Page 17 of Supernova

He returned to his slumped position in his chair, arms crossed so his biceps popped. “I just hope you’re also wearing my underwear,” he gave me a devilish grin.

My face surely turned red and there would be no hiding it. Somehow I managed to retort back.

“Actually, I thought I’d save them for later.”

His brows arched up, surprise clear on his face as he contemplated me, and then he ever so slightly bit his lip in what seemed like excited approval. What was wrong with me? Why was I encouraging him?

“Where’s Carter?” Kit questioned. I was thankful for the interruption.

Griffin lazily replied as he pushed his food around with his fork. “He’s off doing God knows what with God knows who. He’ll catch us later.” The girls snorted in response.

The rest of the dinner went smoothly with no more awkward interactions. The three of them spoke like they had known each other forever and I was surprised to see Griffin let his guard down so much with them. They told me stories about growing up together at the academy and what life was like here. It was … nice. I felt content and excited to be a part of it with them. Maybe coming here was the right decision.

As we were getting ready to leave, Kit pointed out Carter in the distance chatting to a group of girls.

He waved before ducking out and disappearing with them.

CHAPTER 13

Before bed I decided I needed some fresh air and a minute to myself. Kitana and Billie recommended I head out the fire escape at the front of the gym. Thanks to my first interaction here, I knew where that was.

I was overwhelmed by this place. In both a good and bad way. It was exhilarating and breathtaking. It was also brutal—at least I could tell it was going to be. And so different to what I was used to. The depth of what I was doing had hit me like a tonne of bricks after dinner. The fact that I was here—in an unknown city. In a brand new place full of warriors, that I didn’t know existed until twenty-four hours ago, trained to hunt the very person I had loved for most of my life.

But this was what I needed to do. I couldn’t just sit around in Saint Claire and pretend like my life was normal. Not after all mum had told me. And certainly not after River. So I had to be brave. I had to embrace my new surroundings and train. I had to become a warrior—a Knight.

If that meant learning how to fight in an academy full of lethal recruits with years of experience on me and sleeping in a room full of strangers or showering in a communal bathroom, then so be it. At least Kit and Billie welcomed me in with open arms and were extremely accommodating. And Griffin, although he seemed like more trouble than anything else, was still helpful and … I guess you could say kind—although that was likely for other reasons.

I could do this. With their help, I could do this. I wouldn’t break down.

I climbed out onto that fire escape and once I scanned my surroundings to make sure I was alone, I cried. Strong, heavy, persistent drops of tears that cascaded down my face. So much for not breaking down.

I would try to make it through this whole experience but that didn’t mean it would be easy. I needed to let it out. Sometimes a girl just needed to cry, you know? So I did. I cried for my old life. I cried for my broken relationship with River who had once been my everything. I cried for Amelia. I cried for the uncharacteristically harsh way I left my family. I cried.

Suddenly extra aware, as the hair on the back of my neck prickled, I pulled my face from my hands. My instincts kicked in but obviously they were not as tuned as I would have liked them to be because my unwanted company was already sitting along the window sill—an unlit cigarette in his mouth. Not Griffin as I had somewhat expected, but I had seen this guy earlier at dinner. This was the fourth member of their group. I had no idea how long he’d watched me sob like an incessant child. This wasn’t exactly how I’d imagine our first meeting would go.

What a great first impression, Vee. Good job.

Now that he had been discovered, he lit his cigarette casually. “Hello love. I’m Carter. You were with the gang earlier. I would remember a face like yours around here. You must be the new meat everyone has been talking about.” There was an accent, British maybe? His introduction was nothing short of surprising considering that he’d just witnessed me crying my eyes out. He almost acted like this was a normal occurrence: to introduce yourself to a random new girl on a fire escape while she was drying fresh tears. Unless he somehow missed it? God, I hope he missed it. The moonlight lit up the blonde highlights in his fair hair. It was slicked back with a few escaped pieces falling in front of his face.

He didn’t comment on my crying or ask what I was doing out here. He just kept talking as if he hadn’t seen or heard anything. “Venus, right? We finally have a shiny new toy here. Things can get boring real quick.” It definitely had to be British. He blew out a puff of smoke. I was too gobsmacked about this whole situation to comment on the fact that he’d call me ‘new meat’ or ‘a shiny toy’. And weirdly enough something about him reminded me of a blonde Zander, so instead of retaliating at the insulting terms I replied softly with, “You can call me Vee.”

He got up from where he was sitting and walked to my side. He had a white shirt on and a leather jacket thrown over his shoulder. A few silver chains dangled from his neck, one with a silver dog tag on the end, just like Griffins. “We’re going to be fast friends, Vee. I can already tell. I was actually just heading out. Usually, I’d find Griffin out here. But I’m not complaining about his substitute for the night.” He gave me a wide, sincere grin. “Although Griffin might kill me if I made a move—he did call dibs”.

“He did what?” My tears had definitely dried up now.

Crouching down beside me, he grinned. “Would you prefer me? I told him I’d be more your type but he was incessant that I wouldn’t be.”

“Uhh...” I was honestly speechless but he had got me to stop crying and I had to wonder if he did it on purpose to cheer me up. He took another drag of his cigarette and then offered it to me. I shook my head.

“So, what do you say, Vee? Doesn’t seem like you have any other pressing plans tonight. Let’s go out. It’ll be fun.” He seemed thoroughly excited by the idea and the genuine smile on his face almost had me saying yes. I didn’t know if it was the accent, but I found him charming. It was like a secret weapon. He could probably say anything and get away with it. So far both the guys I’d met here seemed to have the same talent and I wondered if they taught that here too. I could probably use a lesson or two.

I didn’t hear the window creak or the metal frame beneath us groan as Griffin quietly joined us.

“Don’t you have better things to do than harass the new girl?”

I jumped.

He was leaning casually against the frame of the window, arms crossed, face stoic. He was dressed in grey sweats and the charcoal-coloured tee from earlier. It clung to his broad chest in the slight midnight breeze. I stared at him, wiping my eyes to hide all traces of my earlier tears before he could notice them. I didn’t know why I cared if he did. But I guess I didn’t want to embarrass myself further. It was bad enough Carter may or may not have seen me.

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