5. Romeo #2
“They’re both perfect for each other, like two little goblins under the same bridge. I say that respectfully, of course,” she said, exhausted.
Ouch...
“I hope that’s not part of your reception speech…” I said, arching my brow.
She shook her head. “It’s just, they love this type of thing… like ghosts and stuff. But not me. I’m here to bring the much-needed sunshine to their dark and stormy night.”
"Right..." I nodded. I guess her viewpoint on the macabre was still set to strange. At least she was willing to walk alone at night with a clown, so I guess that was a start in the right direction.
We finally approached the first aid station, and I opened the door for her, motioning for her to go in. I was a little hesitant going in; the lights were brighter inside, and I was worried she’d finally clock who I was. But still, I wanted to make sure she was okay.
Surprisingly, it was packed inside, way busier than I’d ever seen it. There were at least a dozen other people in the cramped area, waiting around and glancing over at the two nurses and two EMTs tending to others at little stations across the room.
I glanced down at Ivy Jade, and she sighed, looking around uncomfortably.
“Here, come on,” I said, taking her hand and leading her into one of the offices down the hall.
I knew one of the nurses at this station, and he helped when I had a killer migraine one night, so I kind of knew my way around.
“What are you doing?!” she whispered loudly, glancing around as if we were attempting to rob a bank.
I closed the door behind us and opened some cabinets; I found gauze, wound cleaner, antibiotic ointment, and bandages, and put them all on the counter as Ivy Jade stood hesitantly by the door.
“Are you allowed to be in here?” she asked with a frown.
I waved her worry away. “Sure.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Sure? That doesn’t sound very convincing.”
“What’s the worst that can happen? You get kicked out of the park?” I said, giving her a knowing look.
That got a smile out of her. She sat on one of the chairs with her arms crossed as I rolled my sleeves up to wash my hands, then grabbed some clean gloves.
I glanced back at her as she crossed one leg over the other, and I tried my hardest not to stare.
I was being weird. Not that I meant to, but every look I gave felt noticeable and crude, even though it wasn’t.
It wasn’t like Ivy Jade was my type, right?
I wasn’t even sure why that thought popped into my head.
I unconsciously licked my lips as I grabbed the chair next to her and sat down. I held up a roll of paper towels in one hand and a wound cleaning solution in the other.
“May I?”
She seemed to weigh her options. She looked over at the door before glancing back at me.
“Fine,” she said with a sigh, then uncrossed her legs.
I looked down, and even with the excuse of helping her, I helplessly appreciated how long and smooth her legs were. Her skin was warm through my gloves, and I felt it in every part of my body.
I sprayed a few of her scrapes with antiseptic, and she flinched.
“You alright?” I asked, glancing up at her through my lashes.
She sucked in a quick breath. “Of course,” she said, sounding as if I had just insulted her mother.
I smiled a little and lightly applied pressure to one of the wounds.
“I never caught your name, Princess,” I said, moving onto the next wound. She didn't seem to mind the nickname, concentrating on her knee instead.
“It’s Ivy Jade,” she declared, her tone less bitter, but her breathing speeding up nonetheless.
“Ivy Jade,” I repeated, as if hearing it for the first time.
“And you are?”
I hesitated. “High Jynx.” Now it felt like I was lying to her. I mean, I definitely was lying by omission, and the guilt that followed didn’t sit well in my chest.
She snorted. “Very fitting. Is that a family name?”
Now I was the one snorting a laugh. I looked up and met her eyes with mine, and she finally seemed more at ease.
That’s when she sat back, curiosity still blazing in her eyes, and then uncrossed her arms, setting them on her lap as she intertwined her fingers together.
My eyes caught a little tattoo on her wrist, and I instantly recognized the tagline from the series I was reading.
Rachel had the books lying around her coffee table, and out of boredom, I began reading them.
I shifted forward a little, narrowing my eyes in disbelief. “Oh, what beauty hides behind those secret eyes,” I recited. I memorized the quote by heart.
She glanced up quickly, her face bright pink. “You know ‘Unmasking My Bright Knight?’” Her jaw dropped. My heart fluttered.
“Roman Knight is probably the greatest hero in any novel I’ve ever read… I’m on book five,” I murmured, still shocked that Ivy Jade had the little quote in cursive permanently etched on her skin. Maybe she’s not as vapid as I thought she was.
“I’m on book seven. Rereading it for the twelfth time!”
“No spoilers…”
“I would never do that, clown,” she said, but then looked down at her hands, smirking to herself a little. “I mean High Jynx…”
“That’s right, Princess… get it right,” I said, my heart dropping just slightly, and a mixture of feelings rose in my chest. Confusion, desire, hesitation…
Ivy Jade’s eyebrows lifted and her eyes lit up. A small smile tugged at her lips.
There was something different about her.
Something that felt wrong to acknowledge.
She was absolutely beautiful.
Gorgeous.
And that thought twisted in my stomach like a raw, warm knot. This feeling was met with something worse. A realization that I'd be spending the rest of the week with Ivy Jade… just not as High Jynx, but as Romeo—her brother’s terrible best friend.