Chapter 3 - Easy There, Darlin'

Asteria looked down to deliver the news, only to find that Damian was already fast asleep.

She couldn’t find it in herself to be properly surprised. His breathing had deepened into the slow, even rhythm of someone who hadn’t slept properly in days. Jet lag, the hangover, and whatever other chaos he’d stirred up in England had finally caught up with him. Evidently, he needed all the sleep he could get.

But while it was a good thing for him that he was asleep, it made things a bit more difficult for her. Damian was a heavy sleeper in every sense of the phrase. Waking him up was always a nightmare, and she’d always found it much easier to just let him sleep. And he was also incredibly heavy. She was stuck right there until he decided to wake up.

There was also the matter of what she had to say to him. It had been with her for the most of the summer, and it wasn’t the kind of information she wanted to deliver via phone call or text. It needed to be in person. The only problem was that he was not fast asleep.

But at the end of the day, it was fine. She had carried that secret with her for months; a few more hours wouldn’t kill her.

So they stayed like that for what seemed like forever. Just as her legs started to cramp up, footsteps approached from the main aisle.

Asteria looked up just as Oliver appeared, Tammy trailing beside him with her usual bright smile.

Tamara ‘Tammy’ Lockwood was the student council secretary and Oliver’s girlfriend of about two years. She and Asteria weren’t exactly close friends due to their different interests, but there was no bad blood between them. Besides, Tammy was nice enough. She was the one who had very patiently taught Asteria how to do a proper winged eyeliner last spring during one of Oliver’s parties.

“I thought I’d find you two here.” Oliver said once he spotted them. “He’s not even been back for a full day, and he’s already using you as a pillow.”

Asteria shrugged. “He’s exhausted. He passed out really quickly.”

“Poor guy.” Tammy said. “He must be really exhausted. He came in straight from the airport.”

“Oh boo hoo, poor baby.” Oliver said with false pity. Then, never one for gentleness when efficiency will do perfectly fine, he nudged Damian awake with his foot. “Wake up, you lazy oaf. Free period’s almost over, and it’s way too early in the school year to start slacking off.”

It took a few more, less gentle kicks for Damian to finally stir awake. He groaned, then lifted his head from Asteria’s lap with obvious reluctance. “Have I ever told you that you’re my least favorite cousin?” He hissed.

Oliver rolled his eyes. “Well, you always say that, but then when you need a favor, suddenly, I’m the best thing since sliced bread.”

The overhead speakers crackled to life before Damian could voice his retort.

“Attention, Blackwell Academy students.” The peppy voice of Maya Williams, the student council president, cut through the intercom. “As we kick off senior year, we’re pleased to announce that preparation for a very exciting school year has already begun. Flyers with QR codes have been pasted up on the various notice boards stationed around the building. Please scan the code and contribute your suggestions to the shared online form. Themes, venues, entertainment… your ideas matter. Let’s make this year unforgettable!”

“Great way to wake up, a kick to the ribs and my ex’s voice on the intercom.” Damian grumbled.

“You deserved the kick, and you’ve been with most of the Blackwell’ female population.” Oliver said. “So you’re going to be hearing the voices of tons of exes throughout the day. Deal with it.”

Damian rolled his eyes as he finally sat up. “Prom plans already? It’s literally just the first day of school.”

“I know! Isn’t that exciting?!” Tammy squealed, earning her a shushing from the librarian. “It’s better if we start early. Last year, the seniors didn’t decide on time, and they got stuck with some shitty DJ. And music is a huge part of any celebration, so if the music is shit, the party’s shit too. That’s why I’m pushing for the live band that did my neighbor’s quinceañera. They were phenomenal.”

“I remember.” Oliver said. “And then right after the father-daughter dance, Damian fell in the pool.”

“That wasn’t my fault. I was drunk.”

Oliver stared at him for a second. “You know what? I’m not going to get into this argument with you. We have Econ right now.”

“No. We have Econ after the bell.” Damian retorted.

As if on cue, the bell rang. Damian groaned but didn’t fight back as Oliver hoisted him to his feet and led him towards the library’s exit.

“I guess that leaves just us girls.” Tammy said.

“Not exactly. I have Studio Art right now.” Asteria said with an apologetic smile. “And you have… something else. So, I’ll just be on my way now. See you later, Tammy.” And with that, she was off to her next class.

