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23
Pen
It’s ten minutes past eight, and I’m purposely late. Screw Xeno and his demands. He’s being an arsehole. How dare he say I’mfucking around? We all knew he was talking about me reconnecting with Zayn and York, rather than not taking my position at the Academy seriously. It makes me wonder if that’s what he thought of me when we were kids. Deep down, did he genuinely believe that I was a slut wanting to be with them all by refusing to choose?
Icouldn’tchoose because I loved them equally.
I fucking lovedhim.
Heaving a sigh, I decide that I won’t let him get under my skin anymore tonight. He’s taken up residence in my thoughts for too long already today. I’m going to get this torture over with and then drink myself into oblivion with Clancy straight after. It’s her birthday next Sunday and I’ve got a plan that I hope she’ll enjoy.
Pushing open the stairwell door onto the third floor, the Academy is quiet, and the hall dark save for a light on in Xeno’s studio at the end of the corridor. All the students have gone home, and the rest of the scholarship students are either in their flats or out for the evening. I saw Tiffany and Sophie heading out about half an hour ago dressed to impress. I might not like the pair, but I have to admit, they have style. No doubt they’re heading back to The Pink Albatross. It is Friday night after all, and those who can afford to go more than once, do. Rather them than me. I won’t ever return there, not when I know Jeb owns that place. It does make me wonder about D-Neath though, given that’s supposed to behisclub. Actually, I’ve been wondering about the whole reason the Breakers are here and am now convinced it has everything to do with D-Neath and the plans I overheard him talking about with Madam Tuillard.
As I walk towards Xeno’s studio, I brush my hands over my skin tight black jeans, benching those thoughts for now. My brother is going to call soon, it’s been a while since we spoke and I’m going to have to havesomethingto tell him.
My phone vibrates for the hundredth time in the last half hour and I reach into my back pocket of my jeans, pulling it out. I shake my head, clicking on the message from Clancy.
Clancy:Don’t forget. Drinks. My flat. 9pm. River’s coming. Want me to invite York and Zayn?
Clancy ends the message with a wink emoji, and I roll my eyes. She’s been bugging me all afternoon about what happened between York and me earlier today. I was hoping to have her to myself tonight so I can share, but she’s invited River over to her place so any convo about the boys will have to wait. I like River, he’s a cool guy, so I don’t begrudge her their friendship. Besides, I couldn’t think of anything worse than sitting in her flat between York and Zayn whilst River and Clancy watch us like some kind of side-show. Not that they’d go anyway even if they were invited.
Clancy:So…?
Me: Ha Ha! Nope.
I can see the three bubbles moving as she types a response.
Clancy:If you want to spend the night with them I won’t be offended. Gotta admit, I’ve always wondered what a ménage á trois would be like.
She follows it up with a wink emoji, drool emoji and two eggplants.
Me: Sod off Clancy.
Clancy: Seriously, girl. I don’t mind.
Me: I want to spend time with you. Besides, I have an idea for your birthday. I wanna chat to you about it.
Clancy: Oh yay! Atta girl!
Me: See you at nine.
The three bubbles move again, but I shove my mobile phone back in the pocket of my black jeans and ignore the vibrations of a new message. It’s probably just a string of emojis anyway. The girl’s fixated with the damn things. Sometimes she sends me text message after text message filled with emojis that I have to decode. It’s just as well really becauseallof them are rude. She’s a saucy minx, that’s for sure. I’ve no doubt she’d enjoy a ménage á trois. Knowing her, she’s already experienced one. My thoughts stray to the memory of York and Dax when we were younger. Fairly sure Clancy would enjoythatmemory just as much as I do. To this day, I’m not sure if Xeno has any idea what happened that night. I doubt it.
Reaching the studio, I take a deep, steadying breath and ready myself for Xeno’s attitude, then push open the door, repeating the same mantra in my head.
It’s just a dance lesson. I’m just catching up with what I missed. It doesn’t mean anything.
I’ve been telling myself those lies over and over again. Whatever Xeno has planned for me, I’m not stupid enough to believe it’s catching up on what I missed today.
“You’re late,” he snaps, meeting my gaze in the reflection of the mirror. Moody fucker.
“This look takes time, you know,” I sass back, doing a little twirl on my heeled biker boots that are totally inappropriate for a dance lesson. It was another purposeful move on my part. Being small isn’t something I enjoy for the most part. These boots give me at least another three inches. I don’t feel soTinyin them. Xeno turns to face me, leaning his arse against the edge of the table which he also grips with his hands a bit too firmly in my opinion. His heated gaze roves over me slowly, and even though I’m feeling more than a little uncomfortable under his scrutiny, I sure as fuck don’t let it show. Instead, I cock my head, allowing my hair to fall over my shoulder.
“Didn’t know you liked Black Sabbath,” he says, commenting on my top.
“Why would you? We’re not friends. I’m not sure we ever really were,” I say, stepping towards him. It pains me to say that, but his insult earlier hurt, and ever the petty bitch, I want to hurt him back. So sue me.
He nods, pushing upwards off the table, a strange look on his face. For a beat he just stares at me then seems to make a decision. Picking up a chair from beside the table he strides to the centre of the room, dropping it down so that it’s facing the mirror. “Take a seat, Pen,” he says, tapping the back of the chair.
