Cruel King (Royal Elite 0)

Dr Edmonds, my shrink, said I might be witnessing flashbacks from the accident.

I came up with a theory.

My inability to sketch properly might have to do with what happened during the accident. Maybe I can remember what happened if I push myself to sketch something — anything — from that night.

Every time, like now, Levi’s infuriating face comes to mind.

I scratch whatever I’ve been sketching and huff around the mouthful of hamburger.

Muse-killing arsehole.

“Hey, bugger. What are you doing over here hiding?”

“Avoiding entitled football players. No offence, bug.” What? I didn’t say I wouldn’t say anything.

“It’s taken, damn you.” He chuckles around the words.

That’s Dan and I. It’s a friendship made in heaven. Or in a pool.

The thing is, when I first moved in with Dad, he had Nicole take me to a party so I’d meet friends.

As if I would ever be interested in Nicole’s friends.

So, anyway, I didn’t want to go, but I’m glad I did.

Of course, Nicole abandoned me as soon as we arrived. Feelings were mutual, thank you very much.

So, I was there, in a secluded area by the pool minding my own business and drinking diluted tequila. And okay, I might have been staring at my Sun-Moon-Star tattoo and crying about my mum.

Then someone comes shouting. “Holy shit. Is that a bug?”

That was Dan and he mistook my star tattoo for a bug. I punched him for saying that about Mum’s last tattoo. He was drunk so he kind of fell into the pool and didn’t surface, and I thought I killed him or something.

So here I was pulling him out, crying and telling him I didn’t want to be a murderer. He opened his eyes laughing.

I talked to him about Mum and he told me about his grandma that he also lost recently.

Since then, we became inseparable. Best beginning of a friendship ever.

That’s why I know that Dan and I are tight even when I make fun of his team.

But hey, he once saw an impressionist painting and told me it looked like cockroaches walked on it.

It’s mutual and totally fair.

I peek up at him as he slides beside me with a stupid grin on his face.

“What?” I can’t help but grin back.

“I have huge news.”

Still cross-legged, I face him, his happiness rubbing on me. “Well? Are you going to have me beg you to say it?”

“That’ll work, too.” He waggles his eyebrows. “Like you begged Captain.”

“Oh, please. Not you, too, bug.”

“What? I’m wounded I had to hear about it like everyone else. I’m the best friend and should get inside scoop.” He shakes his head in mock sadness. “I’m telling you, our friendship is