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  Sam sighs again. “Wow...so that was kinda hot,” she admits, and I hush her. It works to break up the tension, though, as the guys flash smug grins and sit back down like it’s an everyday occurrence to them. For all I know, it could be. Our school is going to love every minute of it too. Whatever—I can’t be caught up in the whirlwind of drama; it’s not in my plan.

  “Why does Ax get called by his name and we don’t?” Abs grumbles after a beat. While he seems moody, it’s cute to witness him pout about such a trivial detail.

  “He has a nickname too,” I admit with a shrug. “It’s just that...well, he’s been sweet to me.” Besides, I don’t want to single him out with his different name. Who knows if it’ll offend him and that’s the last thing I want to do. He seems to be the calmest of the four, so I highly doubt he’d speak up about it. Regardless, I don’t want to put him on the spot.

  Axel’s brows shoot up. “Really? What’s mine?” He’s eager and that can be good or bad. He probably won’t even get it, but who knows. He did have that comic book rolled up in his jeans pocket.

  My cheeks burn. I know they’re turning red; I can feel the heat. I’m embarrassed, even though I’m the one to call them by nicknames in the first place. I don’t want to hurt his feelings. I was serious about him being sweet so far. I don’t want him to think that he doesn’t measure up to his brothers’ names, because he most certainly does. With a groan, I stare down at my plate of now cold chicken and manage to whisper, “Clark Kent.”

  There’s a whistle from one of them, drawing my attention back to Axel. He looks shocked before finally smiling broadly at his brothers and professing, “Never had a girl call me Superman before.”

  Blowing out a heavy breath, I smile his way again. I never thought of Clark Kent turning into Superman, but if he takes his glasses off along with his shirt...well, it could happen. Not that he needs to. I like his glasses just fine. He looks smart and that’s just as sexy as his brothers having abs.

  “Abs,” Tristan smirks, holding back a laugh and gestures to his ripped brother, “is actually our broody brother, Brent.”

  My gaze locks with Brent’s intense stare and I swallow back my humiliation at his subjective nickname. He certainly doesn’t seem fazed in the slightest at hearing it. He probably gets it a lot, but I don’t want to be one of those girls. His tongue darts out to lick his full bottom lip that’s so much like Ax’s, my eyes eagerly following the move. I could stare at him all day and that’s a distraction I definitely don’t need. One way to pin him down besides his muscles is the slight crook in his nose. The other guys’ noses are perfectly straight, but Brent’s looks like it may have been broken at some point. There’s even a tiny, light scar running across the bridge. Hard to believe, but the scar makes him even sexier in my opinion, not that he needs help in the attractive department.

  “Are you the oldest?” I blurt and his head tilts, his calculating gaze moving from casual to finally really taking me in. It’s like he doesn’t pay much attention to anything, as if he’s distracted. He and Cole definitely have the ‘whatever’ attitude in common.

  “I am.” His voice is a gravely rasp. Jesus, if I were the praying type, I’d be making the sign of the cross. He has that low tone, the type you feel right down to your core.

  At first guess, you’d think he never talks, but after his threat earlier, maybe it’s the opposite and he shouts at his brothers. Whatever his story is, I’m beyond interested in finding it out. Cole strikes me as the family bad boy at first glance, but I have a feeling I couldn’t be more wrong, and this is the dangerous brother. Easily overlooked beside his brothers’ outgoing personalities, aside for his bulk, he reminds me of something...but what? My gaze widens as I watch him pull out a proportioned container of chicken breast and brown rice. No one brings lunch from home. The school’s chefs are spectacular but I doubt Brent gives two thoughts to what anyone else thinks.

  “They have that here.” I nod at his Tupperware then gesture to my own plate. It’s full of nearly identical food.

