by D. V. EEDEN
“I called ahead,” Zach winks. I smile in return, taking my clothes off to then put in a locker. We hurry ourselves, getting too excited for the waves and run towards the huge waves taking over.
We surf for hours. I haven’t laughed this much in a while, but once I realize this, I stop myself. I’m terrified to be happy again. Who knows what’s round the corner, Someone could take a picture of me again and start calling me names, and I know for sure I’ll just want to die.
“Come on, we need food and something to drink,” Zach says, giving me his hand to lift me up from the golden sand. I rub the sand away from my ass and my sweaty palms, grabbing my board to take back to the beach hut. When we put our boards away, Zach takes off the top half of his wetsuit, exposing that muscular torso of his. The broad shoulders, the abs, that V line….
My mouth waters like a dog in heat at the sight, and he takes his hair out of the bun, running over to the outdoor showers to rinse himself off. The way the water runs over his chest and abs should be illegal. Those big hands scrub at his face, the blonde strands sticking to the side of his face. I stare in astonishment at this Viking god before me, rubbing those big hands over his body. It’s not until he comes out, wiping the water off, that he shakes his head, letting his hair sway to remove the water. I think I’m in heaven.
“You ready?” he asks, pulling me out of my own little porno in my head. I nod, unable to form words to this figure in front of me. Good god, what’s wrong with me? I mentally slap myself for having these thoughts over another man when I’m in a relationship.
Zach ends up taking to me a local fish and chip shop. We order some chips to share and a cod each with some fizzy drinks as we sit in a little booth staring out at the ocean. It’s very relaxed in this little restaurant, letting us in with our wetsuits and Zach’s is still halfway undone, tied around his waist. As he leans his head down, a few strands cover his blue eyes, water still slightly dripping off, falling onto his perfectly sculpted nose and lips.
I wonder if he knows what I’m thinking about…
“I’ve never been in one of these before…” I tell him, pouting my lips.
Zach looks at me in surprise, his beautiful eyes going wide at my revelation. “No way, this is Britain’s finest cuisine. Have you ever had a chip buttie?” he asks, raising one of his blonde eyebrows at me.
I shake my head, my face scrunched up, wondering what the fuck a ‘chip buttie’ is.
Zach gasps, “That’s it, you need a lesson, and I will show you.” He asks the waitress to bring two rolls with butter once our food arrives, and it smells delicious.
The waitress brings over two buns, already buttered and Zach does the unspeakable… he puts the salt and vinegar-soaked chips into the bun, closes it and hands it to me.
My eyes go wide, unsure of how to feel about this weird concoction. When I take a bite out of this ‘chip buttie’, it is the best thing I have ever tasted. I moan in response, enjoying the taste of two carbs put together to create such a dish. Wow.
“My god, that is amazing!” I squeal.
Zach chuckles and makes himself one. We demolish the butties in seconds, and I have no words.
We eat the rest of our food, the fish battered to perfection and the chips are delicious. We end up playing a game as to who can catch the most chips in our mouths, and Zach seems to be beating me, but his aim at throwing chips at my face isn’t that great. We have the most relaxed but amazing evening.
I’m flooded with disappointment when it’s time to head back to the academy.
Blaire strolls into the room after her shower. “Hey, how was your weekend?”
I sit up, resting my head on my headboard, looking at Blaire. She’s had her black hair cut again so that it’s resting on her shoulders. Blaire is naturally pretty; she has those amazing eyebrows that girls dream of. “It was good thanks; the doctor has given me the go ahead to dance again.” Blaire squeals, jumping up and down before she jumps on me in my bed. I laugh at how excited she is because I know she just wants the best for me. She and Maisie are like the sisters I never had.
Blaire gets off of me, pulling me along with her.
I have a shower, wash my hair, then brush my teeth. I don’t bother drying my hair, rather just put it in a ponytail on my head. I put on a tiny bit of concealer, hiding the black circles around my eyes, and add a little mascara.
