Chapter Twenty Four
The quad is busier than I expected, buzzing with that pre-lunch energy of students rushing to beat the food lines.
Addy walks beside me, a dampened down version of herself.
Wearing soft tones of beige and cream, her skirt sways limply over thick tights and her guilt is visible like an accessory on her fluffy long-sleeved sweater.
Even her hair doesn’t appear as vibrant in the winter sun, which struggles to break through clouds of gray.
“Hey,” I sign, redirecting her attention from the concrete at our feet to my face.
“You look tired.” It’s true, the bags under her eyes are more present today.
I can make an educated guess that Addy hasn’t been sleeping, given that I’ve stayed at Rhys’ since our disagreement and made sure to sneak back for clean clothes when she’s not around.
Although, that isn’t a necessity now that Rhys has told his cleaner to include my items in his laundry.
Addy smiles sadly, her lips pressed tightly together. A sharp pang of guilt hits me in the gut and we both start signing apologies at the same time.
“I’m sorry about the way I left.”
“I’m sorry I upset you, I was just messing around.”
“And I missed your shopping trip.”
“I still think he’s a cum stain but he’s your cum stain.”
I laugh, tucking my hair behind my ear. My receivers are tucked safely in my pocket, the possibility of a hearing-free lunch too enticing to pass up. We pass the library and the Dean’s offices, joining on the back of the line to the cafeteria.
If I were in a rush, I’d suggest we head to one of the other cafes on campus.
As it stands though, I’m happy to waste as much time as possible, interested to see if the boys come to some sort of truce after last night.
I’m negating the laptop light issue from my mind.
For all we know, it was a technical fault, or the camera could have been accidentally activated when we were packing up.
And if it wasn’t, then we’ll deal with it, but I won’t regret what happened.
Catching Addy fidgeting with the hem of her sweater, I nudge her shoulder and smile.
“It’s fine, water under the bridge. You didn’t mean anything by it.”
Addy winces, guilt consuming her face again.
“I kind of did.” She shrugs, twisting her lips. “I just worry. You know how he gets.”
“He’s different with me,” I insist, the truth of that statement shining in my eyes. Addy doesn’t look convinced.
“That’s what Ed Gein’s girlfriend said, and he made people into skin suits.”
“Addy!” I smack her arm. The line shuffles forward and I shake my head at the sky.
I suppose she wouldn’t be a true friend if she didn’t care for me.
I understand people have their reservations about Rhys, and they likely always will.
He is who his father made him into, there’s no changing bad habits now.
When we finally reach the cafeteria doors, I nudge her gently with my elbow. “No one’s perfect.”
“Clayton is pretty perfect,” she counteracts, much to my surprise.
“Should I be worried?” We both laugh, the tension easing at last. Linking my arm in hers, I let Addy guide us along the booths displaying drinks and packaged food items. My attention is on the room, the students laughing, bodies jostling, chairs scraping.
I feel the vibrations under my feet and I find that it’s comforting in a strange way. A pulse of normalcy.
We grab trays and make our way down the line.
Addy loads hers with salad and fries, while I go for a grilled cheese and tomato soup.
Comfort food at its finest. After both opting for water and paying, we find a table near the window.
The midday light falls over Addy’s face, her freckles a pattern across her nose and cheeks. She signs quickly once we’re seated.
“I really am sorry, Harper. I don’t want to make you feel like I’m judging you.”
“I know you’re just looking out for me,” I sign back, and ready to put this behind us.
Not that it hasn’t been eventful staying at Rhys’, but I want to go back to my dorm.
I want to curl up with a book, to be a vegetable in my pajamas without a horny hound breathing down my neck.
Dipping my spoon into my soup, I watch the steam curl into the air.
Addy nods, popping two fries into her mouth and brushing off her hands.
“Besides, it’s not you I’m worried about. If you keep dangling Clayton in front of him, Rhys might snap and do some real damage.”
“Or,” I finger spell, unable to hide a cunning smile behind my spoon.
Addy’s brow raises, her eyes shifting between mine.
“They might find some common ground. AKA, me.” There’s no denying the meaning behind my grin.
My cheeks heat as Addy’s mouth drops open.
Her fries are forgotten, and she covers her mouth to stop a laugh.
