Page 59 of Knight

“Don’t pee in my bed and tell me it’s raining, Scandal,” Nate’s quick to cut me off, his hand on his chest.

“He means on his head,” Carlos nods in a jacket like Indiana Jones. “But he’s right. That’s an aggressive threesome waiting to happen.”

“Ew! Guys!” Allie pipes, purple highlights fading into brown.

“Wait, where the fuck are you guys going?” I’m gesturing to their luggage, trying to change the topic. “You’re packed for like a year around the world.” They’re also dressed in matching jungle attire. Hiking boots. Cargo pants.

“Well, if you hadn’t forsaken your only real friends in this shithole,” Nate says, straightening his stance. “You would’ve known we’re going to Nicaragua.”

“Nic-where?”

“School charity trip,” Carlos explains. “We’ll be gone for a few weeks.”

“Shit.” Scratching the back of my head, I’m wondering how I missed this.

“It’s okay,” Nate pats me on the shoulder. “I’m sure you’ll have plenty of tea to spill when we’re back.”

I smile, “I was going to say, I can’t imagine you doing charity work.”

Nate rolls his eyes. “Carlos wouldn’t let me take him to Mykonos. He wanted to do something more meaningful.”

“I’m impressed,” I say to Carlos, giving him a nod of approval. Carlos seems less stuck up than the rest of the dickheads in this school. Makes me wonder what his story is.

The bell rings and I hug Carlos and Nate good-bye, wishing them well on their trip.

As Allie and I walk down the halls, she leans into me, “So, are you and King—”

“Gotta go!” I’ve never run so fast to homeroom but I’m still not ready for that conversation. For starters, I still haven’t had that conversation with Damien. Just what the fuck are we?

I try not to let that question ruin my day and as I go through classes, it doesn’t. I’m way too in a good mood from last night, and this morning, to let that happen.

Christian and Damien both text me for lunch but I tell them I’m eating with Allie. Now that Nate’s away with Carlos, she’ll be alone and I owe her some friend-time. We don’t waste our time at Emilio’s talking about boys. Instead, I fill her in on my scholarship chances and she’s crazy supportive. I even showed her a bit of what I’m working on and Allie thinks I have a solid shot.

If I don’t blow it.

After lunch, I spend my independent study period working on my final art piece and sure enough, I zone out on the time. When I look at my phone, it’s quarter past two. Shit. Damien’s waiting.

I only get a little paint off the brushes before I’m dashing towards the parking lot in my jacket. Willow texts me that she’s heading to Bella’s again and while I’m starting to think Bella’s stealing my sister, I won’t have to explain what I’m doing with Damien.

Once I’m out the door and in the lot, Damien’s car isn’t even there.

My heart sinks into my stomach, fists clenching the more reality sinks in. He did it again.

“Fuck!” I yell at the sky, students looking at me as they pass by. Sure, I was late but he left me. Didn’t even text.

How am I supposed to trust him? To trust this? When he behaves like a royal prick?

“He ditch you?” Christian’s voice comes from behind me.

Sighing, I turn around, annoyance in my voice. “Seems so.”

Christian pulls his keys out of his black coat. “Need a ride?”

“Yeah, actually I do.” My body buzzes with rage. He’s not getting away with it. “Right to that motherfucker’s home.” Christian hesitates, but I’m too mad. Too determined to get some final answers. I’m not going to be strung along like the girls he’s used to. If he wants a girl from The Grove, he’s about to get her. “Or I can call Henry.”

“No. It’s fine.” Christian shakes his head with a smile, a glimmer in his eye. “I wanna see this.”

Thirteen

---