Chapter 34

Journee's POV

I came back to my room after leaving Kingston and Malik back at the tech department. I jumped into bed after I entered, and pulled out my laptop to continue what I had been doing. I had been working on the programming for a while and honestly didn't realize when I dozed off. It was the sound of my phone buzzing that woke me up. I pulled it out of my pocket, and glowing on the screen was Marley's number. Finally I'd been trying to reach her since the first day I got here, but for some reason the network connection had been horrible and it always failed to go through. I picked it up with utmost speed and placed it to my ear. "Marley?" I asked, as I picked up the phone. "Journee!" She yelled from the other side in excitement. "Girl, what the fuck? Where have you been? You were supposed to call me the moment you got to Blackwood." "The network connection at the motel is terrible, Marley." I explained. "Did you get my messages?" "Yes, I did. I tried to call immediately I got them, but the call kept going to voicemail." She replied. "Just happy I can finally get to speak to you. You spoke about Silver? What did that bitch do this time?"

"She's just ... she's just always around." I complained. "Always has something provoking to say. It's so frustrating, Marley." "Ugh." Marley groaned from the other end. "Hate that bitch. You've already stopped talking to Kingston, what else does she want from you?" Stopped talking to Kingston, hm . If only she knew. "I have no idea." I lied, my voice trying to stay convincing. "The next time that witch tries to talk to me, I swear, one of us is definitely landing at a hospital and it won't be me." "That bitch better thank the goddess I didn't tag along for that trip." Marley supported. "She'd have lost a tooth." "I have no doubts about that." I laughed, and she laughed back. The initial tension I was feeling loosened up from the laugh. "Really appreciate you calling, Marley." I continued as the laugh faded.

"Anytime." I could hear the smile in her voice, then a pause before she spoke again. "Wait, what about that douchebag Kingston?"

I swallowed. Hard.

My heart skipped a beat as I wondered how exactly I was going to tell her that Kingston and I had locked lips for the second time. Marley was going to freak out for sure.

"W-what about Kingston?" I stuttered, still trying to maintain composure and not act suspicious.

"I hope he hasn't tried to do anything stupid since you got there?" Marley asked, her voice filled with clear contempt. "O-of course not. He wouldn't dare." I lied, forcing a laugh. "He better not." She scoffed. Just before I could say anything else, a knock came on the door.

My head darted to the door, my phone still in hand and Marley still on speaker.

"Who's there?" I asked, my gaze fixed on the door.

But no response.

"Who's that?" Marley asked from the other end of the phone. "I didn't hear a reply." I replied, now walking toward the door to see who it was. "I'll go see who it is." "It better not be Silver." Marley swore. "I'll literally kill the bitch." And when I opened the door, lo and behold-

Kingston was leaning on the door frame, his arms crossed over his chest and a smirk splayed on his face. "You ready?" His deep voice followed the moment I opened the door fully. "Who's that, Journee?" Marley asked, her voice echoing in the quiet-loud enough that even Kingston could hear, since she was still on speaker. "Uhm ... uhm ... let me call you back." I replied, my thumb hovering over the hang-up button. "Journee, what's happ-" Before she could even finish her statement, I hung up, my gaze fixed on Kingston.

"Kingston," I finally found my voice, with an obviously nervous and faltering smile. "It's 10pm already?" "Uhh ... yes." He laughed. "Don't you have a clock in there?" My gaze glanced back into the room to check the ancient-looking small clock at the corner, and saw that it was actually a few minutes past ten. "My bad." I smiled softly. "Totally lost track of time." "No worries." He smiled back, now stretching out his hand to take mine. "Shall we?" "I don't have a choice at this point, do I?" I teased playfully. "Nope. Too late." And with that, I let out a soft laugh as I laced my hand in his, turning off my phone with my other hand-just in case Marley tried calling again. I knew I shouldn't have done that, but ugh ... I knew what Marley was going to say if she found out, and I honestly wasn't ready for her speeches.

I just wanted to live in the moment this time, damning the consequences.

His hand was warm in mine. I didn't know how long we walked like that through the dimly lit hallways, past closed doors, past the sounds of distant laughter and muffled music. All I knew was that I didn't want him to let go. "So," I said, trying to sound casual even though my heart was racing. "Where are we going first?" Kingston glanced at me, a small smile playing on his lips. "The weight room. It's where we spend most of our time" "Aren't you guys always on ice most of the time though?" "Fair point." He laughed. "I mean the times when we're not on ice.' “Hm." "Wait until you see the equipment. It's not just weights. There's a sauna. A hot tub. A recovery room." I raised an eyebrow. "Recovery room?" "For injuries. Ice baths, massage tables, that kind of thing." "You have massage tables ?! "

"Yup." He nodded his head. "Insane." I muttered under my breath, but loud enough for him to hear me.

"I know right?" He smiled, before looking at me. "And if you're lucky, you could get a massage tonight." "I wouldn't mind it." I replied, shrugging. "Well, the masseuses would be all gone by now, but-" "But what?" I asked, my curiosity through the roof. He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping. "I could fill in." My brain short circuited. Fill in? As in-his hands on me? I felt my face burn. I opened my mouth to say something, anything, but no words came out. He was still holding my hand. Still looking at me with that smirk.

"You're impossible." I finally managed. "You keep saying that."He laughed, now tugging me gently forward. "Come on. The weight room's this way."