“Missed you, stranger,” she whispers, and my eyes burn.
Nope. I refuse to cry.
I’ll do it later.
She lets me go and hands me a beer.
“You’re on the clock,” I declare after my first sip, but Milo absently waves me off as he steals Brynne’s spot next to Danica who’s talking animatedly with Evie. “Why are we here?” I whisper as Tori and Brynne sandwich me between them.
Brynne puts her arm around me and whispers back, “Sorry. Tori came over to congratulate Roth on getting Valedictorian and then they started talking about their graduation speeches.”
Oh for fuck’s sake. I take another long drink and subtly look over the Heirs. Luther’s arms are crossed as he watches Killian dial up the charm with Lyra and Cynthia. Thane is cocooned in a cloud of white smoke as Roth and Tori resume what is possibly the most boring conversation I’ve ever heard as Calanthe stares daggers at my friend for taking his attention.
“Good job.” Luther’s deep voice comes from where he’s sitting across from us, and I look around to figure out who he’s talking to, and then realize he’s looking at?—
“Me?” I point with the beer bottle.
“With Prosper.”
“Prosper Hale?” Evie asks him, and he nods again. “What’d you do?” she turns to me, but Luther answers before I can.
“Broke his jaw.”
Evie smiles proudly and raises her glass in a toast. “Maybe that’ll get him to finally shut up for more than a minute.”
Calanthe scoffs and glares at her. “They had to wire his jaw shut in the Medical Center. He’ll be lucky if Dr. Mercer can fix it before the Crypteia tomorrow.”
“Maybe she can fix the rest of his face while she’s at it,” Brynne remarks snidely and fist bumps me.
“Careful what you say about my friend,witch.”
“Careful what you say aboutmine,” I meet Calanthe’s incensed stare, and the whole circle falls silent. “In case you don’t recall, yourfriendwas the one who snapped my knee inthree places and gave me a concussion thathehad to fix.” I point my bottle at Thane, whose eyes widen in surprise.
Oh right, because after that, he finger fucked me and I pretended like it never happened.
I seem to be doing that a lot lately.
Fuck.
“I’d say we’re even, wouldn’t you? Unless you talk him into fucking with me again, that is.”
“Excuse you?” She asks, affronted. Perhaps isolating myself for a few weeks was a bad idea, considering I’ve forgotten that I shouldn’t piss off people like her and her friends.
“That’s what you were doing before class, wasn’t it? Telling him fuck me up?” I challenge. I wonder if anyone’s done that before.
Guess we’ll find out.
Her jaw drops and she scoffs in disgust. “You’re a powerless nobody, why would I waste a single second thinking about you?”
“Not powerless anymore.” I hold her eyes, taking another sip of my beer.
“Are youthreateningme?” She seethes. “How dare you?—”
“That’s a great idea!” Milo interrupts. “Let’s play truth or dare. I’ll go first—” he turns to Danica and holds a hand out. “Truth: want to get the fuck out of here?” She laughs and takes his hand, and then they’re both running away.
Motherfucker. I’m going to get him back for this. Maybe I can train Butthead to break into his room and shit onhispillow.
“I’ll play.” Roth announces, looking straight at me as everyone looks at him. “Truth or dare, Nyx?”
