I’ll talk to her about it tonight.
After showering, I head straight to the dining hall.
Tee’s sitting with Cosmo, Jordan and Kayla, like the only M&M in a pack of stale trail mix, poor thing.
I note that she’s picking at her plate of Caesar salad like it’s personally offended her. Better do something about that.
Swerving, I head back to the serving station, muscle my way to the front and grab an extra helping of spicy meatballs.
That’ll be a little more to my doll’s taste.
“Here, babe. Put my balls in your mouth.”
“Theodora shouldn’t eat red meat,” Jordan scowls, pulling the bowl away. “With that ass she certainly should stick to salad.”
“Thank you for the encouragement, Jordan,” Theo blinks, like her brain is all zapped.
Acting!
I zoom up my pasta, then fake a big yawn. “Well, I’m beat. Off for a really early night.” I give Cos and Tee a subtle wink.
Heading up to the second floor of the tower, I can’t keep the grin off my face.
Tonight.
The band is getting back together.
???
Tee, Cos, Max, me and Alexis head through the new tunnel.
Max points out the scratch marks from Ludo’s claws and I’ve got to say I’m impressed. At a junction further up ahead, Willow waits for us, flashlight in hand.
“Haven’t got any light spells under your belt yet, Bloomhower?” I ask, going straight for a hug. “Don’t worry, I’ll teach ya.”
Besties, remember.
She pulls away, giving me a half-smile, then rushes over to fling her arms around Theo, can’t deny her that. “Theo, babe. Gods, I miss you so much.”
Old Wills has some muscles on her, because she picks Theo up and whirls her around.
As the girls giggle, Max leads us onward and we soon join up Duncan and Ludo.
“So, we're going to Chez Bully?” I ask, giving the janitor a nudge.
He doesn’t answer, not a surprise.
But the surprise is a dark room which has obviously been forgotten for decades. He opens the door and shows us inside. A circle of chairs are set out, and an old-fashioned blackboard has been wheeled in.
“Nice, dude. Like, it’s a proper saturation room.” I turn to Willow. “That’s what it’s called, right?”
She grins. “I think you mean the situation room.”
Yeah, I did mean that but I muddled it up on purpose. It’s bonding to be able to correct someone.
Everyone, apart from Ludo, takes a seat. He leans against the wall.
The rest of us all look around, or at least I do, wondering who’s going to take charge.