She hurried down the polished hallway, determined to make it to class before the teacher got there. In her hurry, she collided with someone coming down from the other corridor. His hands steadied her shoulder instinctively, preventing her from toppling over.

“Easy there, darlin’.” He drawled, voice carrying a smooth Southern lilt that stood out sharply in New York. “Sorry about that; I didn’t see you there. You alright?”

Asteria stepped back and pushed her bangs out of her face. Which allowed her to properly see the person she’d bumped into.

The first thing she noticed was that he was taller than her, which wasn’t particularly shocking. Even with her one-inch growth spurt, a good number of people were still taller than her. With his sun-kissed skin, easy smile, brown hair, and even browner eyes, his entire being radiated warmth. But despite his handsome features, Asteria didn’t recognize him.

“Don’t apologize. It was my fault. I wasn’t looking.” She said.

“Hey, let’s just agree that it’s both our faults.” He said.

“Kethan Adams.” He said, extending a hand. “I just transferred in.”

There was probably a story behind his switching schools in his senior year, but she didn’t know it. Paige probably did with her extensive gossip network. But to Asteria, Kethan was just a name and a kind face, and that was enough for her.

“I’m Asteria Goldburn.” She took his hand. “Welcome to Blackwell Academy. I hope you have a great senior year.”

“I hope so too.” He said, stepping away for her so she could enter the class. “It’s not easy being the new kid, but at least I’ve got you.”

“Yeah, but only until the end of today.” She joked.

“Of course.”

The more enthusiastic students occupied the front row. The back row was still mostly empty because the unserious backbenchers were also latecomers and weren’t going to be showing up anytime soon. So that left the entire middle section of the class for them to pick a seat from. They walked down the aisle together, looking for two empty desks.

Which was how the trouble began.

“Damn Goldburn. That skirt’s doing you favors this year.” One of the guys, Marcus, muttered. His friends snickered in response.

Asteria’s steps faltered slightly, but she kept walking.

If the gossip was anything to go by, Marcus was just as arrogant as his dad, who was a well-known artist. Marcus had inherited his father’s skill. It was the only reason a junior like him had been allowed into AP Studio Art, a class usually reserved for seniors. But along with the inherited talent, Marcus also unfortunately had his father’s ego and sexist attitude.

She hoped that ignoring Marcus and his cronies would be enough. But it wasn’t. As she passed Marcus’ desk, a hand shot out and slapped her ass with a crude laugh.

Kethan was in front of her in an instant. His voice cut through the room, calm but no doubt edged with steel. “That’s not how you treat a lady. Apologize. Now.”

“Dude, come on.” Marcus argued. “You see the skirt she’s wearing. That’s not something a ‘lady’ would wear.”

“A lady can wear whatever she wants to wear without scumbags like you making absurd comments and hitting them.” Kethan countered. “So you will apologize to her. Right now.”

Marcus held up his hand in defeat. “Geez. Okay. Sorry.” It wasn’t a sincere apology, but it was probably the closest Asteria would get.

Asteria gave Kethan a grateful nod. “Thanks.”

“No problem at all.” He said, flashing that easy smile again as they both took their seats.

The teacher arrived moments later, launching into the syllabus and expectations for the year. Then halfway through the period, the intercom crackled to life.

“Asteria Goldburn, please report to the principal’s office immediately.”

Her stomach dropped. She had never been called to the principal’s office before. Panic fluttered in her chest as she gathered her things and stepped out of the class.

The walk to the administrative wing felt endless, and she was sweating bullets the entire way there. She mulled over the various reasons why she could have possibly been called in. Was it the skirt? Had one of the teachers reported it? Did someone think that she and Damian were actually up to funny business in the library? Was there already an issue with her grades?

Her mind raced through every minor infraction she might have incurred since her very first day of school.

When she got to Principal Thompson’s door, she wiped her sweaty palms on the fabric of her skirt and then knocked softly, then stepped inside when invited.

“Miss Goldburn, thank you so much for coming so promptly.” He gestured for her to sit.

Asteria perched on the edge of the chair. “Is everything okay?”

“I called you here to discuss three things with you.”

Internally, she groaned. So three separate issues, and it was only the first day? So much for a great senior year. She was so screwed.