I glower at him as he continues to eat, and only when he’s finished do I say, “Let’s talk to her. She’s serious about all of this, right? She wants to find out about her friend.”
“Yeah,” River says. “And she’ll help us if we help her.”
He takes his plate to the dishwasher and puts it in.
I pull out my phone, sending her a message.
Asch
We need to talk. Where are you?
It takes a surprisingly long time for her to respond, when usually Pandora’s replies are near instantaneous. River has finished washing his pans before I get the text.
Pandora
Oops, couldn’t hear you. Just got in!
She includes a photo of Club Sin, one of two dance clubs in Harmony.
Asch
It’s important. Can you meet us back on campus?
Pandora
It’s too loud, you’ll have to speak up!
The photo she sends this time is a selfie. She’s in full makeup, wearing a skin-tight dress that’s very low cut. Her necklace and earrings have snake designs, of course.
Pandora
Think somebody here will fuck me in the toilets?
I growl at the phone. River leans over the table so he can get a look at the chat log. He scowls too.
“She’s baiting you,” River says.
“Yeah, well, it’s working,” I mutter, getting up. “Come on. Let’s go.”
I’ll be damned if I let anyone else touch Pandora.
20
PANDORA
Carly and Reaper had declined to join me.
That shouldn’t piss me off. It’s fine if they don’t like clubbing. It’s okay that Carly hates loud music and prefers to stay at home and watch bad movies with her new bestie. I mean, Carly’s new friend is a Nyxie and Nyxie are tight with the fucker who raped Carly, but why shouldn’t Carly enjoy a chill night with that bitch!
No, no.
Tanya isn’t a bitch. Tanya just happens to like the same stuff as Carly.
And Reaper had frat activities. He wouldn’t lie to me about that.
Or maybe he would. I don’t know him well enough to know if he’s lying.
Other people are more fun than me anyway. Or less crazy. Same difference.
