“Oh, just wait for the celery speech,” Fabian added,
“There’s a celery speech too?” I gasped, chasing after him. “Wait— what’s there to say about celery?”
“Hold on, let me pay for this. I’ll be back!” Fabian told me, walking off to the checkout and holding his wallet.
I strode off a little further to examine the curious-looking bunches of celery. River was standing by his car, engaging in a conversation audible to me on the phone.
“Travailler avec elle est un cauchemar honnêtement, c'est presque une corvée de devoir étendre mon expertise à quelqu'un de si manifestement en
dessous de moi et incompétent.” He spoke, plainly leaning against the door.Working with her is a nightmare. Honestly, it’s almost a chore to have to extend my expertise to someone so evidently below me and incompetent.My heart sank at his words, and I immediately was able to conclude that he was talking about me. I mean, who else could it be? My hurt instantaneously metamorphosed into anger and confusion. I turned my back to his image and felt the impact of his words. Did he really think I was below him and incompetent? If so, there was no reason for me to ever want to work beside him again.
Once the next period of class was over, I rushed to be the first out of class to avoid any awkward encounters, but just as I had made my way to the end of the hallway, I felt someone's hand grip firmly around my arm and hold me against the wall. Not a person was in sight. If I were to scream, no one would hear me, but I figured that River would find amusement in my screaming. Therefore, I would offer him no such thing.
"Why?" River asked, and I was molten under his touch. He was close, so close, "why are you avoiding me?"
“Why not?” I retorted coldly,
“The distance you are putting between us will be the death of you, not me.” He mused, and I could feel the heat of annoyance fuming inside of me.
“Is that so?” I scoffed, rolling my eyes,
“Yes, I rather relish in my solitude, and while I usually couldn’t care less, I find you rather amusing. You’re like a bad habit I can’t seem to curb, but I’ll admit burning my lungs out with a pack of Marlboros might’ve been a better idea.” He concluded drifting topics,
“I can’t seem to fathom why you’d ever want to reason with someone so incompetent and evidently below you?” I quoted, and he seemed somewhat confused,
“Je ne comprends pas…” He begins,I don’t understand, but I immediately cut him off.
"Look, I'm sorry about last night." Was all I could manage to choke out, "I'm so ashamed of myself. Believe me, I am. But I deserve better than to be treated like this."
River's gaze softened at that, and I'd hoped that he would say something, anything.
"Armani I-" River began, but this time, I cut him off again. This time, I'd had enough.
"You wanted to hurt me." I seethed, seeing right through him, "Well, congratulations Kennedy."
And then I was released from his touch, I spun away and made my way down the hallway to my next class.
Chapter 7
Forbidden Fruit
"The genesis of desire awakens"
ITWASaboutanhour past midnight, and I was crouched underneath the covers with a flashlight and my drawing tablet. Sometimes, I liked to commission my art for comic books when I had the time. My favourite comics of all time had to be the teen titan and Archie comics, I was more of a painter, but I genuinely believed that if the creators ever reached out to me to draw something for them, I'd pass away on the spot. I found such comfort in having that one thing for myself that I just did for fun, not for academic purposes.
I was being paid an outstanding sum by a new amateur comic book writer to help design one of her characters that she couldn't quite think up an image for.
I had initially taken up graphic design as a hobby, but once I uploaded a few fan drawings of Archie and the gang to Tumblr and they'd gotten millions of re-shares, likes and comments asking for more— I'd immediately known I could profit off of it. I primarily used the money I made to buy a few nice things for myself; dresses, jewellery, film cameras and sometimes art supplies, although my parents mostly covered the bill for that.
"What's next?" A voice questioned, lifting her head underneath the blanket with me, "Stepping onto platform 9 3/4?"
It was Keomi sleepily rubbing her eye. I thought she was asleep. I laughed at the Harry Potter reference. "Perhaps, because I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
"Okay, Potter, what do you have hidden under there?" She asked, crossing her legs and sitting opposite me.
"What else?" I responded sarcastically, "The marauders' map."
"Oh, come on!" I pleaded bobbing up and down giddily,
