Page 52 of Jinxed

Or, to be more accurate,questions I don’t knowhowto answer yet.

>>God, they all have their panties in such a twist. Can’t they just chill out?

They can’t chill out. And that’s all your fault. It’s not supposed to be like this. You’re not supposed to make decisions for me. It’s one thing to send a text, but this is different. You’re not real. You’re owned by me. You’re supposed to be controlled by me.

He stares upat me with his dark eyes. But his expression is unreadable. He’s never looked so... robotic.

‘Well, Lacey?’

I jerk my head upwards. I haven’t been listening to their conversations. Mr Baird is looking at me expectantly, while the others all have thunder and fury etched into their expressions.

‘Well...’ I draw out the word, trying desperately to remember what was said.

Gemma scoffs loudly,rolls her eyes and folds her arms over her chest. ‘Looks like you got played harder than the rest of us,’ she says to Tobias. ‘Thought Nathan’s bro would be smarter than that. Guess you are the lesser Washington.’

Tobias’s expression causes my throat to hitch. He moves from anger to a look of such hurt and betrayal that I wince. And how can I blame him? I know what he must think. That I’ve beenusing our friendship – and the growing... whatever it is... between us – to form a strategy to hurt him. Even though that wasn’t my intention in the slightest.Jinx just wanted to protect Jupiter, I want to say, but I know that no one will believe me. After all, bakus aren’t supposed to want things.

They’re not supposed to make decisions on their own.

They’re supposed to obey their owners– or else who knows what kind of chaos we could encounter. People blaming their bakus for their actions, letting a robot take responsibility. I have to step up to the plate and own what Jinx has done.

‘Well, are you up for the challenge?’ Mr Baird repeats, his voice patient and a ghost of a smile playing on his lips.

I stand up out of my chair. ‘I’m happy to pull out of the competition and notbe a wild card. I... I don’t know what came over me. It was all a big mistake. I promise. Nothing like that will ever happen again.’

Now Mr Baird’s expression darkens. ‘Oh no, it’s too late for that. You must continue – albeit with a handicap for late entry. The board has deemed that I give Jinx a black mark for the next twelve hours, while the other teams attempt to repair their bakus. Sohe will stay at 80% damage and you won’t be able to repair him. Other than that, I’m afraid that the decision is final. You will be a team captain in the next round of Baku Battles to be held at Moncha HQ, although you will have only you and your baku to rely on. Let’s hope today wasn’t a fluke.’

I drop my head, and nod.

‘I need verbal confirmation from you that you’re going to participate.’

I hesitate, then flick my eyes up. ‘I will participate,’ I say.

‘Good, that’s settled then.’

Gemma throws her hands up in the air and walks off with a strangled cry.

‘You’re going down, little miss,’ hisses Dorian. I wince as he says it, but I try and keep my back as straight as possible. I can’t let them intimidate me too much. Whatever they think, I know this wasn’t my decision.

Tobias walkspast last. He stops right in front of me, and I can feel that he has a million things he wants to say, balancing right there on the tip of his tongue. His eyes search mine, the eyes that had previously been filled with happiness and laughter last time they looked at me. Now, they’re hard – jade rocks instead of soft moss. ‘I trusted you,’ he says. Aero flaps his wings in my face, sending my hairflying. Then in several long strides, he’s gone.

I deflate, my shoulders crumpling in on themselves. Even though I’m so mad at him, I find myself automatically reaching down and stroking Jinx. He wriggles under my hand until his nose nuzzles my palm, then he slinks in a figure of eight around my legs and up into my lap. I hold him close. My anger towards him dissipates as he purrs against mybody. I know he meant well.

‘Lacey?’ Mr Baird asks. I look up to see he’s been staring at me and Jinx, a curious expression on his face. ‘I have to give Jinx his black mark.’

My eyes open wide. I’d heard him say that, but I hadn’t really taken in what that would mean. ‘Do you have to, sir?’

‘It’s the board-mandated punishment. And you’re not going to be able to do any sort of repairs beforetomorrow, do you understand?’

I nod, misery settling over my shoulders like I’ve been caught in a downpour.

‘Bring your baku to me.’

‘You brought this on yourself,’ I mutter to him, before placing him down on Mr Baird’s desk. I can see the black mark sitting there, dark and menacing.

Mr Baird doesn’t put the mark on straight away. Instead, he stares at Jinx, who is curled up on the desk. Ithink the battle must have taken some of the energy out of him – more so than his pride will let on.

The longer that Jinx sits there, with Mr Baird staring at him, the more uneasy I get.

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