Chapter 5

DAVINA

The blanket I chose earlier today, the same one I've been using since I was thirteen and welcomed as a favorite after Grandma confessed that she sewed it herself, barely covers the bed, leaving a third of the mattress exposed. The thing is, I refuse to change the blanket and get a new one.

Even with the bedroom door locked, I can hear my parents arguing, every day they find a new reason to fight, even if the reason is something silly like leaving the orange peel in the sink. It's nonsense, we all know that Mom blames Dad for Pryia's departure. Another piece of nonsense. My sister has always hated this place and was going to leave sooner or later, it just happened to be soon enough to drive Mom crazy.

I throw myself back on the bed, drowning among the lined pillows. My sister used to tease me about this as a child, pointing out how strange I was for having so many pillows around me that there was no room left for me on the mattress.

The memory makes me look away, at her empty, tidy bed. She hated sharing a room with me, insisting that she needed her own space and privacy, but our house was never big enough for each of us to have our own place. Even if I didn't do any talking, I hated it too, Pryia was a terrible roommate and went through my things.

“Davina? You're going to miss the hour.” It's Dad's voice, I didn't realize they'd stopped fighting until now.

I jump out of bed the next second, he's not going to give me a second warning, so I have to be quick to get a ride.

When my classmates found out that my sister had left for Italy, things got difficult at school. I wasn't popular, but I wielded a certain amount of power in the group I was part of, which was the reading and debating group. All hell broke loose when all sorts of versions of the story emerged, a few jokes about Pryia having gone to offer her Latin tributes elsewhere were told here and there, most of them said as I walked past. The boys started making offers to pay for my time, but I ignored them. Until some girls showed up at my classroom door at break time, begging me to tell them the name of the app where Pryia met her Italian boyfriend. The climax.

On the bright side, the story was getting old, and I had less than four months left of high school, not to mention the fact that I'd be turning eighteen in two months and could make my own choices. I'm almost happy about that, but I remember that Pryia was smarter, and I need to stay here to help my parents, but Mom wouldn't let me go now. She couldn't bear to lose me, either.

" Thank you.” I mumble to Dad, dive into the passenger seat and pull the seatbelt over me. He nods, but doesn't say anything the whole way. The atmosphere is always strange at home and I only feel good when I'm working with Grandma, making cakes, sweets or deliveries. When he finally stops in front of the school, I kiss him on the cheek and thank him again.

I pass through the iron gate with redoubled attention, mumbling a hello to Tom, the guard. The distance from the main courtyard to my classroom is short, but I walk as fast as I can. Out of the corner of my left eye, I see Aaron approaching. We've had a fling, something quick and casual that has left him confused. He grabs my arm before I have a chance to enter the room and drags me to the library, but precisely the alley at the side. Our school is huge, but it doesn't get much funding for maintenance, so some places have become refuges for those who want some privacy. Aaron knows all the places.

“What do you want?” I ask, pulling my arm out of his grip and putting some distance between us. He's bigger than me, broad-shouldered from years of swimming, with a relaxed expression that irritates me to my core.

“Don't be so prickly, baby.” he says and I want to vomit at the nickname. His hand comes up to my chin and I slap it, which makes his eyes squeeze shut.

'' Say what you want, Aaron. I have a lesson.''

A dismissive smile grows on his face, and I grip the strap of my backpack tighter. Until a while ago, I used to find his personality endearing, especially when he had his brown eyes on me.

'' I want a favor. ''

I snort.

He can't be talking seriously.

'' He can't be serious.''

'' You don't even know what I'm going to ask.'' His voice becomes agitated, although his expression doesn't change.

I raise an eyebrow and cross my arms at breast height.

'' This has something to do with Timmy, doesn't it? You want me to talk to him for you.''

Something passes through his eyes, turning them a darker brown, almost black. He abandons his relaxed expression for a sullen frown, but it only lasts a few seconds.

'' If you ask, he'll do it.''

I bite the inside of my cheek, hating that I've allowed guys like Aaron and Timmy into my life, even though Timmy has only ever been a friend. Best friend.

I push my nose up, just like Pryia used to do when she was ready to end a conversation she didn't want to have, and smile at him kindly.

'' I'm sorry, Aaron. That's not going to happen.'' I push his body aside and make my way back to the corridor. It turns out that I only manage to walk three steps before his hand grabs the back of my neck and pulls me against his chest. I groan in pain as he pulls part of my hair and my head tilts back.

'' Don't turn your back on me, Davina. Not ever. ''

'' What's going on here? '' Aaron's authoritative tone makes me let go, but not before he whispers for me to be quiet. My eyes meet Tom's and he frowns.

'' Nothing. '' Aaron says, throwing his arm around my shoulder.

'' Davina? '' Tom asks, ignoring the guy with his arm around me, although his attention is focused precisely on that point.

I sigh.

I let go of Aaron's touch and take a step forward.

'' We were just talking. '' I say and Tom's eyes meet mine again, I can't ignore the spark of disappointment there, but telling the truth will only make things harder for him in here. Aaron is troublesome, but he has a lot of followers and I can't risk being at the forefront of his attention right now.

'' Go to class. '' he growls, making good use of his power. Aaron salutes and whistles.

'' I'm sorry. '' I mutter as I pass him, low enough for only the two of us to hear. On the one hand, I don't know why I'm apologizing when I haven't done anything, but it must be the way he keeps looking at me.

'' Mrs. Carter? One minute, please.''