Chapter Eighteen #2
Paris scrunched her face and sent him a weird look.
“How accomplishing.” She turned to me, and it took a moment to realize that Paris was a mean drunk.
Though she was barely tipsy, I could see it lurking underneath like an old friend, an alter ego wishing to be let out.
“I am in the Honours Society and the 13th Society.”
Around the table, they all spoke, each one more surpassing than the last, except for Rain, of course. “Abbot Society, that makes me the student body president.”
August raised his hand. “Honours Society and the Horseback riding club–you know, studies show it’s a very safe and healthy sport.”
Ajax scoffed, clearly insulted. “That’s not a sport.”
The former sneered, poison suddenly spitting out from between his lips. “Right. Because getting diagnosed with a brain malfunction at thirty-two should be what defines a sport.”
Ajax only sent him a look, albeit childish, as Wolf spoke when I turned to him, “I’m part of the Skeet and Trap Club. You should join, actually, it’s quite peaceful and isn’t as team oriented.”
I went to roll my eyes, but instead locked eyes with Marigold. When I had, she spoke to life, her words coming out with a bang—loud—before she paused and regulated her volume. “I’m–… I’m in the Fine Arts Society.”
I nodded, already knowing what extracurriculars I wanted to join. “Well, I was thinking of joining The Queen’s Club.”
The table fell silent, and I could almost hear the conversations of the diners on the other side of the wall.
“Jesus,” Rain muttered and shook her head, as if I’d sworn an oath to the devil.
“Something you want to say?” I narrowed my eyes, slightly offended that she, of all people, thought my actions so shallow.
“Only that you’re making a mistake,” she said, her gaze sharp and unwavering.
I wasn’t, but I think I liked giving her the wrong impression of me at times. “The Queen’s Club is very distinguished on campus, and I’ve already been approached.”
Paris leaned forward and placed her hand over mine; sudden concern painted on her face. “By whom?”
“Coldwell and Savané.”
Wolf pursed his lips downward, scratching his head before spreading his hand out reasonably. “It makes sense, really. Ayana is his second, and Coldwell is… Coldwell.”
I didn’t know what he meant by that, but I wasn’t given any space to ask.
That was the first time I’d seen Rain speak so openly to Wolf, and I think even he was shocked.
“That’s not the point. Callum Queen is bad news for many reasons.
If he’s inviting you, it’s not without deliberate thought.
If you join, it’ll only confirm his assumption that you have your own motives.
He’s trying to keep you closer than a friend. ”
I understood then that Rain had, in fact, gotten the right impression of me; she just didn’t trust me to see it through. “Well, it’s a good thing Thaddeus is more than willing to clean up any mess we make.”
The table fell silent again. Marigold, surprisingly, was the first to break it, “Did… he say that?”
I shrugged. “Not in so many words, but I have a hunch it’s what he implied.
” I didn’t tell them what I’d heard, but this was as good as such.
“Besides, did you all think Thaddeus would let his prized possessions get into any sort of trouble and face repercussions? So, he could what? Go through the trouble of replacing the board’s first choices? ”
Rain took in a slow drag of her cigarette and exhaled it at the same speed. “So, you’ve given yourself free rein to let loose?”
I scoffed. “I am not rash, Rain. But if Callum Queen tries opening closets with skeletons best left to rest, it won’t be me he’ll have to deal with.”
It wasn’t exactly a stare-off, but rather a long moment of attempting to reach an agreement with our eyes. Finally, Rain relented. “Alright. I’m certainly not your keeper. The Queens Club it is. Anything else?”
“Any other suggestions?”
Paris looked out into space as she spoke, “Join societies and clubs we aren’t already affiliated with. The Founder’s Society should have a wide reach. A complete network of every student at Castle Hill. For your own benefit as well, join a sport to stay active.”
It was the first time her words came out clear since we’d sat down.
Ajax pointed his finger at her, but his words were directed at me, “She’s got a point. All skin and bones, you are.”
Before I could reply with an equal amount of underhandedness and insult, he threw his head back with a groan as he rubbed his stomach like a toddler.
