Page 16 of Kings of Lust
Or the deal?
‘Bea!?’ A voice called out from somewhere on the other end of the building, and as I turned to locate the sound, I spotted Jenna in my old part of the lobby. We shared a class, and she was waiting for me to join her. Or maybe just trying to help me escape Cole. Either way, I needed to get over to her before he got some new idea about joining us for some extracurricular studies.
‘I’m late for class,’ my voice ghosted the words, waiting to see the reaction.
‘So!?’
Go figure...
‘Please, I can only attend the first three classes anyway. I have to take Seb to the hospital for his treatment at noon.’
‘No bra at the party and you can go.’
‘Are you for real?’
He nodded.
‘What are you, five!?’
‘Then don’t go. We’ll spend the hour in the lobby. Either way, it’s ok with me,’ he leaned his back on the wall behind him, getting himself comfortable for who knows how long.
‘Fine,’ I grumbled, knowing that I wasn’t going to get out off there any time soon without me agreeing to whatever twisted fantasies he had in mind. It was as if he always needed something in return for whatever little thing he did. Very much similar to Brax, and if I was to admit to it, also with Ferris.
I didn’t remain there to argue. My chances of winning were close to none anyway. I just hurried to get to Jenna, turning my back onthe kingand striding to my old end of the corridor.
‘Aren’t you going to kiss me goodbye?’ Cole called after me with all irony he possessed. ‘That’s ok, Mouse. You’ll make up for it later.’
Shit. I thoughtmaking upfor something had to come from one’s own will. In his case, the tone was advising me that most likely I’dpayfor it later.
I was out of the woods, so wiggling a few fingers, I greeted Jenna ‘Hey.’
It felt amazing seeing a friendly face in what now seemed to be the lion’s den, and whether I was the poor new girl or Queen B, I did not belong there.
‘Hi,’ she caught me into a long-overdue hug, yet one that hid a level of uncertainty ‘I hope I’m still allowed to do this?’ Her doubts came out to light, as my new position had propelled me miles away from who I used to be.
‘Of course, you’re allowed. Where is this coming from?’
‘From you sucking faces with the devil!?’ she answered with annoyance, then began pacing towards the classroom.
I hated to have to explain myself to anyone in general, but in her eyes, I was betraying her and fraternizing with the enemy... or whatever we were doing. ‘He’s helping me with the custody.’ That’s all that I could say to her, explaining somehow what ourrelationshipwas.
I guess Jenna already noticed his pattern, realizing that nothing could ever come for free when it came to Cole ‘And what does he want in return?’
The question made me shut down for a second or two because in the light of day, I didn’t have the answer to it. What exactly did he want that he couldn’t instantly receive from any other girl that ever stepped foot in this school?
‘I haven’t fully figured that one out yet,’ I just casually shrugged, trying to diminish the importance of the thought. At that stage, I was over trying to figure him out. Besides, there was something else that was worrying me at that moment ‘You lost weight,’ I observed, knowing that the chances she was on a diet were remote. Her slim silhouette was far from needing one.
As I suspected, it wasn’t the case, and the unhappiness in her eyes quickly confirmed it ‘Things were tough lately. I can’t even sleep well at night, not to mention my appetite. With all the riots and everything that’s going on in the Pit, my parents have been left unemployed.’
Goosebumps formed on my skin as I knew her situation all too well. I’d been in her shoes for too long and knew the excruciating pain of walking in them.
‘You have to eat something before I’ll start feeling fat around you,’ I giggled, pulling two muffins out of my purse and handing them to her. Ever since I started living in Ferris’s apartment, I didn’t lack a fresh supply of pretty muchanything, including all sorts of baked goodies.
‘Don’t you want to at least share?’ She reached for the muffins but was unsure if she should take just one or both.
‘I’m not hungry,’ I spoke, taking a seat beside her as soon as we reached the classroom.
It’s not like the baked cakes were going to save her life, but it was the best I could do at the time.
