explain it.

I had met hundreds of people who were afraid of me.

Most of them looked away when I walked past.

Tasha didn't.

She looked directly at me.

Like my name meant nothing.

Like my family meant nothing.

Like I was just another arrogant boy who had annoyed her.

And for some reason...

I liked it.

I shouldn't.

But I did.

I leaned back in my chair and watched her pack her books.

She smiled at something on her phone.

Probably a message from him.

Her boyfriend.

I didn't know his name.

I didn't want to know his name.

So why was I wondering what kind of person he was?

I looked away.

This was ridiculous.

She had been at Dextros for two days.

Two.

And somehow, I had already started noticing when she entered a room.

Where she sat.

Who she spoke to.

When she smiled.

When she got angry.

I didn't know why.

But I was drawn to her.

And I had a feeling that was going to become a problem.

My phone vibrated.

I looked down.

A message from Adrian.

Adrian: We need to talk.

I frowned.

Another message appeared.

Adrian: It's about Tasha.

My eyes immediately went back to her.

She was standing near the library doors now.

And suddenly, the strange feeling in my chest wasn't curiosity anymore.

It was something else.

Something I didn't like.

Something I didn't understand.

I stood.

"Adrian," I muttered.

Because whatever was happening around Tasha...

I had a feeling it had already started.