Page 50 of Dark Ink

I wasn’t sure whether Rian wanted to brush his lips against my lips or wrap his fist around my throat as he stared down at me in the ensuing silence. I felt like a mouse who’d walked into the open jaws of a snake. I felt like a mouse who liked to be stung. Who wanted to be stung.

“Rian?”

Both our heads whipped at the same moment to see a girl my age beside us. She looked vaguely familiar: the sleek black hair always falling over one eye, the tiny bones like a little bird, the big, waifish eyes. She held a drink with both hands like it was a cup of milk. Her eyes travelled between the two of us, between the very, very short distance. She smiled hesitantly at me.

“It’s Eithne, right?”

She stuck out her hand. I had to snake mine between Rian and my chest to shake it.

“We know each other from school,” the girl said cheerfully. A little too cheerfully for my liking. “Well, I mean, know of each other at least. I’m Aurnia.”

I grumbled a “hello” and then said I was just about to leave. Homework to do. She’d understand. With a quick flicker of her eyes to Rian, Aurnia put her hand on my arm to stop me.

“One little drink wouldn’t hurt, would it?”

One moment’s hesitation was all it took for Aurnia to have her hand in mine, dragging me quickly behind her toward the kitchen table. I glanced over my shoulder at Rian. His face was unreadable in the flashing lights. Then he was gone. Disappeared around the corner.

“Bottom’s up!” Aurnia shouted.

I hadn’t even realised that a shot was in my hand. Nor that I was lifting it numbly to my lips and pouring the burning liquid down my throat as I stared at the empty space where Rian had just been. Aurnia laughed as I coughed. Tears came to my eyes as I pounded my chest.

“What was that?!”

“Tequila!” Aurnia replied, passing over a beer she’d already popped open for me. “Where have you been?”

I sipped at the lukewarm beer to cut the sting of the liquor. I didn’t tell her I’d been far, far away from anything like this. Parties. Gatherings. Drinks. Music. Dancing. Friends. Laughing. Unwinding. I’d been at work. I’d been on the bus. I’d been passed out across my bed with my shoes still on and study books across my chest.

I fiddled with the beer can’s tab. She scooted closer as we leaned against the kitchen counter.

“You’re a third year, right?” she asked.

When I just stared at her warily, she continued, “I’m a first year.”

I nodded. Sipped a little more beer. Prepared an easy excuse to get out of there.

“What’s your major?” she asked a little too loudly in my ear.

“Listen,” I started to say, “thanks for the beer and the tequila and all, but—”

“Eithne.”

I froze because Aurnia’s hand was on mine again. Not to drag me somewhere like before. Just resting there. Just holding my hand. I stared at it like it was a foreign bug just landed on me. Like something I couldn’t understand. Like something I wasn’t quite sure what to do with.

Aurnia squeezed my hand and whispered confidentially, “It’s just that I kind of know a thing or two about…unconventional relationships.”

My eyes darted to hers. I began to pull my hand from hers.

“I just want to make sure you’re okay,” Aurnia insisted.

“Okay?” I laughed.

She licked her lips as I watched. She hesitated. But only for a second.

“I know Rian can be…strange at times,” she said. “And God knows he can come off as unhinged. I mean, I love him, too, but—”

“I don’t love Rian,” I interrupted.

Aurnia seemed surprised. “No, I mean, well, maybe it’s not there yet… I didn’t mean to assume or anything, but—”

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