“I can’t believe we’ll be back at school tomorrow, are you nervous?”
“A little, but I’m more scared of when it’s over for good. I don’t know if I’ll still have my guys and I’m going to miss you like crazy,” I reply and she slaps me across the arm.
“You are not getting rid of me missy, so there will be absolutely no reason to miss me. As for them, if they don’t stick around then they don’t deserve you. It really is as simple as that,” I adore her carefree attitude, it’s refreshing and balances out my maudlin attitude at times.
“Okay, okay, I didn’t mean it like that. All I was trying to say is that we don’t know where we’ll be heading when it’s all over, I keep saying I’m going to go to Uni but I never applied for anywhere. I know I won’t lose you, but we could be miles apart and may only be able to see each other twice a year if we’re lucky.” I really have a knack for offending people, it must be my gift, I wonder if I can get an exchange?
“Okay, now you’re bumming me out, shut up and sit down. We’re going to sit here and watch Jackass and have a great time laughing at their stupidity. No depressing thoughts for the rest of the day and that’s final.” Her smile is back in place, along with her carefree attitude. Despite her entire look screaming stay away or I’ll stab you, Roxie really does have the biggest heart out of all the girls I know.
I give her a mock salute which she scowls at before we both burst out laughing, oh yes, definitely not letting go of her either. Everyone needs to have a Roxie in their life.
Getting back to school is uneventful, everyone is still acting as though nothing has changed. Ivy doesn’t know that I overheard them and H still scowls at me whenever I walk past. That’s probably for the best, the countdown is still ticking away and what I did to Rebecca will soon be revealed. But so will someone else’s, I don’t know what that means and I hate that I’m curious to see what it is.
We’re under strict preparation for our tests, the teachers are riding us hard and between studying and classes I’m barely getting anytime with my guys or girls. It’s horrible, I need some relaxing and I keep thinking about the hot tub. The only issue is, I’d rather go in the evening when no one is about. I just don’t feel safe to go, maybe I could convince one of the guys to come with me. I’ll tell them all and let them figure out who between themselves.
Surprisingly no one argues when Amias jumps at the chance, maybe they think I’ve been physical with all of them but he’s the odd one out. And it’s not like we’ve been going at it like rabbits, even though I swear I’m constantly turned on since I lost it to Noah.
Come on ten o’clock, hurry up so I can meet up with Amias and soak my weary bones. I pull out my swimsuit and hesitate to find a different one, it’s a tad more revealing than I was expecting but he’s seen me in my underwear so it isn’t that bad.
Someone is knocking at my door but I won’t answer it until I hear his voice, I’m not taking any chances anymore. Besides, after tonight I’m exacting my revenge so I deserve a little TLC.
“It’s me little cub,” and that’s all I need to hear to feel safe enough to open my door.
“You ready to go?”
“I sure am,” I reply as I thread my arm through his and walk silently to the fitness centre.
No one is around, it’s like a ghost town but I like it. I’ve had enough of surprises and crowds, some alone time is exactly what I need even if my alone time includes Amias.
We’re changed quickly, and he’s leading me into the private room with the key code, definitely won’t be disturbed now.
I’m wasting absolutely no time in sinking into the hot water and Amias is quick to follow me. I have to make sure I keep my wrist out of the water, but what else are ledges for?
“Are you ever going to tell me what happened to your wrist?” he asks, it’s funny how I find the darkness within him comforting.
“Sure, when you tell me what was going on outside that club and who that guy was? Why would being harsh to me make someone else happy?” For once I’m trapping him with my stare, he wanted a lion I just don’t think he ever considered himself becoming my prey.
“Don’t go there little cub, I don’t want to lie to you,” he says, and it’s sending anger coursing through me. How many more chances am I going to give him?
“Then don’t lie, be straight with me Amias. All I want to know is who he was, why can’t you tell me?”
“He’s a friend, kind of. I have this group of mates that I see whenever school goes on break, they were a little pissed off that I’ve been AWOL lately and it caused me and that arsehole to fight.” He looks almost despondent, like he would rather talk about anything else. This tells me one thing, his mates are related to Devon. I just wish I knew how he was connected to him. “They think I’m betraying them by choosing you, they’ve done a lot for me and I owe them. I’ve been trying to sort it out but it’s not working out in my favour at the moment.” He won’t look at me now and his body language is all wrong, he’s closing himself off, his legs are turned away and his arms are crossed tightly over his chest.
“It doesn’t sound like a friendship to me, but I appreciate you telling me,” I reply but I know he wasn’t honest, not entirely.
“Amias, will you hold me?” I ask as my heart falls apart, I know that I have to say goodbye.
He scoots closer and wraps me in his arms, I don’t hesitate to press my mouth against his. I’m making it last for as long as I can, but it still has to end, and he sees the tears the moment I pull away.
“No, little cub don’t,” there’s a begging quality to his tone and I think if he could outrun my words he would.
“I’m sorry Amias, I can’t do this. I’ve tried to fight it for so long but I have to let you go,” I say, I stand up and climb out of the hot tub, my tears are falling harder and faster and there’s nothing I can do to make them relent.
“I won’t let you go, come on Henleigh there is no reason for this. Surely you can feel how good we are together,” he jumps out of the hot tub and marches over to me.
I’m backing away, but he keeps on pursuing me until I’m backed into a corner and he’s only inches away from me.
“We’re good together but we’re not good for each other, we’ll only end up hurt and I’d rather it happen now than later on when I won’t be able to handle it. Let me go Amias,” I’m begging now, I knew I wouldn’t be strong enough, he needs to move before I do something stupid.