"Keeley, I think that guy is staring at you," Lydia said uncomfortably around a bite of her sandwich.

　　"What gu—" Keeley's blood ran cold. Sure enough, Aaron was staring at her. What was he doing? He had a lunch tray outside the cafeteria!

　　It was against the rules and he always followed the rules because they supported the system that built his family up. At one point early on he tried to convince her that they existed for the sole reason of keeping unworthy people in check.

　　"Who is that?" Jeffrey whispered.

　　"Are you crazy? That's Aaron Hale! The only child of the CEO of Hale Investments. Haven't you heard? He's been training to inherit the company since he was born. He's wicked smart—don't you know he's going to Harvard after graduation?" Lydia asked incredulously.

　　"I heard they wanted to give him a full-ride scholars.h.i.+p because of his grades and other accomplishments but he refused it because he was insulted that they didn't think he could pay for it himself."

　　"Well that's just stupid," Keeley said spitefully.

　　She remembered that well. She turned down her first choice—NYU—in favor of Boston University so she could be in the same city as him but he never wanted her to visit him at school so all of their dates happened elsewhere.

　　"What's stupid?"

　　All three friends cowered beneath the frightening figure in front of them. His uniform was identical to theirs but they could never match the way he carried himself. Aaron wore it like a king.

　　It didn't hurt that his chocolate brown hair never had a single strand out of place either. He was above them all yet here he was b.u.t.ting in on their conversation.

　　"Nothing!" they all yelled in unison. Angering this young man would likely be the last thing they ever did.

　　Keeley cursed herself internally. The bitter, angry part of her wanted to tell him to his face but it would only provoke him. If she wanted to stay under the radar, she couldn't get on his bad side.

　　"Mind if I sit here?"

　　Mind? Were any of them allowed to mind? They would have to be insane. But lunch became a very quiet affair after that.