The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0754

"Jess -" Rafe holds out a hand towards his cousin, deeply aware that he's crossed a bridge he never, ever wanted to cross. That he's said the words his cousin has maybe been waiting for, and fearing, his entire life.

"No," Jesse says, shaking his head, his eyes filling with tears. "You said it. Now own it. Because you're fucking right.'

All of Rafe's anger leaves him in a rush and he stares at his cousin, agonized at what he just did. At what he let his stupid rage lead him to saying words he didn't even fucking mean to his best friend in the world, just because he lost his temper and wanted - so badly - to hurt him in turn.

"Do you think it's been easy for me?" Jesse asks Rafe, wiping hard at his eyes with his sleeve, desperate not to cry in front of his cousin but failing immediately at the task. "Growing up in your shadow? Standing next to you - the perfect Prince - my entire life? Being compared to you at every turn - in athletics, in academics, in looks, in charm, in ability, and yeah - in success with women? And always, always coming up short?"

Rafe stands straight, watching his cousin back away, hating himself.

"And I have never resented you for that Rafe - because I fucking love you. I celebrate you every day - all of your successes, and victories, and accomplishments, because I think you're fucking great and you're my cousin and my best friend. You're my fucking brother. But did you ever think about what it was like for me? Did you ever consider that this is why I feel like I have to be funny all the time - because to get anyone to even look at me next to you I had to become your jester, your fucking clown?"

Jesse shakes his head, sniffing hard, trying desperately to stand straight.

the first person outside of our family to see something in me that doesn't pale in comparison to you. So excuse me if, yes, I run towards that, if I rejoice in finding someone who sees something good in me and want to hold on to it forever. Someone who wants to be with

"Jesse, I -"

"Because it doesn't kill me that she liked you first, I'm fucking used to that in my life. This whole thing," he gestures around at the forest, "this entire fight is

hangs his head, devastated, wondering if Jesse is right.

have just let me have this one, Rafe," Jesse says, his voice flat and fading as he turns. "You

Jesse walks away.

Leaving Rafe completely alone.

hall, Ben basically jumps to his feet, nearly dropping his coffee cup in his attempt to get up from the table and across to me as fast as he can. But he doesn't have to go far, because I'm already dashing to him by the time he opens

up.

Ari," he murmurs, holding me tight and rocking me back and

so, so relieved to see you awake - and walking - and

releases me, but I don't miss that his eyes drop to my neck. But there's nothing to see there - just before we left a package came up from Daphne with a little cylinder of black fabric that I can wear around my neck like a tube scarf. When tucked into the collar of my cadet uniform, it really does just look like a turtle neck. It's not precisely uniform regulation, but ubiquitous enough

from my neck in someone's dorm