Page 36 of Creatures of Chaos

“Is something wrong with what I’m wearing?” I ask Ensley as I sit down next to her at lunch.

Tilting her head, she looks me up and down, taking in my off-the-shoulder graphic tee and ripped jeans. I fidget under her regard, sure there’s something different or wrong with how I look today.

Ensley shrugs. “No. You look cute. Why?”

I sneak a covert look over my shoulder and notice several sets of eyes pointed in our direction. “I guess it’s not a big deal, but it’s just that classmates have been . . . noticing me.” I feel silly once the words leave my mouth.

Ensley’s brows hike and she scans the tables around the courtyard, probably not seeing anything out of the usual. I’ve almost convinced myself it’s all in my head when she turns back to me and says, “I think you’re right.”

I lower my voice, irrationally worried we’ll be overheard. “What do you think is going on?”

She leans back in her seat, a thoughtful expression on her face. “I think it’s because you entered Chaos and made it through the first round. That took guts, Lock. Creatures noticed.”

“You really think so?”

She nods and I take another look around, noticing that the majority of the stares in my direction are neutral, which is better than openly hostile, but it seems like the students at Nightlark are still making their mind up about me or how they feel about me being a Chaos competitor. I’m not naive enough to think that something couldn’t push the consensus in a negative direction, so for now the extra attention isn’t good or bad. It just is.

Ensley moves closer, lowering her voice. “We never did talk about why you entered in the first place,” she says, letting the statement hang in the air between us.

I knew my friends were going to grill me over Chaos, but even after a couple of days I still haven’t figured out how to answer the question about why I entered without revealing my feelings for Becks.

Becks’ face immediately fills my mind. I haven’t seen him at all today, and he’s noticeably absent from lunch. Is he avoiding me? Maybe. I know he was upset at me for entering Chaos, and I’d been too chicken to reach out to him over the weekend. I’d hoped having some time to cool off would put him in a calmer headspace.

“It was a spur of the moment decision,” I say, hoping the kernel of truth in that statement shines through.

Ensley barks out a laugh. “You’re kidding, right?”

I shrug. It’s notnottrue. “It just felt like something I had to do,” I answer vaguely, and Ensley studies my face. “Why?”

“You know that answer isn’t going to be enough for Becks. He moped around the rest of the weekend. He’s really bent out of shape over the whole thing.”

“He’ll get over it.”At least I hope.

“I don’t know. He doesn’t get like this often. He’s concerned about you. I think he’s seriously in his head about it.”

A spike of guilt shoots through me because I’m not the only thing Becks is concerned about right now. I don’t doubt he’s worried about me; it’s Becks’ nature to be protective, and when I’m competing in Chaos all he can do is stand back and watch. But how much of his energy is wrapped up in his impending arranged life-mating? And as far as I can tell, Ensley is still in the dark. I don’t want to betray Becks’ trust, but he needs all the support he can get from those closest to him. His parents might not be fighting back against the life-mating, but I know that his sister will be on his side.

“Ensley,” I start. “Has Becks mentioned?—”

The chair next to me is pulled out, the legs scraping against the stone floor with a cringy screech. I look over and Leo flops his lanky body into the seat. Pulling back my upper lip, I lean away from him.

“Gimpy, you surprised me,” Leo says with a smile that shows too many teeth, so it comes across disturbing rather than friendly.

“Beat it,” Ensley says.

Leo holds up his hands in surrender. “Hey now, don’t kill the messenger.”

“What do you mean?” I ask before Ensley can come to my defense again. I may despise Leo, but I need to start sticking up for myself in small ways if I’m going to take back my power.

Leo digs into his backpack, pulls out a small black rectangular device, and places it on the table in front of me.

“Chaos tracker,” he says by way of explanation. “All the competitors are getting one. You’re supposed to keep it on you at all times.”

I pick up the device. It’s thicker than my phone, but smaller in overall size. “What is it for?” I ask, turning it over in my hand. There don’t seem to be any buttons or a screen.

“Just the messenger, remember?” he says, and then shoves out of the seat once again. “Good luck during the next trial,” he says, leaving, but the wolfish grin on his face tells me “well” isn’t what he wishes me.

“Can I see?” Ensley asks, and I hand it over. She turns it over like I did, but finally hands it back with a shrug.

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