“No way,” she signs, leaning closer. “You mean, both of them? At once?” I shrug one shoulder, suddenly invested in my grilled cheese.
Reaching across the table, she smacks my arm.
“Harper! You little slut,” she throws her head back and laughs.
I witness the sound rather than hear it, her throat working above the colorful ink that spans her collarbones.
My own humor rises to the surface, a hysterical bubble of laughter escaping me.
Anyone nearby will think we’ve lost our damn minds, and I couldn’t care less.
I’ve missed this. Just girls being girls, sharing secrets and laughter and the kind of teasing that only happens when you know someone has your best interest at heart.
This is what normality feels like, the kind of peace no amount of polaroid’s, messages or cowardly threats can take from me.
I won’t be controlled by fear, I will live with stubborn pride.
I have the right to be here. I deserve to love and be loved, to laugh and be free.
Returning to eating, Addy waves her hand in my face. “Well, come on then. I want all the juicy details.” Shaking my head, I mimic zipping my lips just as a shadow falls across the table. I peer up, and my stomach drops, just as I was starting to enjoy myself.
Klara stands there, hands on hips, her blonde hair flawlessly pulled back in a high ponytail.
She must be taking a day off from cheerleading practice, her legs cased in extra tight jeans.
A low V-neck jumper hangs off one of her shoulders and exposes one side of her leopard print bra.
Flanked by two of her cheer squad members, the three of them wear matching sneers.
“Wow,” she says slowly, exaggerating every syllable so I can read her lips.
“Didn’t expect to see you here.” I don’t need sound to know her tone is sugar-laced with venom, I can see it in the pinch of her features.
Addy rolls her eyes, lifting her bottle of water to her mouth, whilst I stretch out my arms wide.
“It’s a public cafeteria Klara, welcome to all.
Why don’t you pull up a chair and we can swap notes on how Rhys likes to have his cock sucked?
” Addy spits out her water, spraying half the table including my grilled cheese.
It’s fine, my appetite has soured anyway.
Klara has turned an unhealthy shade of beetroot red, which was my intention.
“Not interested? Then maybe you should move on and we can go back to pretending we don’t exist to each other. ”
Leaning back in my chair, I purse my lips, refusing to be goaded whilst I’m having lunch. Klara has been on my back since I arrived on campus, before Rhys even meant anything to me. Stomping her foot in frustration, she flusters over her response.
“Well you sure seemed cozy with him last night.” I sober in an instant, rising to my feet. Klara smirks at my reaction, her chest sticking out impossibly further.
“What do you know about last night?” Addy joins my side, her solidarity for the wrong reasons but I appreciate the gesture.
Addy is supporting the fact she thinks I’ve had a threesome, but Klara regains her composure as if she knows otherwise.
Could it be that Klara has something to do with the webcam light flashing?
“He was meant to be at dinner with my family. A car waited outside for an hour, but I bet you know all about that. You’re the reason he didn’t come.” Her lip twitches as she fights aside a snarl.
So that’s why he was so reckless after kicking everyone out last night.
Rhys ignored a summons, and I’m sure there will be some type of repercussion for it.
My heartbeat spikes, thumping against my ribs.
I shouldn’t relish the thought of Klara and her family sitting with Rhys’ father, pissed off and tapping their fingers against the dinner table, but I do.
Rhys missed their dinner to feast on me instead. Poetic.
“If you think I control Rhys, you clearly don’t know him as well as you think you do,” I chuckle softly. We’re going in circles and I’m quickly growing bored of it. Klara folds her arms, shifting her weight onto one hip and narrowing her eyes.
“You really think you’re special?” she scoffs. “You’re just a plaything. Something for him to screw until he gets bored and comes back to me.”
My god. She’s delusional. Maybe not about the Rhys growing bored part, but I know for a fact he’ll never go back to her.
Even if their parents get their way and the pair end up married, there’s no future of Rhys accepting her as his wife.
I almost feel bad for her, that female pride coming around to bite me in the ass.
I don’t want to be the bitch she’s trying to make me into.
Addy, however, has no such reservations. She lunges forward, and I rush to put myself between her and Klara before shooting her a warning look.
“She’s not worth it,” I sign quickly. Klara watches my hands, her upper lip curling in mock amusement.