Taking The Reins (The Rosewoods Book 1) by Katrina Abbott Read Free Book Online Page A

wells in third world countries or AIDS supports in Africa, but they want no part of it. They grew up in the age of Dynasty and love to be ostentatious and disgusting and spend their money on ridiculous things keeping up with the Joneses.” 
    I didn’t mention the diamonds she’d been wearing the night before could probably go a long way toward funding a third world well-digging project; maybe they were a gift or something.
    “Anyway, like I said, the dean is a dragon, but with this she’ll leave off and it’s not a big deal. It’s actually easier for them that I’m not demanding like my parents; I just need to reassure her it’s not a problem where I am.” She looked over at me. “I don’t mean it that way—not that you’re a problem. Oh you know what I mean.”
    I did and waved her off with a smile.
    “So what do your parents do?” she asked. It was a simple enough question, but one I couldn’t answer honestly. I hated lying to people, but by now it was a regular enough occurrence that I was able to let the lies roll off my tongue.
    “They’re both professors. Mom teaches English and my father is a professor of mathematics. They’re both on sabbatical—she’s studying at Oxford, which is why we were in London.” Part of it was true in that Mom was studying at Oxford part-time and used to teach English before she quit her job to follow Dad around on assignment. Without a job, she attended classes and accumulated more degrees, which I guess is as good a way to keep busy as any.
    It seemed to satisfy Emmie, anyway, which wasn’t surprising—it was a boring enough story to discourage more questions.
    We stepped inside the auditorium then, hit by a wall of voices as the girls awaited the call to order. “Where should we sit?” I asked.
    Emmie scanned the crowd and then nodded toward the front. “Down there; Kaylee’s got seats for us.”
    We made our way down the aisle and excused ourselves past a bunch of girls, me going first and trying not to bash into anyone. I smiled and nodded at the girls as I shuffled past, while Emmie greeted the ones she knew.
    We finally got to our seats and settled in, Emmie on one side of me, Kaylee on the other. Celia was nowhere to be found, but as the dean walked up the few steps to the stage, Chelly came rushing in and plunked herself down beside Emmie.
    “Hi,” She huffed out, breathless.
    The dean called everyone to order and the dull roar in the room lowered to a buzz and then just a few whispers as she scanned the crowd pointedly.
    Finally, everyone quieted down and she began.
    Sure, I was interested in getting good marks, but after three sentences the dean lost me and pretty much everyone else in the hall. You’d think after however many years doing this, she’d clue in. But maybe it was the respectful silence that made her think people were paying attention, when really, as I looked around, it was obvious everyone was just texting.
    Including Emmie beside me. I nudged her with my elbow.
    She tilted her head so she could give me a look, sticking the tip of her tongue through her lips.
    I gave her a disapproving look back.
    She angled the screen at me showing me she was texting Dave, as justification for blowing off the dean. Not that the bar was high.
    Mss you. Can’t wait to c u. was his last text.
    Awwww , I mouthed. How sweet.
    Emmie grinned and texted back while I watched over her shoulder: 2nite b ehind the stables at 8
    I looked up at her, eyes wide. I wasn’t sure of all the Rosewood rules yet, but I had a feeling sneaking out of the dorms to meet guys was against at least one or five of them.
    Not that Emmie cared, obviously; she rolled her eyes and continued typing with her thumbs.
    I turned back to the front of the room, since reading her texts might be a bit creepy, when Kaylee grabbed my arm and squeezed. When I looked at her, she nodded toward the right side of the auditorium at the front. I glanced over, my eyes scanning the faculty, and then