“Not really. But he bothers me,” I said, and I felt my body tense. “I don’t want him anywhere near me.”
“He won’t come near you. He’s not so stupid as to piss me off,” Charlie said.
“He already threatened me, and implied something would happen. Kallie said he might slip something into my drink,” I mumbled, and Charlie stiffened. “I was stupid for getting his attention. I bet he’ll come after me now. He said he’d kill me.”
“Never mind him.” Charlie reached out to put his arm around me. “He’ll get his soon enough. You still coming to my fight tonight?”
My heart dropped at the mention of it. That was tonight? I really didn’t want to go.
But the look on Charlie’s face was so hopeful, so I said, “Of course. I’ll be there for sure.”
He lit right up, and whatever I’d promised was worth it. I owed Charlie one. He’d been there for me, so now it was my turn to be there for him.
Even if I didn’t agree with what he was doing.
We walked back to the music room together. I felt a thousand pounds lighter. Charlie hadn’t given up on me. He still cared.
The feelings I had for him grew so strong inside my chest, I couldn’t keep them inside. They were starting to well up and come out of my eyes, but I forced the tears back down, because I didn’t want to let them show.
“I’m off to train before tonight’s big fight,” Charlie said. “Keep your hopes up, pidge.”
Oberi bounced after him, giving a few barks. My heart felt a little lighter as I returned to the piano.
“Did you guys work it out?” Ez asked.
I gave a little sniff, and Ezekiel smiled. He struck up a song I hadn’t heard in a while, and I opened my mouth to sing along.
Ezekiel and I played around with the instruments in the music room for hours. Eventually, he had a class, and I actuallywantedto go to lunch. These new meds kind of made me hungry, which I guess was a good thing. I’d had my eye on the barbeque ribs— so not like me, but I was craving them— before Kallie zoomed up to me.
“I’ve heard you and Charlie are back on speaking terms,” Kallie practically sang.
“I suppose.” I smiled. “Though I found out roleplay might be something we’re into.”
Kallie scoffed. "You two are the definition of a brat and her dom.”
"Oooh, really?" I gushed. I gave a giddy squirm. That was kinda hot.
“Yeah. But guess what! I told Charlie what that jerk Digger said to you,” Kallie said. “He took care of it.”
“How?” I blinked.
“Asshole got caught with a pound of nightshade in his cell,” Kallie said, giving me a playful wink. “He’s a plaything for the prisoners in Cellblock 9 now.”
My jaw dropped open. “What?”
“Come on.” Kallie grabbed my hand.
We ran down to the witch and warlock cellblock. A collection of students crowded the hallway, and a ton of guards swarmed around a cell. There was a brawl in the middle of the hallway, where the guards were trying to control one of the students. Kallie watched the scene with barely restrained glee.
“I didn’t do it!” Digger screamed at the top of his lungs. He fought against the guards, but he was bound in noxite handcuffs and couldn’t escape. “It’s not mine!”
“Tell that to the Warden. You’ve wasted your last chance. It’s Cellblock 9 for you!” one of the guards cried.
Digger screamed horribly as the guards hauled him down to Cellblock 9. I felt Charlie creep up behind me. His hair was messy, and he wore his workout clothes. His silence was all the confirmation I needed to know he’d done this.
“Where’d you even get a pound of nightshade?” I whispered. Now that the show was over, people in the hallway were starting to disperse.
Charlie shrugged. “Chancey needed to get rid of some evidence. I had the perfect way to dispose of it.”
