Page 48 of Fractured Heart

"What is it, Roo Roo?" Tate, my golden Prince Charming, wraps me in his arms and holds me close. He’s been there for me since we’ve met, and what have I done to repay him? Destroyed his guitar. When he finds out, he’ll hate me.

“What did you say to her, Silas?” Charles growls from behind him. Ever the protective beast, he comes to my rescue, but there’s no saving me.

“Excuse me?!” the Dark Prince, Silas, snaps. “She’s the one who interrupted my rehearsal. She shouldn’t have been in here.”

His name—dark and foreboding—suits him. He’s also right. I should never have agreed to come here. I don’t belong at LUV Academy and I don’t belong anywhere else. The best I can hope for is Father letting me come back home. That horrifying realization shatters any control I have left. I throw myself against Tate and sob into his chest while he holds me close.

“Roonie?” JJ sounds horrified by my outburst. Then he places a hand on my shoulder, and I realize that he’s worried. About me.

After what happened this morning, he shouldn’t, but he is. The fact that he still cares, that he’s here for me, makes me cry harder.

“Oh, Roo Roo," Tate whispers against my hair, rubbing my back right where the huge bruise throbs. His touch is gentle, helping ease the pain as he whispers, “I’m here now. We all are.”

My three princes surround me. Tate holds me close, JJ promises everything will be okay, and Charles growls that whatever’s wrong, we’ll fix it.

“Are you all being serious right now?” Silas’s voice cracks with unbridled rage. “She ruined my song! Our audition song! I finally had it and your precious princess ruined it.”

Princess. That one word echoes through my mind, blocking out everything else. Princess. Silas called me a princess.

I twist my head and my eyes snap to his. I know I look like a mess—red face, blotchy skin, tearstained eyes—but I can’t not look.

“It's going to be okay, Roo Roo,” Tate whispers and I believe him. There must be something hidden beneath Silas’s anger. Something good. Something beautiful. Because no one has ever called me a princess before, especially not a prince.

I search his eyes, but I only see one thing. Hatred. For me.

What did I expect?

I ruined his song. The song that would have left all the judges in tears. The song that would have torn out their hearts, before slamming them back in their chests, just like it did with mine. It was their one chance at getting through this audition and I ruined it.

“Let’s get you out of here,” Tate whispers into my hair.

I nod. I pull away from him, and Charles instantly takes his place. He puts a huge hand on the small of my back, and the heat of his touch burns into me through my sweater.

Tate moves to my other side and takes my hand in his. He gives it a squeeze. I expect JJ to stay behind, but he leads the way.

“Stop!” Silas shouts after us. “Where are you all going?”

I freeze. I’m used to obeying orders, especially when they’re loud and angry. My princes are forced to stop with me, and the four of us turn around.

“What the fuck’s wrong with you?” Silas shouts. His teeth graze his pierced lip as he swears. “I don’t care who her daddy is or how much money he donated to this school. She can’t just go around being a fucking—”

“Choose your words carefully, Silas,” Charles says evenly. With an intense, almost feral glare, he lowers his glasses and locks eyes with the Dark Prince. As if on cue, JJ takes a step forward and Tate wraps a protective arm around me.

My eyes widen but Silas seems much less impressed. I don’t get why he thinks my father’s some rich donor. Is it because that’s the status quo here? Do everyone’s parents give large chunks of money to the school?

“Look, I’m not trying to start shit.” Silas frowns. He avoids making eye contact with any one of the guys, his gaze instead settling on me. “If the dean told you to show her around, fine, but you can’t skip rehearsal.”

“The dean didn’t tell us to show her around,” Charles says evenly. To my relief, he doesn’t mention that I don’t actually go here. I don’t want Silas to know just how right he was in saying that I don’t belong.

“And we’ll be here for rehearsal,” Tate adds.

"After you apologize,” Charles finishes.

“Whatever,” Silas mutters, but then adds, “I’m sorry.”

“To Roonie.” Charles narrows his eyes. “And make it quick. I don’t want you wasting her time.”

I turn to him in surprise. Since when has anyone cared about my time? And why would they? I don’t go to college or work or have any responsibilities. Now that I’ve run away from Father, time stretches endlessly before me and I feel a little faint.