Page 9 of Mixing Drinks For Tipsy Weasels

"Or I'll get to the end of it and decide I don't want anything to do with psychology ever again."

"Maybe," Danielle responds. "But what do I know? I run a dress shop."

"Pfft, please. There's loads of psychology used in that. Which dresses look good in the window, what colours do people like the most, how to interact with customers. You've always been a natural at that."

"You're not so bad yourself," she assures me. "How about this one?" She gestures to a noodle bar.

"Yeah, looks good." My stomach rumbles, reminding me that it's been a while since I last ate, and that there are other things for me to focus on besides studying and life at the academy.

Though Danielle is right about one thing. Well, realistically, about several things. But I am judging Rupert based on the past without understanding anything about what put the rift betweenus in the first place. So maybe it's time for us to put the past behind us and move on.

Or at least try.

Chapter 6

Erica

Headinginto the main room of the student union is nerve-wracking after the decision to make amends with Rupert. Or maybe not making amends, but making it so that the past is where it should be and that we're not completely consumed by it. Which might be easier said than done, but I'm going to at least try.

Sami and D are leaning close together and discussing something to do with the decorations. Luckily for me, the paint we put on the arch yesterday needs to dry or something like that. I can't say I really understand what's going on, just that other people who know more have told me what to do.

Rupert enters the room and the nerves increase in intensity. Now is my chance. If I want to talk to him and put an end to what feels like a fight, then this is my chance. Even if there's a part of me that doesn't want to.

And a part of me that's worried that I'm just going to slip straight back into being catty towards him when I shouldn't be.

But I need to be the bigger person. Danielle's advice was good.

My footsteps echo through my mind as I make my way over to him. I clear my throat. "Can I talk to you?"

Surprise flits over Rupert's face. "Erm, sure."

I gesture for him to move over to the side of the room, well aware of the intrigued expression on Sami's face. Whatever he knows about the tension between us, it's clear that he's interested in finding out what this is about. And I'd really rather that nobody overheard in case Rupert outright rejects any suggestion of civility between us.

"What's up?" he asks, looking unsurprisingly guarded.

"I think we got off to the wrong start."

He raises an eyebrow. "When we were five?"

"No. Now." I take a deep breath. "I know that we have...whatever this is. But I think we should put it to the side and start fresh. A truce, so to speak."

"Wouldn't a truce be the two of us putting aside how we feel rather than starting fresh?"

I narrow my eyes at him. "Do you have to be so pedantic?"

"I'm just trying to be clear about what you want."

"I want to not have to be on edge while we're here because I'm worried about upsetting you," I say firmly. "We're going to be at the academy for at least another two or three years, this isn't going to be the only time our paths cross."

"You don't know that."

"All right, so you're willing to take the chance that this is the only time we're ever going to be in the same club or society? You're not an idiot, Rupert. Knowing our luck, we'll be assigned the same flat next year, and then we won't be able to avoid each other at all."

He wrinkles his nose. "Fair point. Though I think you can just apply to stay in the same flat if you want to."

"Yes, I know, I was making a point." I cross my arms.

"All right, fine. Truce," he says. "We'll reexamine the fresh slate when we've seen how well that does."

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