The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0656

"But I was fine!" I protest, casting out a hand. "That guy with the beard - he was just hitting on me! He was harmless - he went away as soon as you asked him to!"

"Right," Tony says, nodding to me. "But he could have been dangerous. It was just luck that brought a relatively nice guy over to your table. Luca left you high and dry, Ari, and you should be madder about it than you are." "I'll be fucking mad about it for you," Jesse murmurs, slumped in his chair with his arms crossed.

I take a deep breath, looking down into my lap, getting angry. Because everyone's being very cruel about Luca - and no one's giving him a chance. "Luca is a full, complicated person," I say, a bit between my teeth. "And he's allowed to have flaws. He's...he's got a lot going on, emotionally. He doesn't have it all figured out!"

"You're very kind, Ari," Ben says, reaching out and putting a warm hand on my knee. I look up at him, blinking hard against the tears stinging my eyes. "It's one of my favorite things about you."

I gulp back my tears, nodding to him, thankful to have such a good friend.

"Ariel," Tony says, gentler than before. I turn my eyes back to him to see his face looking almost...pleading. Like he really wants me to understand. "Just...one more thing, okay? And if I'm wrong about it, I'll back off. I promise. Even be nice to that prick -" "Tony," I growl, warning, even as I sniff back my tears.

His face twists into a sad little smile, but he nods to me, agreeing to be nicer to begin with.

I nod to him in turn, letting him get to his one last thing.

- let me just tell you what I think he did, according to who I think he is and how he treats

hesitate but then nod, allowing it. Kind of curious, despite myself, if Tony knows Luca better than we all thought. Better than me,

you left the bar together and you were angry

a bit still with

then," Tony

his problem, about something that made him sad. So essentially, he did something shitty to you and instead of spending the rest of the night making you feel better about it...

open as I stare

says

realize that that's

101," Tony says, quiet and sad. "Find a nice girl.

not liking this realization at all. Kind of wishing I'd

says, his voice thoughtful. "Ari has an incredible breakthrough

up a

by coming to dinner and making her feel amazing about it, Luca mysteriously disappears and makes you