Riley's POV
The rest of the morning at Blackthorn High is a blur of new faces and unfamiliar hallways, but the Hawthorn triplets are impossible to ignore. They're in every single one of my classes, and so is Tara, who seems determined to make me her enemy. Her glares are relentless, and I catch her whispering to her friends, their eyes flicking toward me. I keep my head down, focusing on my sketches, but it's hard to shake the feeling that I'm being watched. Not just by Tara, but by the triplets. Every time I glance up, at least one of them is looking at me, Silas with his intense, unreadable stare, Caleb with a curious tilt to his head, or Ethan with a half,smile that's almost too charming.
By lunchtime, I'm ready for a break. Lila sticks by my side, showing me around the school and chatting about Ravenwood.
She's easy to talk to, which is a relief, but I'm still on edge. The cafeteria is crowded, and I spot the triplets at a table in the corner, surrounded by a mix of admirers and curious onlookers. Tara's there, of course, trying to get their attention, but they seem more interested in scanning the room. Their eyes land on me again, and I quickly look away, grabbing a tray and joining Lila in line.
"So, what's the deal with the triplets?" I ask, keeping my voice low. "They're like…
celebrities or something."
Lila laughs. "Kind of. The Hawthorns are a big family in Ravenwood. Their dad, Grayson, runs a lot of the logging business around here, and their mom, Elena, is super involved in community stuff. The triplets are seniors like us, but they've got this aura, you know? People either worship them or steer clear."
I nod, piling food onto my tray. "And Tara? She's got a thing for one of them, right?"
"Oh, yeah," Lila says, rolling her eyes. "She's been chasing Silas forever. Thinks she's destined to be with him or something. Good luck with that."
We find a table far from the triplets, and I start eating, grateful for the distance. But I can still feel their presence, like a weight on my shoulders. Lila keeps the conversation light, asking about Arizona and my hiking hobby. I tell her about the trails I've explored in Montana so far, but my mind's elsewhere. There's something off about the triplets, something I can't put my finger on. And then there's the bruise on my hand, which throbs every time I think about Silas grabbing my wrist. Why did he care about it? And why didn't he say anything?
After lunch, Lila and I head to our next class, and of course, the triplets are there. This time, they don't sit in front of me, but I can feel their eyes on me from across the room. Tara's in her usual spot, glaring, but I ignore her. The teacher drones on about history, and I start sketching again, losing myself in the lines and shapes. When the bell rings, I'm one of the first out the door, eager to escape the tension.
But as I'm walking down the hall, someone grabs my arm, not hard, but firm enough to stop me. I turn and find Silas, his blue eyes boring into mine. Caleb and Ethan are behind him, watching closely. "What now?" I ask, pulling my arm free.
Silas doesn't answer right away. He glances at my hand again, then back at my face. "You okay?" he finally says, his voice low and rough.
I blink, caught off guard. "Yeah, I'm fine. Why?"
He doesn't respond, just keeps staring. Ethan steps forward, flashing that easy smile. "Ignore him. He's not big on words. I'm Ethan, by the way. That's Caleb." He nods toward the third triplet, who gives me a small wave.
"I'm Riley," I say, even though I'm pretty sure they already know my name. "Nice to meet you, I guess."
Caleb chuckles. "You guess? Ouch."
I shrug, trying to play it cool. "You guys are kind of intense, that's all."
"Intense is our brand," Ethan says, grinning. "You'll get used to it."
Silas finally looks away, and I take that as my cue to leave. "See you around," I mutter, heading down the hall. Lila's waiting for me, her eyes wide.
"Holy crap, what was that about?" she asks.
"No idea," I say, but my heart's racing. There's something about the triplets that sets me on edge, and it's not just their looks or their reputation. It's like they know something about me, something I don't even know myself.
The rest of the day drags on, and by the time I get home, I'm exhausted. The house is still quiet, which is a small mercy. I head to my room and lock the door, pulling out my sketchbook. I start drawing without thinking, and when I'm done, I realize it's a portrait of the triplets' faces. They're gorgeous, no question, but there's something almost otherworldly about them. I stare at the drawing, my stomach twisting. I need to keep my guard up around them. I've got enough problems without getting tangled up with three guys who make my instincts scream.
But as I sit there, I can't shake the feeling that they're more than just popular seniors. There's a power to them, a danger. And I'm not sure if I'm ready to find out what it is.