Chapter 4.

Chapter 4

Darcy

Another week passed and I still didn’t get a job. A part of me was still hoping that Dad would stop all this and unblock my cards But the other part of me was scared he wouldn’t and that he has been turned against me by someone.

Who?

Damien?

“That’s not possible.” I muttered as I wiped the water off my face.

“What’s not possible?” Sunny asked from her bed. She was making some sketches for one of her assignments.

“Nothing. I was just thinking out loud.” I replied as I picked up my cleanser from the table. It was almost empty.

“Okay...” She raised a brow. “ Are you feeling okay?”

“Yeah, I am.” I got up and walked away from the mirror. “I’m going to go skate.” I said as I picked out an outfit.

I walked out of Adler hall and stared at my Mercedes parked right outside the dorm. It still hadn’t moved since that hockey game.

I made a mental note to dry-clean my clothes later as I walked to the skating rink.

It was Saturday so I wasn’t the only one there. A group of sophomores stopped whispering as soon as I walked in. I heard them say, “Milena,” before they stopped talking.

They weren’t figure skaters for the school, just casual ones. One of them stared unabashedly as I got onto the ice to practice. 

There had been a few rumours floating around concerning my spat with Killian. The most ridiculous one of all is that it was a lover’s quarrel. But I hadn’t seen Killian since that day.

I put on my earbuds and listened to the piece I decided to skate to in the competition this year. I mindlessly and repeatedly went over my routine while brainstorming what to put in my online novels.

Apart from skating , writing was another activity where I felt like I could easily express myself, my dreams, my worries and my greatest fears. Putting ink to paper, or putting fingers to keyboard had a way of processing things for me, giving it an identity in a way I couldn’t in my head, letting me observe myself from the reader’s point of view. I hadn’t even told Sunny about it. She just knew I took an English lit class.

The sound of my blade scratching against the ice echoed as I snapped out of my trance and noticed the now empty rink. 

Time flew by quickly. It was almost dark. My stomach growled and I remembered that I had eaten a grand total of nothing that day. I stepped off the ice and checked my purse to see if I had enough for dinner tonight.

$15. How plentiful.

I walked out of the arena while racking my brain on what I could get for only $15. I was sick and tired of cheap ramen.

I felt a shiver at the base of my neck and froze.

 Someone was watching me.

I turned back and saw nothing. The streetlights around here were still under repair.

I exhaled shakily and started to speed walk back to Adler. Then I heard the sound of heavy footsteps picking up speed.

Shit! Shit! Shit!

I was too weak to shift and no one  was around either.

“Darcy stop.”

I didn’t slow down for even a second. My heart was thundering against my ribs.

“Darcy!” The voice got closer. Suddenly, a tattooed hand grabbed me then spun me around to face him.

The first thing I saw was the glint of an eyebrow piercing. Then dirty blond hair. It was Devon, Killian’s best friend. I couldn’t stop my face from contorting into a mask of irritation. I can’t believe he scared me like that.

“What do you want?” I narrowed my eyes on him.

“To talk.” He glared back. “I want to see just how much of a spoiled Daddy’s girl you are.”

“Since you have nothing important to talk about...” I pushed his hand away. “... I’ll be on my way.”

“You really have no regard for the lives you ruin, do you?”

“ I haven’t ruined anybody’s life.” I stepped back.

“And Killian? What about the report you sent?”

“A little warning never ruined anyone’s life.” I crossed my arms.

Warning?” He scoffed incredulously. “His scholarship is under review for bad behaviour because you lied about him physically assaulting you!”

A knot began to form in my chest.

“Killian is on a scholarship?” I gasped and involuntarily moved backwards.

Devon suddenly grabbed my wrist. “You know damn well he didn’t physically assault you. But isn’t it strange? Alpha Grayson’s daughter slaps someone then her victim gets punished. You’re a real piece of work.”

“I… I didn’t know he was on a scholarship.” I spoke slowly, guilt seeping in.

“So if he’s not, it makes it easy to lie?” Devon raised his chin and his eyebrow piercing glinted in the light.

“I didn’t mean to!”  I blurted. “ The lady at the desk. She said…” I trailed off when I realized that she didn’t force me.

Goddess I knew this would come back to bite me in the ass.

“ It’s not about if you meant it or not,” Devon sounded much calmer. “You still did it. He is at his wit’s end...He can’t afford the tuition.” 

Then I remembered something and my face contorted into a grimace. “Oh please. He drives a freaking Hellcat.” I tried to free my wrist from his hand and he held on tighter.

“It was a gift. Besides this is a sports scholarship. He has to go pro. This could ruin that for him.”

My shoulders slumped then I exhaled. I really fucked up.

“I’m sorry, I really didn’t mean to,” I apologised.

“ I’m not the one you should be apologising to.” Devon finally let go of me. “Killian has been taking it rough. He’d do just about anything to keep his scholarship. Sorry isn’t going to cut it. You’ll have to withdraw the report before it gets processed.” 

Sure I heard everything Devon said, but just a single phrase kept on repeating itself in my head.

He’d do anything to keep his scholarship.

No, that’s way too crazy. But if we’re both desperate it’ll work.

“Darcy, are you listening to me?” Devon frowned.

I looked up and mustered the most innocent face I could. “No, I’m sorry. I realized the effect of my actions and you’re right, I should apologise in person. Can you take me to where Killian is?” 

For a second, Devon looked at me like I had grown two heads. Then he frowned and said, “ I’m too busy for that but I can give you his address.”

I smiled sweetly.

It wasn’t selfish. It was mutually beneficial.