Page 55 of Tricky Girls

‘See when we get there.’ I let her go ahead out the front door, locking it behind us. God knows where Haz and Nic are at. They’ve been weird lately, all secretive and tight-lipped. Been doing my head in. ‘Ready to have your world rocked?’

‘You and Haz do keep promising that but I’m not seeing much evidence yet.’

‘Time to up our game then.’ I heft the picnic basket on my arm. ‘Starting with tonight.’

Only one of the towers is licitly accessible to students. I think it’s one of those things you do during freshers, leaving withthe promise to make it ‘your place’, only to never return again because the gazillion steps are just fucking awful.

But I’d do it for this girl, fake date or not.

As we pass through the quad, the huge Christmas tree’s being erected, baubles the size of my head dotting the grass. Hazelhurst during the festive season is a special kind of magic. For just a few short weeks, the castle’s gothic charm is swapped for traditional warmth. The tree in the quad being the biggest, but there’ll be more dotted around, drooping with the weight of lights and baubles.

‘Got any Christmas plans yet?’

Tilda hums, not sounding all that enthused. She definitely strikes me more as the Halloween type. ‘Not really. You?’

‘Just a wild time at home with the fam. Youngest still believes in Santa so there’s all that going on.’

‘Cute. My mum never bothered.’

I glance at her. ‘Well, that’s sad.’

Tilda smiles. ‘You’re telling me.’

Well, shit. Now I’ve made her sad.

Not that it takes much, I’ve noticed.

I know she’s still cut up about her ex-boyfriend, despite mine and Haz’s teasing.

Just hope she’s not cutting herself up too.

There’s been times I’ve wanted to bring it up, like when she’s lounging around the lodge in those tiny pyjama shorts, those stark pink lines peeking out beneath. But it just never seems to be the right time, and I don’t want to bring attention to something that might be highly private. I don’t know her that well yet.

Something I’m dying to change, bet or no bet.

I try not to think of that dumb piece of paper stashed behind the TV stand in our haste to move Tilda in. It kind of cloudseverything. I want to be getting closer to her under my own volition, not just because I’m in some competition with Haz.

It seemed like a bit of fun at that time, that competitive streak of mine tickled. But Tilda’s actually really sad and it feels all kinds of ick to be taking advantage of her for the sake of a bet.

That said, would I be doing this faux date thing if it wasn’t for theirs at Vipers the other night? Probably not.

The east tower looms to our right, silhouetted by the deepening clouds. Purple now. We might just catch the tail end of the sunset if we’re lucky. I think my own funeral might be the thing I’m finally in time for.

We enter through the giant front doors, pulled fully open at this time of day. The Christmas tree in here isn’t up yet, the odd Halloween dec still around. Vaulted ceilings loom over us, the university’s emblem made up in stone on the wall between the double staircase.

The four faces of our houses stare back: The Wolf, The Witch, The Alchemist, The Crow. Some students go crazy for that kind of thing—mostly the internationals and those linked to the more prominent families, the Italians, the richest bastards here. For me and Haz, we couldn’t give a toss. Nic’s more pally with that lot than us.

Our shoes scuff dully over the wide floor tiles. The building’s full of students leaving their last lecture of the day, dimming the natural ambience of the castle. Later on though, this place is creepy as fuck.

As we wind our way east, I glance at Tilda, taciturn at my side. I can sense she’s gone inward, can almost hear the cogs in her mind whirring. Deep thinker, this girl. I need to bring her back to the present.

‘You know, if this was a real date, I’d usually hold your hand.’ I wiggle one before her with a grin. ‘I’m always warm. Girls love it.’

I feel a thrill when she only smiles and twines her hand with mine.

I look down, momentarily stunned.

Fuck. She’s actually holding my hand.

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