Page 42 of Ashton

Atticus backs away, looking anywhere but in my direction. That’s how I know this fight is about me. And if I have to guess, it’s about me staying out with Spencer. I’m not giving up hanging out with my best friend.

“He’s mad, Jinx, that’s all. I can handle a bloody nose. Sorry about your table. I’ll get you a new one. In the meantime, I’m gonna stay in our dorm.”

“That doesn’t explain anything, Ash. What was the fight about?”

Ashton walks to the kitchen sink, grabs a dishcloth, and turns on the water. He daps the blood from his top lip and leans against the counter facing me.

“Jinx, it’s because you don’t listen when we tell you to do something, and then this white knight here steps in and lets you get away with anything. The way you two acted last night, don’t get me started. Then to let you stay behind with Spencer, and he drops you off fuckin’ whacked out of your goddamn mind. I wanted to kill the prick.” Atticus paces the living room, not once looking at me.

I look to where Maddox is standing, and he shrugs. Did I piss him off, too? All I wanted was some fun. Since we know who my stalker is, I didn’t think anything of it.

“So I’m not allowed any freedom to have fun. Is that what you’re telling me?”

“Yes.”

“No.”

“Maybe.”

They all answer.

“I need you all to leave, please. Now,” I said emotionlessly. My temples throb with anger the more I think about theiranswers. Of course, Atticus doesn’t think I need freedom. If he had it his way, I would be locked away in my tower.

Maddox takes a step forward but stops. “Jinx, can we explain our answers?”

I shake my head no. “I don’t want to hear anything. Just go.” I turn, picking up all of Edgar’s things. Why, of all days, did he have to fly away?

“I would never hold you back, Jinx. Swans aren’t meant to be caged; don’t keep us away for too long.”

Leave it to Ashton to have the last say. When the door latches closed behind them, I turn around to a broken, quiet dorm. I know I did the right thing because I don’t have any regrets; they need to know some boundaries and that they don’t run this relationship all the time.

I can’t keep going like this.

It's been two days, and they still can’t leave me alone. They think I don’t see them walking behind me to every class, but it’s hard to miss them in a crowd. It also doesn’t help when I share classes with them; there is no need to speak with Ashton or Atticus, but it’s Maddox that I’m having a hard time with.

The concert is at the end of this week, and neither of us feels confident enough. I don’t because of Lula and Piper, and the last time Maddox tried out for a concert, he was attacked. He needs to focus on his music and nothing else.

It’s just getting him to believe in himself that I’m struggling with. I can give him all the compliments and encouragement in the world, but it’s up to him in the end. I can’t control his mindset.

I was halfway to Greywood Hall when I changed my mind. I needed caffeine to deal with all this drama. I spotted Ashton on the steps of the main building, watching me.

Me: Meet me in the food court. I know for a fact you’re hungry

Spence is always hungry, and with a chance to ditch class to eat, he’ll be here in a matter of seconds. I head for the Raven Bean first. That coffee needs to get into my system more than food. There’s just something about this café that speaks to my dark little heart. All the walls are painted black, with strange and unusual oddities hanging in every which way. The jackalope skeleton head is my favorite.

With my coffee and a sandwich for Spence, I find a table in the middle of the food court. I take my psych homework out and try to concentrate, but learning aboutmental behaviors isn’t on my mind at the moment. The sound of books slamming on the table jolts me upright.

A pair of green eyes stare back at me. He drew his eyebrows together in a frown as I searched him over. His cheeks grow pink the longer I look.

“Odette?”

“Who’s asking?” I felt my heart flip; no one ever asked for me.

He shoves the books in my direction. “Give those to Ashton and tell him I want my payment.” His eyes focused intently on my face.

“Okay? Why can’t you give them to him?”

“Can you do it or not?”

---