Page 65 of Royal Havoc

Her eyes slowly disappear behind clumpy-mascara-covered lashes as they narrow. “You seemed pretty cozy in that shit-hole bar when I found you sucking face —”

“Obviously, judging your customers is a bad choice,” I sneer angrily, glancing around the empty shop to drive home my point.

She peers at me for a second, sucking in a deep breath while she tugs her sleeves over her palms nervously. Suddenly, the fakest smile I’ve ever seen covers her face. “Your usual?” she asks politely, pouring on the sweetness.

“Of course,” I purr, matching her lame bullshit tone.

She taps the screen harder than usual, then skips away annoyingly. The whole exchange has me raking through drunken moments I was glad to forget from that night.

Did I say we were friends?

“No muffin,” I blurt when she grabs a bag.

Once I’ve paid, I turn, ready to get the hell away from the sour atmosphere I’ve fallen into.

“Wait,” she calls, rushing from behind the counter, stopping me after a few steps. “I’m sorry. I was worried yesterday when I didn’t see you,” she clarifies hesitantly.

“Thanks, it’s fine,” I throw out shortly, turning again to leave.

“It’s just,” she starts forcing me to face her again, poking at the resting anger under my skin. “I had fun hanging out the other night.”

The bells clang against the door, causing me to jump. I’m shocked to see no one’s there. Confusion sets off warning sirens, turning my skin prickly.

“I thought maybe we could hang out again,” she says shyly, drawing my attention.

Nothing about this moment feels right. “We’re not friends,” I sneer, spinning on my heel, storming from the shop as my screaming conscience demands.

I’m still scavenging through theories, trying to make sense of the clanking bells, when I’m met by Vex’s scowling face.

“You dashed while I was sleeping,” he scolds, falling into step beside me, escorting me into the Edge.

The question I hid away earlier pokes its ugly head from its hiding spot.

Would he change his mind?

Wouldn’t you?

He grabs my arm, forcing me to stop. Both of us peer at the other, blocking the middle of the senior hall.

“Um… I needed coffee,” I answer, my eyes bouncing between his molten lava stare.

His brows scrunch, and his hand slips from my arm. “You could’ve woke me up. I would’ve taken you.”

“I needed some quiet. So I could think,” I rush to add.

“About what?” he questions, snapping back to the defensive bossy Vex.

I glance around at the bodies skirting around us. “I’ll tell you later,” I assure him calmly.

Right away, I can tell he doesn’t believe me but chooses not to fight with me. “I’ll see you at lunch. Go before you’re late,” he orders, nodding towards my locker. “And, stay out of trouble.”

“Always,” I joke, giggling as I back away from him. For once, I actually enjoy our exchange.

So far, I’ve mostly spent my morning daydreaming about questions I still have no answers to. Of course, Vex's and my history has taken up the majority of my dreams. I actually broke down and made a pros and cons list. Now, I’ve just got to make sure to burn it to ensure Vex never finds it.

“Onyx?” Mr. Brickman’s voice draws me back to reality.

“Huh?” I grunt, blinking at the empty classroom.

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