Page 35 of King

On the way to lunch, we pass the Algebra classroom again. With a peek through the window I notice Lea sitting on Mr. Trout’s desk. He's a foot in front of her before he closes the blinds.

Allie seems to notice too. Her pace quickens and she tugs me along. “C’mon, let’s get you fed.”

It’s Waffle Wednesday and while the sweet smell in the cafeteria is inviting, my appetite is non-existent. Scanning the room, I’m as floored by the ERA cafeteria as I was yesterday. Wooden rectangle tables have clean white chairs all around it. Not one with scratches or a broken leg. “Go Eagles!” hangs from the ceiling, more trees decorating the space.

Scanning the room, Damien, Isaac and Christian are at a table with Lea, Georgina and some of their other friends. Lea’s hands are all over Damien’s and it makes my jaw clench, a stab in my chest. They deserve each other.

When we find an empty spot near the doors, Nate and Allie sit in front of me. The guy from the party is with us, Carlos, and they’re all arguing about which queen from Drag Run they should vote off. Nate throws a strawberry at my plate and I hardly flinch, my eyes on one of the waffle holes filled with syrup. “What’s wrong Warrior Princess? Not into carbs?”

He was nice enough to make my plate, piled high with berries. If he thought it would cheer me up, it'll be disappointing to hear the truth. “Sorry I’m not so easily bought like you’re used to.” I look up with a wince, hearing my sass.

Allie snorts and Nate blinks. “Now I know that’s just a reaction from trauma, so I won’t retaliate and read you to filth. I’m just happy your attention is now on something besides the waffle-y mush on your plate.”

I finally smile, and the minute I do, something wet and slimy hits my nose.

Swiping at it, a sliced banana falls on my plate.

“Score!” I look around Nate’s head to see a guy in an ERA jersey hoisting two arms in the air. The cafeteria erupts in laughter.

My jaw tightens before a waffle hits me smack in the face, the smell of syrup in my nose.

When the waffle falls onto the table Allie stands up. “What the fuck?”

A strawberry comes flying at me, followed by a chunk of banana before it’s raining blueberries. I spill the contents of my tray onto the table, using it for cover as Nate pulls me off my seat.

The whole cafeteria is on this fruit blitz and those who aren’t, are laughing. Pointing.

Damien’s staring our way with a huge grin on his face before he mouths, “Go home”.

I flip him the bird as Nate and Allie help me out the door, Carlos not too far behind.

After lunch, I bump into Christian on the way to the library. He asks if I'm okay and while it’s a nice gesture, it’s all in vain if he doesn’t get his friends to back off.

The library is quiet and when the smell of sweet, musky books takeover, I start to relax. Do I even have to say that the ERA library is impressive? It’s three floors and the size of a department store. Everything looks encased in glossy brown wood. Except for the brass rails, lights, books and computers.

Passing the time there is easy, especially after finding a spot at the end of the second floor where no one seems to go. It’s a little cubicle at the end of the poetry section with literal cobwebs. My refuge.

The last bell rings, a wind of relief flowing through me. My locker is my last stop before I meet Willow outside to wait for Henry. Grabbing my backpack, I leave my jacket behind. No need for it with a car and the warm fall air.

When I exit the school, the air is warm, but the sky is grey and cloudy, the wind bringing a whiff of rain. Looking towards the driveway, my stomach tightens. Damien’s helping my sister into the back of Henry’s Rolls Royce.

“Get the fuck away from her!” As I hurry down the stairs, Henry takes off, leaving Damien with his hands in his pockets. “Hey!” Getting to the driveway, I call after the car. I’m waving my hands but Henry doesn’t stop. “Wait!”

Damien takes the few steps to get beside me before he shrugs. “I figured you’d have some extracurricular whoring to do. So I told your driver you had other means of getting home.”

My shoulders drop as I square up with this excuse for a King once more, “What the fuck is your problem?”

“Damien?” Lea’s voice comes from the bottom of the stairs. I turn to see her lips tight, eyebrows raised. “What are you doing?”

“Informing Medusa about her walk home,” he smirks. Thunder cracks along with Lea’s cackle as he lifts an eye to the sky. “Better hurry.”

I pull my phone from my backpack as the first drops of rain begin. Damien nudges me hard enough that my phone falls out of my hand. He kicks it towards the stairs and walks towards it. When he gets in front of it he lifts his boot before I hear a crunch! He digs the heel into the screen before using his umbrella to whip it into the driveway like a puck.

“What the actual fuck?”

I should’ve known better than to think last night meant anything to him. I'm stupid for letting him invade my thoughts. How did I ever let him touch me like that?

He shrugs, meeting Lea at the end of the stairs before he puts an arm around her. “Thought I needed to send more of a message.”

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