Honestly, I couldn’t care less about what I look like anymore.
When we get to the dining hall, Maisie is already waiting for us, a coffee sat waiting for me. I take my seat, ordering myself a fruit bowl for breakfast, not wanting to eat in front of the full room. Even though I have managed to get better with eating, I still have a bad relationship with food and what comes with it. Yesterday with Zach made me forget about my fears and I enjoyed it. I don’t feel as though Zach judges me and it’s refreshing. Recently though, I have had doubts replaying in my mind about Miles, considering I haven’t seen him since our movie night.
I sigh when I notice the Royals entering the dining hall, laughing, and joking around with each other. Why should they be so happy when I’m so miserable? Life really is unfair.
Taking a bite out of my apple, an arm snakes round my shoulders. “Hey beautiful,” Miles says, jolting me from my seat. I think he forgets when someone touches me, I have serious anxiety. He kisses me on the cheek then takes the seat next to me, his arm resting on the spine of my chair. “Are you going to the party this weekend?” he asks.
I shake my head, unaware of what party he’s talking about. Plus, I do not want to go to a party where all the assholes are. “No, I haven’t heard about it and I probably won’t go,” I state. I sound abrupt, but with the state of my mental health, the party sounds like a bad idea. The girls look at me with assurance in their eyes. They are way behind me and know for a fact I wouldn’t go unless I wanted to.
“Well at least think about it. Nothing will happen to you if you’re with me, doll. I need to go,” he says as he stands to leave. Without a goodbye from him or even a kiss on the cheek like normal, he storms off. I think I pissed him off, but oh well.
In Business Economics, Blake and I are starting on the second half of our project. Once again, he’s actually being civil, talking to me like a normal person rather than spitting or sneering. “Hopefully, if we meet in the library again and work on it together, we can finish this soon,” he says, writing down a few notes to take away with him for later.
“Yeah, sure,” I reply. I like this side to Blake when he’s calm and not so stressed out. When he actually works in a team.
“Can you do this evening after classes end?” he asks, the blues of his eyes sparkling. This is the first time I have seen their true colour. They aren’t so dark, as if a demon has possessed his soul, like before. I wouldn’t be surprised if one did. It would be an easy job, seeing as he’s halfway there anyway.
“Y-yeah of course, but I have a t-tutoring session with Hugo as well. I don’t want to make him mad.” I can’t help but stutter, I have never had a normal conversation with this douche before.
“Fuck him, you’re doing fine in your subjects now, so you don’t need him,” he kisses his teeth, frowning.
How does he know how well I’m getting on in my subjects… when we only share two classes?
The rest of the day drags by slowly. For some reason, I’m a little excited to meet Hugo and Blake in the library once classes have finished for the day. As much as they annoy me, they can sometimes be funny to be around. You forget that these people are supposed to be the future leaders of the world. Lord Darlington created this elite academy for the blue bloods of our society. An academy that has every subject you can think of, and that any normal student would beg to be a part of. The opportunities here are supposed to be endless and a kick start for your future.
Normal students who pay thousands of pounds to go to university would die for this kind of opportunity. I think about all the jobs I could get by having a degree in pretty much
every subject there is. It’s a shame they don’t do what they do in America, a scholarship, giving a few less fortunate students the chance to attend to make a better life for themselves.
When it’s time to meet Hugo and Blake in the library, I stroll in with my earphones plugged into my ears, blocking out any rude comments that come my way.
The tension between Blake and Hugo is so thick you could cut it with a knife. They’re both scowling at each other, Hugo’s teeth are bared, and Blake’s clenching his strong jaw. Looks as though a fight could abrupt anytime soon. I really do not want to be part of it, but seeing these two huge guys fight each other might be interesting…
I wonder who would win? Hugo is built like he’s been on steroids or something and Blake is slightly smaller, but he probably has good agility, a skill gained by playing field hockey.
