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16
The first thing I do when I wake up the next morning is call Tracy. It’s almost lunchtime on Saturday and I’ve already missed breakfast, but that doesn’t matter, Eastern does. It soon becomes apparent that she has no more news since the last time I spoke to her. Eastern is still AWOL and I can’t even reach him on the hotline. Tracy had managed to get news on my brothers and I’m thankful that they at least are unaffected by all this shit. The less they know the better but I make a mental note to contact them just as soon as I get my own head straight. Though that doesn’t stop me from trying to reach Eastern again the second I get off the phone from her.
Eastern, please. It will only get worse. HAND YOURSELF IN!
The message is read almost immediately, and I wait for a response. An hour later I finally give up staring at the phone and stuff it back into the hole I cut into my mattress.
“Arsehole,” I mutter, picking up my rucksack and stuffing my sketchpad and pens into it.
On my desk is the drawing Sonny did of me yesterday, I run my finger over it, marvelling at his talent for a few minutes.
“There’s more to you than meets the eye, isn’t there, Sonny…?”
And now I’m talking to myself, about Sonny no less?Fucking great.
Pulling out my sketchpad, I slide the drawing inside before stuffing it back into my bag. I don’t want to leave it here in my room because I don’t trust creepy Bobby not to invade my privacy, let alone any of the other bastards in this building. Pretty sure most of them know how to pick a lock. Deciding that I need to keep my head occupied with something other than thoughts of Eastern, Ford and now Sonny, I head outside bumping into Kate on the front steps of the main building.
“Hey, Asia, we missed you at the canteen. You going to grab some lunch?” she asks.
“Nah. Not hungry. I’m heading to the library for a bit.”
“The library?” she asks, surprise written across her face.
“Yes, the library. Got an issue with that?” I snap, not feeling particularly friendly right now. She winces, giving me an apologetic look. Yeah, she’s not the only one with a brain. Though I’m not going to the library to study or anything, just chill, but she doesn’t need to know that.
“Did I just hear you’re going to thelibrary?” Pink asks as she exits the building and joins us. She’s munching on a cake, little flakes of pastry falling onto her bright pink top.
“Jesus fucking Christ. Yes, I’m going to the library. Why is that so hard to believe?”
“Oh, I get it! You’re meeting Sonny there, aren’t you?” Pink wiggles her eyebrows at me. When I don’t answer she sucks in a breath, her eyes widening dramatically. “Ford! You’re meetingFord,you little sneak. He’s got to you, hasn’t he?”
I roll my eyes just as dramatically. “I’m not here for any of that shit. I haven’t got time for romance…”
“Who said anything about romance? I’m pretty sure both would be happy with a quick fuck.”
“Jesus, Pink.Shut up!” Kate says, shoving her a little before they both start laughing.
When I don’t join in, they stop giggling, training their smiles behind wobbly lips.
“Well, enjoy your time in the library,” Kate says eventually.
“Yeah, when you’re done come swing by my room, we’re gonna hang out for the rest of the day. Might even head down to the rec room after dinner for some Netflix minus the chill,” Pink adds with a wink.
“Sure, maybe,” I respond before heading inside.
“Oh, and make sure you avoid the gym. Monk and his crew have taken it over. It’s like a testosterone bomb has gone off in there. Either that or they’re all hyped up on roids. I walked in and walked straight back out again. Fortunately for me I don’t have a target on my back…” Pink slams her mouth shut, realising how shitty that sounded. “Sorry… that was a crappy thing to say.”
“It’s not, it’s the truth. Don’t worry, I’ll be careful to avoid the area. Catch you later,maybe,” I say, jogging inside before they can stop me.
* * *
“Need any help, Asia?”the librarian, Ms Mariner, asks me.
I shake my head. “No, I’m good.”
“Well, I’ll be here if you need me,” she responds as she settles behind her desk and starts tapping at the computer. “If you want to get ahead with the English coursework, I can help. There’s plenty of Charles Dickens you can choose from.”
“Sure,” I mumble from my spot at a desk in the corner. I don’t particularly want to get into a conversation with her, but I don’t want to be rude either. Ms Mariner is nice, if not a little boring. Truth is, I dislike English as much as Maths, but I do the work I’m given so I can get enough credits to earn a day out of this place. I wasn’t actually planning on doing any homework today. I came to the library to get a change of scenery and to do some art given the studio is closed over the weekend. Besides, I feel a certain kind of peace here with all the musty old books and lack of people.
