Page 56 of Villain

Ugh,he makes my head hurt. There’s a constant thudding whenever he enters my mind, and it’s starting to piss me off.

I wish he’d never started being kind. It’s quite literally driving me insane.

Stop thinking about him!

Mrs Crossby waves as I pass the desk, then focuses back on a student I vaguely recognise from my own class. Maybe I should pay a bit more attention to people who I don’t live with or live next door to. Everyone else seems to have a much bigger circle than I do.

It’s never been a problem. I’d rather have a couple of good friends than a big group of acquaintances I don’t trust. Imani, Marvin, Reggie, and Freya would all have my back. I could tell them a secret and it would die with them.

I put my bag in the staff room and flick the kettle on to make a coffee for me, and a strong tea for Mrs Crossby. While it’s boiling, the ancient thing wobbling as it struggles to reach the right temperature, I check my phone.

There’s a message from my aunt telling me that they’re having fun and pleading with me to do the same. There’s no way I’m telling them about the break-in. I shoot a quick reply, promising that I’m having a fun Easter break. After my shift, I plan on eating a chocolate egg, and starting a new series on Netflix. That’s probably not what she was thinking, but I find that fun.

As I’m about to put my phone away, I see a text come through from the Devil.

I guess I should stop calling him that now.

Maybe.

Did you make it to work?

It’s not a text I expected from Casper, but I can’t lie to myself or deny the fact that my heart is flying, either. Ilikethat he’s thinking of me. This ‘getting along’ thing is totally uncharted territory for us, so I have to tread carefully. For two years, we’ve been enemies.

I want to trust him more than I do. With a stupid grin on my face, I tap a reply.

No, the thieves got me as I was leaving my house.

Decent of them to allow you to keep your phone.

Are you ready to avenge my kidnap?

Meeting a judge for lunch. Will see what I can do after.

Good grief, we lead different lives. Here I am working overtime so that I can make it through the rest of the school year and my exams while he’s off schmoozing judges.

Need to get some bribes in?

My dad handles all my misdemeanours.

I have no doubt. How many have there been?

How long do you have?

I laugh at his response, then bite my lip, debating whether or not I should ask to get together tonight and talk about it. Will he want to stay over again? I’m not sure why since the alarm is going in and the door is getting replaced.

The house will be secure, so I don’t need anyone with me.

After running scenarios through in my head, from him readily agreeing to get together, all the way to him laughing at me, I finally put my phone back in my bag.

I need to remember that although things are different at the minute, it might not stay this way. Must. Tread. Carefully.

When I’ve made the drinks, I take Mrs Crossby hers and pull the returns trolley over to the desk so I can double-check they’ve been scanned in before I put them back on the shelves. Then I need to scan and sleeve the new delivery.

I’m grateful that Mrs Crossby is busy because she usually asks me what I’ve been up to, and I’m in no mood to talk about last night. I’d rather forget it.

My shift drags on and on. I don’t dare look at my phone again because I’m a massive baby and don’t know how to ask Casper to stay over again.

All I know is that he’s on my mind and everywhere I look. Every book with a dark-haired man on the cover makes me think of him. Every time I hear a rough voice, I think it’s him.

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