Page 5 of Snake

When she looks back and finally notices my expression, she shrugs. “What? His dad’s a hunter too.”

I push away my plate, deliberately focusing on her as I slowly clench my hands together in front of me on the table. “Do you know Vicky?”

Romi frowns. “Everyone knows Vicky.”

Of course they do.

“She…told me she’s one of my sponsors.”

Romi’s shocked brown eyes study me for a moment, then her expression dissolves into doubt. “Vicky sponsored you?” She sits back, her chin dipping down. “I wondered how you got into the Academy.”

“You never asked,” I say with a frown.

Romi waves away the question. “It’s rude to ask.” Her eyes narrow. “Wait, who elsesponsored you?”

“I don’t know.” I lean in so I can whisper. “I’m going to Vicky’s house on Friday. She said she’ll speak to me about all of that.”

Romi taps her finger against her mouth. “I think my parents were friends with Vicky way back when she was still a Zara. Well, everyone was friends with Vicky. She was the head cheerleader, vice president of the student body council, Cinderhart Darling two years running before that. I’m sure she was Queen of Ashes at least two or three times. She’s like the most popular person around here.” She frowns. “Wait...were your parents…popular?”The way she says it, I have a feeling I should be offended, but honestly I’ve never given a fuck about stuff like that.

“Who knows? Maybe they were.” I shrug. “Guess I’ll find out on Friday.”

“I’ll speak to my parents. Maybe they know something.” Romi lets out a long breath, glancing over her shoulder. I presume toward the Serpents. “Do they know?”

“What? That she sponsored me? Why would they?”

She crooks an eyebrow at me, her mouth twisting like she’s wondering how I get dressed in the morning without help. “Um, because—”

“So listen, babe.” The bench rattles when Magnus falls down next to me again. “I’ve been giving this a lot of thought—”

“It’s been like a minute, Wren,” Romi cuts in dryly.

“Exactly, and I think you’re being full of shit.” He grabs Romi’s hands, dragging her arms over the table so she has to lean in. I suddenly feel like I’m intruding, but I’m too curious to leave. “You and me, we’re meant to be, right? I mean, come on.” He briefly releases Romi so he can wash his hands down the front of his body.“You’ve been after this for years.”

Romi plucks her hands out of his with a derisive snort. “Please. You’d be so lucky.”

“You should be glad I’m even talking to you,” Magnus says. “Do you know what my parents would do to me if they found out I was even thinking about taking you to the dance?”

My roommate sits back with an angry sound, crossing her arms tightly over her uniform. Even her pussycat bow is bristling with rage. “How noble of you, lowering yourself to my level.”

“Aw, babe, come on. I didn’t mean it like that. I’m just saying, you don’t have to be such a fucking hard ass. You like me, I like you. Let’s go to the stupid fucking dance and have some fun. Why does all this shit have to get in the way?”

“What shit? Tradition?”

I can tell from Romi’s raised eyebrow she feels strongly about all of this, but apparently, despite everything, Magnus doesn’t have a clue.

“Yeah, that shit’s for losers.”The temperature at our table drops several degrees, but Magnus charges on without noticing. I have to give it to him—at least he’s got the balls to see it through.

Then again, so does Romi.

“Well this loser thinks that shit’s important,” Romi says, getting to her feet. When she glances over at me, I rush to my feet in solidarity. “If you change your mind, you know where to find me.”

I give the rest of my hot dog a lingering glance as Romi grabs my hand and walks us out of the cafeteria in a huff.

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