Page 59 of His To Claim

“Well, that settles it, we’re not going,” I say, causing everyone to laugh.

“Have you talked to Drake?” Kai asks me as we walk together to our fifth period class.

I haven’t seen Drake since I ran into him coming out of the Headmaster’s office on Monday after the incident with Ace outside Macallan’s room. Drake, of course, was suspended and given a written warning, strike one of the three that will get us kicked out of the academy. Guilt is eating me up inside and causing me to stay away from him and I haven’t talked to him since the altercation. He’ll be back at school on Monday but I’m also hoping I get to see him tomorrow night.

“He’s been ignoring my calls and messages. I think it’s best if I give him time to cool down. He was super pissed about Ace and how he’s constantly around me. I don’t want him to get into any more trouble because of me.”

“Yeah, he’s been in a foul mood. He’s had classes all week down in the Headmaster’s wing, and detention during lunch and after school. A bit much for throwing a punch if you ask me,” Kai says.

“Yeah, if he hadn’t thrown a punch at the Headmaster’s son.”

Saturday night is once againtime for another Halloween fiasco. Not sure what this town’s obsession with Halloween is, but whatever. The theme tonight is “Gods and Monsters,” and is based on the gods and monsters of Greek mythology, and get this, it’s a couple’s theme party. To my surprise, it’s also being held down by the private beach on the outskirts of the academy. According to Stella, this time around, however, the beach houses will not be open for the party, so instead we all have to freeze our asses off along the beach.

It’s mid-October now and even though the days are still quite warm, the nights are cool and breezy.

I haven’t seen Ace since Friday after what happened during Macallan’s class, and tonight, I finally get to see Drake, so I decide no costume is the way to go. This is based on the uncertainty of whether Drake and I still qualify as a couple after the argument we had, and that I can’t seem to stop making out with Ace.

I’m honestly not sure I’m even going to attend. The theme’s stupid, just an excuse to be dressed pretty much naked, wrapped in sheets and foliage. I don’t believe in any gods, and have enough monsters inside me, no need to transform into one.

Walking into the living room, I find Jade and Stella watching one of the Halloween movies. I head over to the couch and sit beside Jade stealing some popcorn out of her bowl.

“Which one is this?”

“The first one of course, it’s the best one. There’s something about Michael,” she says, biting her lip.

Stella and I turn to each other, a confused look on our faces.

“Must be because he reminds you of a certain silver eyed giant,” I say referring to Bass who stands well over six feet, and her obvious attraction to him.

She glares at me, a slight blush creeping on her cheeks. That gets me a handful of popcorn kernels to the head. Stella and I laugh causing her to throw more.

“Don’t waste the snacks,” I shout, chuckling.

“Come to think of it, my cousin is pretty mysterious and broody, always sulking around, permanent scowl plastered on his perfect face,” Stella says, smirking at Jade.

“I wouldn’t know,” she answers back. “I pay little attention to him.”

At Jade’s blatant lie Stella and I laugh hysterically. “Yeah right, just like Stella isn’t majorly crushing on Kai,” I say, raising a brow at her.

“Hey, leave me out of it. Besides, it’s not as bad as your denial about you and Ace totally happening.”

I glare at her, deciding to drop the conversation not wanting to admit the number of times I’ve kissed Ace. “Whatever, I’m gonna go shower,” I say, getting up and heading toward the bathroom.

As I enter the hall, I can hear them giggling and whispering, “I told you she wants him.” Fuck, they might just be right.

Heading to my closet after my long shower, I decide on a pair of old black, ripped jeans, some high-waist fishnets that will peek out above my jeans and through the holes on the legs, and a black cropped, tube top. I pair the outfit with my black laced boots, a jean jacket, black-winged liner, and a dark lipstick, looking like I stepped out of a ninety’s grunge magazine.

I take the jacket off and drape it over my arm, taking it with me just in case. It’s probably cold out so I figure it's not worth the risk of freezing my ass off.

I’m spraying my cherry and vanilla scented body spray when I hear a loud knock on my window, sounding as if something has hit it. I slowly make my way over and see Drake standing in the grass looking up at me. I can’t help but smile at the sight of him. He nods his head and signals for me to come down. Grabbing my cell phone and shoving it in my jacket pocket I walk out of my room and out of the building.

As I step outside an icy breeze hits my chest causing me to shiver slightly. It’s about 8 o’clock, the sun is now set, the chilly October breeze rustling through the trees. I turn and see Drakestanding by a tree at the far end of the yard, and make my way over to him nervously, remembering how we left things the last time we were together. His back is to me, a hand running through his dark hair, a cigarette in the other. He brings the cig to his mouth blowing out a cloud of smoke as I approach.

“Smoking kills,” I say as I come up beside him. I hear him laugh slightly but he doesn’t turn toward me.

“Wishful thinking,” he replies, passing it to me. I take it, bringing it to my mouth inhaling and blowing out a cloud of smoke. I know smoking is gross, a bad habit, but it’s one I could get away with.

“What are you doing here, Dragon?”

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