  “They don’t weigh their portions,” he mumbles before digging into his cold food. I only know what he means because of my conditioning camp I attend each summer. They weigh everything when it comes to meals and they teach us to do the same. I don’t keep it up when I’m home, but I have a general idea of how much to place on my plate. Brent’s the first person I’ve come across to speak about food like that to me outside of camp, and it’s refreshing to find a kindred food spirit and know I’m not alone with it here.

  Sam nudges me and I jump a bit. “Guys, this is my best friend, Sam,” I blurt in a rush and she giggles.

  “You already said that.”

  “Oh.” I find myself turning red all over again. A nervous laugh breaks free from my mouth when I catch her beaming at me. She’s thoroughly amused. I’ll be hearing about this for forever, no doubt.

  “You’ve certainly made an impression on our Kresley,” she fills in as I grow quiet. “Hell, even on the entire school,” she declares and the guys nod, looking like it’s to be expected.

  “We’re used to it,” Ax admits with an easy shrug. His nonchalant comment has my mind racing. Sam didn’t have time to share much of anything else with me about the quads’ family, but I wonder if they move around a lot as well and are used to this type of treatment. That has to suck if it’s the case.

  Tristan picks up from his brother’s comment, carrying on. “We were kind of popular at our last school,” he divulges, and Cole rolls his eyes.

  “What he means is we ran that fucking school and we’ll do the same here.” Cole shoots me an arrogant smirk as he stands and sends a chin-lift to his brothers. “I’m out.”

  Brent trains his broody glare on his fleeing brother. “It’s the first day and you’re already ditching? Seriously, man?”

  Cole just shrugs and saunters off without a care in the world it’d appear.

  “Is everything okay?” I find myself inquisitively asking. I should keep my mouth closed as it’s none of my business. Nothing about them is of any concern to me. I’m friendly but that doesn’t mean I need any new friends in my life, especially the complicated sort and they scream ‘high maintenance.’

  Brent doesn’t respond with anything, but Tristan speaks up, “He’s fine, Kresley. Thanks for checking. Our brother takes a lot of half days. You’ll see him coming and going; it’s just the way he is.”

  “Is that why you guys look older? Did he fail a grade or something?” What is wrong with me today? It’s Sam’s thing to ask all the probing questions, not mine. I can’t seem to stop myself from spilling them as they come to me though. My normal filter seems to be broken with these four.

  Axel mutters, “He’s smart. He just doesn’t like showing up. It wasn’t a big deal until he got the tattoos. It’s not like I can just remove my glasses and easily pretend to be him anymore.”

  My gaze widens. It finally hits me as to why they all look older and not just Cole. They’re quadruplets—closer than other siblings—and I’m an idiot not to get it right away. I never would have guessed if it weren’t for them being in some of my classes as well. “Oh my God, you all stayed back a grade to be with him, didn’t you?” That’s dedication, not allowing your sibling to be left behind, even if it entails an extra year of high school.

  Brent casts an irritated glance at Sam before looking at me once more; clearly he doesn’t like people knowing his business. I can understand that, as the rich are quick to judge if you don’t put on the illusion of being perfect. “There’s nothing more important than family, than having each other’s backs.”

  With a tight nod, I swallow. They did fail a grade to be with their brother. Their loyalty is on an entirely different level than most. The lunch bell chimes, saving me from making his statement awkward in a way I seem to easily do when it comes to this group.

  Before I can make a quick exit, Axel comes to my side. “Come on, Lois Lane. I’ll walk you to next
period.”

  It takes me nearly all day before his comment registers and I realize that he gave me my own nickname too. He didn’t call me something random either, but rather, the one woman Superman could never get enough of. He fell hard for Lois and saved her many times. If I thought my heart was beating fast before, it has nothing on the butterflies now filling my tummy at Axel’s thoughtfulness. Anyone can be good-looking, but intelligence and wit mixed in is a dangerous combination—dangerous to my heart.

