I’m running out of ways to distract Ezio.
I move from my bed to my desk and tap my laptop awake. It’s too early to go to class, and I don’t feel like doing homework. I have a few emails from my project group, including Monica, who’s hinting she wants to go on a date with me after a study session.
Can’t she read the fucking room? I already told her I was dating Pandora.
Maybe she thinks that’s over and done with.
She must have seen some videos by now.
I’ve deleted every video I can find, but Tate and his friends had sent a few before I’d gotten to them.
I delete Monica’s email, then move on to the one my mother sent.
I received the dahlia seeds! Thank you so much, Blaze. I’m looking forward to planting them next year. I have a spot picked out in the greenhouse just for them.
By the way, I spoke with Mrs. Alvarado. She’s concerned about Asch. I assured her that nothing has changed on our end. Do have Asch call her, though. She made a bit of a scene with her accusations.
I snort to myself. A “scene” could mean anything from a full on shouting match to something as mild as expressing hurt feelings.
Asch not talking to his mom is fucking weird though. He loves his mom and tells her way more shit than I ever would tell my mother. I bet he even told her about Pandora.
I grab my phone and open the texting app again. The last conversation I had with Asch was about taking wet clothes out of the laundry machine promptly.
Fuck. Why should I tell him anything? Why should I worry about him? He’s the one who’s making a mountain out of a molehill.
But apparently he’s fine with fucking Pandora in public or whatever crazy thing she roped them into last night.
Blaze
Call your mom. Apparently she’s been bugging my mom about you.
I wait, but he doesn’t reply.
I know he’s here and not in class, so he has no excuses not to answer me.
Blaze
According to my mom, yours caused a scene.
Asch
What is that supposed to mean? What kind of scene?
Blaze
How the fuck am I supposed to know? Probably got hysterical because her baby boy went two days without calling her.
I hear a door slam open, and mine is flung open within the next several seconds.
“Lay off my mom,” Asch snarls at me.
“I haven’t done anything,” I say. “It’s not my fault your mom’s getting in people’s faces over your bullshit.”
Asch crosses his arms against his chest, his jaw clenching. “I doubt she got in anyone’s face. But whatever. I’ll talk to her. Is that all?”
I give him a once over. I don’t see obvious marks on him, so Pandora was uncharacteristically gentle during whatever happened last night.
That they hadn’t invited me to.