Soon as I’ve taken my seat, Blake is the first one to break, tearing his eyes away from the true leader of their group. Taking out my laptop and worksheets, I organize my tutoring stuff first and then the project materials. I feel as though I could be here till really late tonight. “Here’s your maths stuff,” Hugo grumbles, and I take it from him, seeing an A on the front. I mentally high five myself. I really am getting better in all subjects now. That’s probably how Blake knows. He’s joined my tutoring sessions so that he can get his work done. That makes more sense.
“Africa, are you perhaps making an appearance at our little party this weekend?” Hugo asks, lifting his gaze from his laptop to me.
I look up, meeting his hard stare and shaking my head. “No, I will not be making an appearance,” I utter.
Why the fuck is everyone asking me about going to this party?
“Oh, I think you should…I insist,” Hugo grins, the mischievousness of his tone showing through. I can see it being a bad idea, especially as Hugo has said before that my little ‘punishment’ is due, but I do not want to find out what it is - yet.
“I said no. I am not going,” I state, putting my foot down.
I’m clenching my pen so tight my knuckles turn white. Hugo and Blake notice and they both smirk at each other. Carrying on with my work, ignoring the pair of idiots next to me, I plug my earphones back in, not giving a shit if Hugo doesn’t like it.
We’re all in the library till gone nine in the evening, Blake and I working hard on our project whilst Hugo does whatever he does. Charles and Royce come in, bringing takeout food for the table but I decline their offer.
“Ade, you should really eat, you had a fruit bowl for breakfast and then you didn’t eat at lunch...” Royce says.
I scrunch up my nose, my face turning into a frown as I look at him. “Sorry, stalker alert…” I say.
Charles roars in laughter, clasping Royce’s shoulder. “Dude, that is pretty stalkerish,” he continues to laugh.
“I’m observant, especially since the incident,” Royce sneers, giving a deathly look to the table. If looks could kill, this one would.
“No, I’m fine, seriously,” I assure him.
In truth, my stomach is aching, the scent of their burgers and chips is driving me nuts but I won’t put myself in that position again, especially since I don’t know who sent out that photo of me. I’m still adamant that it was Charles.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
‘’Are you sure you don’t want to come to the party? You’ll have me, Maisie, Miles and even Royce looking out for you,” Blaire pleads. We’re sitting in our room as Blaire tries on some dresses for tonight’s huge-ass party in Stonewall.
“I’ll think about it.”
Laying on my bed, scrolling through social media, as soon Blaire goes back into the bathroom to start her beauty regime, I look under my nightstand for the photo album of my mum. I wanted some time alone with her, reminiscing old times before I decided on tonight. When I bend down to grab it, I can’t find it. I get off my bed, leaning down on the floor to check under the bed, under my nightstand.
Everywhere.
I cannot find it.
My heart is now beating in my throat, my chest tightening in fear. “Hey Blaire, have you seen my photo album? I can’t find it…” I shout, but she responds with a no.
“Oh my god, where is it?” I look around the room, pulling everything out of every nook and cranny that I can find, but it’s nowhere to be seen. The last person to be in the room other than Blaire and Maisie was Miles, but I doubt he would take it.
Doubt forms in my mind, clouding my judgement. Did Miles take it? Or am I imagining it? I try calling him, but there’s no answer, so I continue to try over and over but all I get is a text sent through that he’s busy, and that he will see me at the party.
I told him I wasn’t going, so why the fuck is he saying he will see me there?
“Have you found it yet?” Blaire enters the bedroom, wearing just her towel, her face covered in a green face mask.
I shake my head in response, tears threatening to escape but I won’t let them. “I’ll go to the party,” I tell her, and she squeals, clapping her tiny hands in excitement before retreating back into the bathroom.
I suppose I better start getting ready.
Once I’m showered, shaved and every other beauty treatment you can think of, I blow dry my hair into bouncy curls, clipping the top half so it’s out of my face. I apply concealer, mascara, and finish it off with some red lipstick. This is the first time I’ve worn make-up in a while, and it feels good. I’m looking through the closet for something to wear tonight, and I end up pulling out two dresses to try on. I can’t decide if I should wear the black halter neck swing dress, or the tight strapless red dress.