When I did it at five years old, it was because I hadn’t eaten for days, not a few hours.
“God, I’m hungry. What is going on with the service today?
I’m telling you all, that server is bad news. ”
I didn’t mean to, but the words forced their way out before I could stop them as I pinched the bridge of my nose. “She’s a goddamn server, Ajax. The only difference between you two is what family you were luckily born into.”
August snorted, Paris cleared her throat with a different intention. Wolf and Rain were the only ones to watch me with inquisitive eyes, the star-crossed lovers.
How disgustingly in-tune.
Marigold sipped her water, but I could see the smile she was trying to hide.
Like a perfect coincidence, a knock sounded, and Lily stepped inside.
Now, usually the conversation isn’t so stilted, and the server slides inside without too much notice to do her job.
Unfortunately for Lily, she was the topic of conversation, and we couldn’t very well finish up around her.
So instead, all seven pairs of eyes turned to watch as she came to a halt at the door. “Oh… Hello.”
Rain cleared her throat and went back to her cigarette; Wolf ran a hand through his hair and did the same. Lily looked back down at the trolley she’d come in with and got to work while we all found something to preoccupy ourselves with.
“Lily, right?” I decided to ask.
She jumped at the suddenness of my voice before answering, “Yes, Lily. That is my name.”
I hummed, running a finger over my lips in contemplation, wondering if I should continue.
“Well, you see,” I started, distantly aware of the others observing the interaction with keen interest. I doubted she would be a liability. “I’ve found myself suddenly interested in theatre. Any advice?”
“Uhh…” She tried finding her words while walking around the table to place our respective dishes in front of us. “The show must go on?”
A small smirk slipped out, tiny, as I clasped my hands together and shrugged to Rain. “Well, there you have it.”
Rain raised a brow. “I’m sure she wasn’t implying what she thinks she’s implying.” She turned to the poor server, grabbing her attention. “Tell me, Lily, would you join a group of people so passionate about theatre that they’d lose themselves over the edge of its border of fiction?”
At Rain’s voice, and her clear status above Lily, she began to stumble with her words. “Well, I-I think theatre is only one form of art people can–do get lost in.”
Rain and I both subtly looked at Marigold, purely on instinct, but she noticed. She stiffened as her lips parted.
I looked down to my plate.
Rain leaned back, undeterred. “Would you die for it? Theatre?”
Lily licked her lips, thinking, and I tried cutting in, “That’s not relev–”
Paris made me pause as she pondered, muttering to herself, “It’s a very real possibility with Callum Queen.”
Lily whipped her head to the side at the latter’s words, immediately changing whatever words she had planned to say, “Sorry–are you talking about Callum Queen–the son of Matthew Queen?”
A beat of silence passed before Ajax grinned, wide and charming. “Well, isn’t this a happy coincidence? We were. It’s really a shame Callum couldn’t make it, as I’m sure he would have loved to meet his…?”
Lily, not as well-versed in the serpent tongue of the upper class, spoke quickly, “Oh–no, no, I don't know him–know of him, yes. I’ve heard of his work, is all. His dad, more often. I didn’t know you all knew Callum Queen.”
“Oh, he’s a dear friend.” Paris sounded. Her voice dripped in sweet honey as her words came out whimsy and dreamlike. The alcohol in her system seemed to vanish and reprieve as she appeared entirely focused on her act.
Matthew Queen, from the whispers I’d pick up around Castle Hill, knew about every single step taken within any county’s movie industry.
Why?
Because he owned it.
If there was any production worth following, any upcoming star worth remembering, Matthew Queen had his name written somewhere in those contracts.
I wasn’t as educated as I had liked on the people I should know, but Matthew Queen wasn’t just anyone.
He was on the board, and that was a good enough reason to study his entire bloodline.
I met Rain’s gaze, gesturing with my eyes to Lily. The theatre genius that would get me a leg up over Callum. She only raised her brows, resigned.
“Yes,” August hummed, grinning at the embarrassing implication despite himself. “We’re very close. In fact, Callum can’t seem to get enough of me.”