  S

  itting quietly, I tap my sty’s plush tip against the lab table. I can’t help but watch the door as Tristan strolls into biology class with a different girl tucked under each of his muscular arms. He’s so handsome it makes my stomach flip whenever I’m anywhere remotely close to him—or any of the brothers, for that matter. His silky dark locks glint under the bright florescent lights, looking almost as if there’s a bluish tint to the hue. With his charcoal irises, it’s almost painful to gaze at him up close, but no one can help it. Everyone stares. I mean…everyone. Even the staff. He’s beautiful; they all are.

  The boys have been in school for three days and are already at the top of the school’s proverbial food chain. I’m beginning to believe that even the elite of Harvard Academy—the richest enrolled in school—want to either date any of them or actually be them. Pretty soon the guys will take over the elite title, too, as their assets surpass anyone’s here. It’s a twisted case of hero worship and the worst part is that I can’t even fault them for it. The guys have done nothing whatsoever for me to have a negative thought in my mind toward them. I’ve never commended even an ounce of the attention that they seem to garner no matter where they are. I can’t imagine the amount of pressure they must constantly face. I’d be exhausted, yet they don’t appear fazed in the least. In fact, Tristan’s so charming and charismatic, you’d think he was created to be in the spotlight.

  Am I jealous? Of course not.

  A prominent social status in our ridiculously privileged private school is not one of my life goals and it never has been. My father cares about being at the top of the hierarchy at his business, but that’s not my personal cup of tea. Now, am I envious of the girls I always see holding on to Tristan in the hallways, at the boys’ car, the lunchroom or in classes? That would be a yes, even if I don’t want to come to terms with my emotions when it involves the quads. It’s natural to crave the feeling of being wanted, especially by the best-looking guys in school. I’ll get over it eventually, once their novelty wears off, I’m sure.

  Each of the girls peppers a kiss on Tristan’s cheeks and I try not to show a reaction so blatantly obvious on my face having witnessed them touch him like that. Silently I groan as our teacher gestures toward me sitting right up front. He draws everyone’s attention in my direction, and I wish I could shrink into my seat, but I know that won’t help. “Tristan, since you’ve arrived late, you get to partner with Kresley. She’s gotten the best grades out of the entire academy the past two years and I have a feeling you may be requiring the extra help as we get into our lessons.” My face burns with the instructor’s underhanded praise and I tuck my chin lower to escape from the stares.

  They may not be from around here, but the instructor is acting as if Tristan didn’t just come from a top-notch school. He must be smart to have decent enough grades to allow him to play sports. Though it wouldn’t really surprise me much to discover if past professors have helped him out by tweaking his grades to keep him playing. I’m not saying he’s ever used that to his advantage, but when you’re surrounded by the filthy rich, you learn that nearly everything can be bought, especially a measly grade or attendance into a top-notch college.

  Tristan handles the dig good-naturedly, plopping onto the seat next to me at the shared lab table. We’d all been sitting in different spots the past few days since school started, but that all changed today due to the level of talking going on. Now we’re all stuck in new places, sitting quietly, and of course, the class’s attention is focused solely on Tristan, and by default, me.

  His large, well-built frame takes up more space than the average person and I find myself suddenly feeling warmer than a moment before. His presence being this close to mine has my heart beating so fast I’d almost believe he could hear the thump-thump if it wasn’t physically impossible. Although if my pulse was checked right now, I’d no doubt be asked to lie down and give it a rest. It’s like running a mile while zombies chase behind, only Tristan is far from them when it comes to his Southern allure and enticingly good looks.

  He sends me a grin followed by a wink and I swallow tightly to keep my expression neutral. These guys have way too much influence over me already. Tristan leans in, his warm breath grazing my ear as he confesses in a whisper, “Exactly the seat I wanted anyway.” His fresh man smell envelops me with his nearness, and I find myself inhaling deeply like a giant weirdo.

  I don’t say anything; I can’t, because I’m too dumbstruck to reply. It’ll come out in an embarrassing squeak or croak or who knows what. I’ve been around these brothers for a total of four days. How on earth can I already be crushing so desperately on them? And it’s not just one guy that has mine and everyone else’s attention; it’s all four of them.

