Chapter 62 CHAPTER 62
Right after the delicious feast that was lunch, we headed to the hostel.
The Principal was waiting at the entrance of our own building, resting on Styx, and reading a file like this was a completely normal place to read.
He looked damn good while doing it too, I noticed.
"Erin," he called without looking up, his nose picking us all apart in one go, "come with me."
"Oh, okay sir," she hastened her footsteps towards him.
"Ooh, you've been replaced," Akua whispered in my ear with a mocking laughter that didn't bite as much as it used to.
"She can have him," I shrugged, "good friends share good things, don't you think?"
"Ooh, someone has grown up," Mira laughed as we walked past.
All my bravado faded as the Principal looked at me, his eyes telling me he'd heard every part of our exchange. His jaw tightened, and something flickered in those icy eyes. Hurt? Anger? Before his expression went carefully blank.
"Don't stay out past curfew," he said, voice clipped.
Then he and Erin were gone, Styx's hooves echoing in the sudden silence.
I still haven't figured out what was happening between him and me, but I've gone and kissed Zade.
I should focus on stopping that from happening again, not adding more fuel to my raging fire and feeling things for someone else, but the damn fire was roaring louder.
"I might take you up on your words from this morning," I said to Akua as we began climbing the stairs, trying to shake off the weight of Draco's stare.
"Which one?"
"Finding someone to take the edge off. I haven't felt anything but anger and pain since I fell down here."
"Iconic, by the way," Mira chuckled as she opened the door for us, her words making me smile.
"Who do you have in mind? I know Asher's off the table but have you had your eyes on anyone?"
I shook my head. My heart wants three different men, so I needed to actually force my eyes to look for a distraction.
"Wait, are you looking for... call boys?"
"It's not like that," I scratched my hair nervously. "I don't even know exactly what I'm asking for. Back on earth, we could just go to clubs, you'll meet people who also want to hook up and if the energy is right, you go somewhere with the person. I doubt you guys have anything like that."
"There are pubs and sex hubs downtown but with this whole bug situation, the Mayors of each district are shutting it all down. No one wants to bury everyone under their rule after all," Mira explained sadly.
"Sex hubs? Are those even safe?" I asked, dropping my bag on my bed.
We were to refresh, bathe, and head to the library. Even students from other years. I could already imagine how Zade would regret this decision.
"Safe? Why wouldn't it be? People aren't going in there with knives or anything," Akua frowned.
I couldn't help laughing.
"You guys don't have infections over here?"
"Infections?"
"Oh how lucky you are," I shook my head, remembering that particular season of my life with Jake.
What did I not endure from him? Gods above, I heard it's when you leave that you finally see how much bullshit you took and I couldn't agree more.
"Wait, you can get ‘sick’ from sex on Earth?" Akua looked horrified. "That's barbaric. Our bodies don't work like that. We're immune to those kinds of.. things."
"Seriously?" Relief flooded through me. At least that was one less thing to worry about in this world.
"Well, you're one of us now," Mira grinned.
"I don't know about that. I treated infections for three months with medicine and when I was free, I got infected again and did that for another month. I'm not sure I want to test the waters just yet."
Jake was a menace.
"Well, whatever you do, get laid. Your energy is giving off something I can't explain."
"And you think sex will solve it?" I asked the redhead.
"Sex solves a lot of problems, I can tell you that for sure."
I smiled, remembering exactly how much she indulged during the Bonfire night.
As I said, this super hearing was a blessing and a curse.
But the girl talk had wound to a dull roar and I took my stuff and headed to the bathing pools.
It was nearly empty. Everyone was probably trying to get some rest before going to use their brains again.
"It's been ages since I saw you," Kassandra said as I walked in. "Have you been avoiding me?"
I was already regretting coming here way earlier than everyone else.
"Why would I do that?"
"You tell me. You gave me that weird look that time and since then, you take the other path whenever I'm in the same place."
"You got it mixed up. I spoke to you during the Bonfire."
"You did? I don't remember that."
"Well, you must have smoked more than I thought. Are you done bathing?"
"Girl, I just got here, and don't worry, I'm not turned on by every girl I see. I mean, there's that overwhelming sensation when there are so many perfect bodies in one place but otherwise, I'm chill."
"You don't have to explain yourself," I said, wading into the water with my underwear still intact. "I'm just going to focus on bathing and pretend this isn't awkward."
"But it doesn't have to be awkward!"
"Kass, please," I laughed despite myself. "Just let me wash my hair in peace."
She threw up her hands in mock surrender but I could see the smile on her face.
More girls walked in moments later and Kassandra was forced to actually bathe instead of trying to strike up a conversation.
I spent way too long in the water, washing my hair again and again. I should have cut it but every time I remembered how Zade waded his fingers through it, I changed my mind.
When I got out, Kassandra had already left, making me breathe easier. Out there, she was chill and nice to talk to but the way she looked at the girls that day...
But my mind was preoccupied with something else as I oiled my hair, washed my teeth very well, and pulled on the lilac dress Erin had lent me weeks ago.
She'd insisted I keep it, said it looked better on me anyway. Above my knees by an inch, snug fit, and the back was open but my hair covered the space, the purple balancing against the lilac color.
I didn't look sultry, well, maybe a little bit but it wouldn't draw attention. I didn't want to do anything with my library teacher after all.
But it wouldn't hurt to look good this evening, right?
The numbness from this morning had faded to something manageable. Emotions trickling back slowly, careful and measured instead of the overwhelming wave Erin’s emotions had sucked from me. I could feel things again in tiny doses and I latched onto them, maximising every bit.
Except when I thought about Zade. Those thoughts cut through everything else like a blade through fog.
"Damn girl, you hoping to pick someone tonight?" Akua whistled when she got back from the bathing pools.
Shit, I thought this wasn't noticeable.
"Won't hurt to try," I faked a smile, pretending all of this was for some student.
They're all good-looking, but I didn't feel the need to perform for any of them.
But the mere thought of Zade's lips and I wanted to wear lingerie or something.
As we headed to the library, I wondered how he'd feel when he saw me.
How the perfume merged with my natural scent would speak to his darkness, how being in the same room but unable to do anything about it would push him to madness.
I was playing a dangerous game, I know. I didn't want anything to happen but somehow, deep inside, I knew it was inevitable.
But when?