Page 27 of Wicked Waters

“Somewhere private,” Penelope said when I reached her. Okay, that meant taking Hatherley Hall’s incorruptible golden girl down to the lower levels of the crypts because the only private room on this level was Knox’s bedroom, and the only person allowed in there aside from him was his girlfriend.

“You sure you wanna go down to the lower levels? People might talk.”

“Oh. Yes.” Her mouth twisted. “I’d rather not. Perhaps we could go upstairs into the cellars? Or even a private corner down here? I just want to make sure we aren’t overheard.”

I glanced around us. No one was paying us any attention that I could see. No one except for Freya, who was staring daggers at her friend. I smiled to myself. As if she had anything to be jealous about. Penelope was the last person I’d ever do anything with, and she’d never sully her squeaky-clean head girl reputation with me, either. She wasn’t a deviant like our head boy was, currently sitting with two girls with their hands all over his body, smirking as he rolled a joint.

“Yeah, we can go here. No one’s listening.” I led her through the archway to the far corner of the crypt, where we were mostly in the shadows, out of earshot of the other students. “What’s up?”

“It’s about Quinn.”

Of fucking course it was.

“No offence, but I don’t want to talk about her.”

“Sorry. I just…she seemed upset earlier, and she mentioned she’d seen you. I’m worried about her.” Penelope turned pleading blue eyes on me, and to my complete fucking horror, they filled with tears. I froze. What the fuck were you supposed to do with crying girls? Quinn had been different. This, I was not equipped to deal with.

“Uh…”

“Sorry,” she sniffed, leaning into me, and oh, fuck, she wanted me to hug her, didn’t she? Where was Tristan when I needed him? He was good with this kind of shit. I gingerly wrapped my arms around her, and she collapsed against me with a shaky exhale. Her arms came around me in turn, and she buried her face in my shoulder.

Fucking hell. Even though I was just providing her comfort or whatever, it still felt wrong. Quinn had really fucked with my head, and I didn’t like it.

Fucking finally, Penelope raised her head, and I was relieved that her eyes were now dry. “Sorry,” she said again. “I suppose I wanted to say that I think you should stay away from her. I…you’re a friend, Roman, but she’s having a hard time, and I?—”

“I get it.” Releasing her, I stepped back, dislodging her grip on me.

She blinked and then gave a small laugh. “Sorry. Again. I don’t usually make a habit of crying all over people.”

“Yeah, bit awkward,” I agreed with a cough. I fucking hoped it didn’t happen again. With her or with anyone. “Listen, you don’t need to worry about me going near her. I’m not planning on it. I have no interest in making her life harder. In fact, I’d prefer to avoid her completely, but that’s not gonna happen with us both being in the same location twenty-four seven. But you have my word, I won’t go near her if I can help it.”

Her shoulders relaxed, and she smiled. “Okay. Good. I debated whether to say anything, and I hope you don’t think I’m interfering. I was just worried about her.”

“Don’t worry about it. You’re just being a friend.” Tristan caught my eye over Penelope’s shoulder, waving a joint in the air at me. “Are we done here? Because there’s a joint with my name on it over there.”

Distracted by the prospect of weed, I didn’t wait for a reply. The conversation was over. Penelope had done her job, and now she could go running to Quinn, and as for me…

Back in my original place, I stretched out on the sofa, tugging Freya onto my thighs again. It still felt fucking wrong—everything did—but I was going to do everything I could to get back to normal.

“What did Pen want? I saw you hugging her.” Freya pouted, and I winced internally. I liked her so much better when she didn’t speak.

“Nothing important,” I said dismissively, sliding my hand onto her bare thigh. She immediately shut up. Perfect. Now, all I needed was a nice buzz from the weed, and then maybe things would feel right again. “Pass me the joint, will you?”

16

QUINN

This was the first time I’d been in the infamous crypts, and I was only here because everyone else was. Despite knowing Roman would be here, I’d believed him when he said he’d stay away from me, and I had to learn how to handle seeing him around the school, until the sight of him stopped affecting me. I longed for the day I’d be indifferent to him.

“I won’t let him near you,” Aria promised, threading her arm through mine as we descended the stone stairs. I smoothed down the hem of my short dress, glad I’d worn my Converse with it so I could at least attempt to be casual. I didn’t want Roman to know how he affected me.

From my vantage point, I could see an archway leading into a large underground chamber far beneath the school. Laid-back beats played from hidden speakers, echoing off the ancient walls, and people were crowded into most of the available floor space, talking, drinking, and chilling. Amidst the haze of smoke clouding the air, I caught a glimpse of raven hair on the cluster of sofas beyond the archway, and my heart beat faster. I immediately averted my gaze, but not before noticing the blonde seated on his lap.

It had taken him less than four hours to move on.

I hadn’t been prepared for it to hurt so badly.

Aria stiffened next to me, her sharp gaze taking in the same sight I had. “That motherfucker,” she hissed. “Grace, Mira, c’mere. Get our girl a drink, and keep her away from you-know-who while I give that wanker a piece of my mind.” Before any of us could reply, she bounded down the final few steps and stormed over to the sofas, pushing through the crowd with ease despite her small stature.

---