  Cole wasn’t kidding when he said they’d run the school. The year has merely begun, and it seems that they’ve already taken over. I can only imagine what a little more time will offer them.

  Rather than attempt to utter a generic reply, I tap the computer that’s in the surface of the lab desk. It’s a smooth, dark top that lights up with your applied body heat. All you have to do is press your finger or hand down for five seconds in the center and it brings the system to life for the course. Each day we log on and do our class work on it together in pairs. We’re each individually issued tablets with our lockers as well to take home and use to complete independent homework. I’d rather use my laptop for everything, but supposedly this system helps the school keep cheating to a minimum.

  “Axel has a desk like this too,” Tristan randomly shares, and my gaze widens.

  “A, um, biology desk?” I mutter stupidly and he chuckles, his voice rich and raspy and delicious like a gooey chocolate donut. I may’ve skipped breakfast again, but with my mother on my heels I have to most days.

  “No sugar plum, a desk with the screen built into the surface. He’s always writing down formulas or drawing his next masterpiece. He’s more talented than the three of us put together.”

  “He’s an artist?” My head tilts as I get lost in his steel gaze. His eyes are intense—the kind that once you look, you can’t seem to turn away. Not that I’d want to or anything. They remind me of deep water during a storm, the dark, murky gray with an occasional lighter splash mixed in. He’s devastatingly handsome, and in this moment, I know one thing for certain: Tristan could easily ruin me for anyone else if he wanted. In fact, if his brothers are anything like he is, I bet they all could and that has warning signals firing all over the place in my mind.

  His mouth kicks up into another perfect white grin. “How about you come over tonight and I’ll show you? I’ll show you a few other things too.”

  I’m naïve, but not that gullible to fall for his suggestion. He’s been surrounded by different girls every time I see him and I’m not about to spend any time alone with him, especially at his house. “I’m good, but thanks,” I reply, and his mouth drops open, stunned at my rebuff. Obviously, he’s used to getting what he wants but I have some sense of self-preservation. I have a plan in full effect and I’m not about to let him shake that up any more than their presence alone has managed to do.

  “You’re joking,” he states, clearly not used to being turned down by the female population. “Tomorrow then,” Tristan affirms, and I shake my head at that also. It’s a no from me on any day.

  “Not then either.” I eventually lower my eyes to the desk, glancing over the assignment. We have to read the paragraphs and take any notes we may need f
or the upcoming project. At least with Tristan as my partner I’ll be able to do all the work and secure a good grade. I usually despise group projects, thinking my grades would be better if I could do them on my own. At least there’s some advantage to having the flirt sitting beside me.

  “Mm, mm...” I can hear the smile coating his voice as he leans in close again. With an almost mocking tone, he whispers a little too close for my comfort. “You’re a tease. Aren’t you, my darling? It’s all right. I happen to enjoy a good challenge.” His breath flutters over my ear with his words, and I draw in a quick breath. I’m not used to guys like him or his brothers. Other than Brandon, most of the males in school keep their distance. I’d thought maybe I wasn’t very pretty, or I was too quiet, that they never paid any real attention my way. That doesn’t seem to be the case where Tristan is concerned, and I have a feeling this is going to be a long year in biology if he doesn’t give up his newfound challenge of getting into my pants.

  “Why are we going this way?” I ask Sam as she carts me out through the back doors of the academy toward the vast sports fields. School’s finished for the day and I’m thrilled to finally be away from everyone and their constant gossip about the quads. I’ve overheard way too many girls uttering their wishes to get the brothers alone today that I may end up screaming if I have to hear it anymore. And where has Cole been? I see the other three on a daily basis, but it’s like he only shows up to be marked in his first class then magically disappears for the rest of the day. He’s not even in the parking lot when it’s time to leave.

  My best friend smirks, tucking her arm through mine. “The football practices may be closed to students, but I’m on the newspaper.”

  “But I’m not.”