Holding each dress up to my body, I ask Blaire which she prefers. “Hmm, not sure whether to go black or red.”
She taps her chin with her index finger. “I like the black one, it suits you.” She grins.
Once I’ve slipped on the black dress, I criticize myself in the mirror as always, looking for an excuse not to wear it, but I actually appreciate how much effort I made. I actually look good again for once. Slipping on some plain black heels and grabbing a red clutch bag, I give myself another once over just in case, and a mental pep talk.
Ade, you can do this, just go to the party, and ask Miles. That’s all…
Taking a deep breath, I count to ten, calming my nerves before we get ready to leave.
Maisie doesn’t bother knocking on the door and enters freely, holding onto a bottle of tequila. “Hey bitches!” she squeals.
Maisie looks amazing as ever, her normal auburn corkscrew curls have been tamed into soft curls which fall around her petite face. Her cherry red lipstick is the focal point on her face, matching her red, long-sleeved skater dress, buttoned up all the way to the white collar. She reminds me of Cheryl from Riverdale, the way she’s dressed. All she’s missing is the knee-high socks.
Blaire pulls out three shot glasses from her cupboard, which I’m guessing she’s always had. Maisie pours us the tequila shots ‘’This will help calm our nerves and we need a little boost before we head out.’’ Maisie cheers and we clink glasses and gulp our shots in one go, all three of us are so used to drinking tequila that we don’t even pull the face anymore.
We order an Uber that then drives us to the destination, which happens to be an abandoned warehouse in the marina.
“Is this the right place?” I question Blaire, and she hums a yes in response, but I don’t have a good feeling about this.
As we walk towards the derelict building, I follow behind Blaire and Maisie, feeling underdressed for some reason. Blaire looks so angelic in her white-off shoulder dress, the chiffon fabric blowing around her knees from the wind. Her heels are a lot higher than mine; the platform alone is three inches high. I call them stripper shoes.
I catch up to them, linking all our arms together as we walk to the side of the building. I stare at the graffiti covered brick walls, garbage cans everywhere piled high with trash, the ground covered in potholes, flooded with dirty water. This is how p
eople get kidnapped in films, or even killed.
My heart stutters as I follow the girls. Clearly, they know the way.
We come up behind the warehouse, up to a metal door which has been left ajar, and Blaire is the first one to enter. I’m the last one. Only one light illuminates the halls, the green hue which flickers every second, moths surrounding the broken glass that should cover it. This feels all too sinister for me, and I want to turn around and get back to the academy into my own bed. That would be perfect right now.
As we inch closer to another metal door, I start hearing the thump of music playing. I finally let out a breath which I have been holding in, relieved to hear an actual party taking place. We enter through the narrow door into a vast space, the floor covered in bodies, dancing to ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ by Nirvana, all jumping up and down to the beat.
I scan the abandoned warehouse, no windows are present, but the set-up is professional, strobe lights fixed to the metal railing above us in the roof. The minute they go off, its pitch black in here. Smoke machines surround the DJ booth, which is propped up by metal containers, and large speakers placed in every corner of the room for the full effect.
“We need to find the bar,” Blaire shouts over the music, and I nod as we take each other’s hands, ensuring we don’t lose one another in this place. I don’t recognize any faces yet. I thought this was an academy party, but it seems everyone is welcome. We push ourselves through the sweaty bodies, trying to get to the other side of the warehouse, finally finding the make-shift bar made out of wooden crates and barrels. Very rustic.
“Oh, look who it is. My sister and her two slaggy friends,” Blake says, coming up from behind the bar, holding onto a beer with a menacing grin. I roll my eyes, folding my arms across my chest. I turn around to stare at the dance floor instead of his mischievous face. I have not got the patience for tonight. The only reason I attended was to speak to Miles and then head back to the academy.
Pulling out my phone, I text Miles, telling him I’m here and asking where he is.