Page 24 of A Taste of Torment
I sigh. “Yeah, I guess I am.” More lying. I’m not ready for it. I was hoping this would be my refuge. Instead, I have to keep this ridiculous mask up at all times.
Janet separates from me and stands quietly, watching with concern. “What happened?”
I press my lips together. “Well, you were right. He’s—” I really don’t know how to do this. God, this is embarrassing. “He wants to date me.” I’m dizzy the moment the words leave my lips.
“OMG, are you going to faint?”
My eyelids flutter. “I think I need to sit down.”
Janet hooks her arm in mine and guides me to the common room, and the three of us flop down onto one of the uneven couches.
“Do you need water?” Lola asks.
I try to swallow, but my mouth and throat are dry. I wince.
“Water coming up!” Lola says and flies off around the corner.
I press my palms to my eyes. And try to force my body to calm. Dating Jarron, the demon prince. My once friend and possibly my sister’s murderer.
“I guess it was wishful thinking,” Janet murmurs, looking off to the other side of the room.
“What?” I whisper.
“That we’d get another Minor lifer to hang with. There’s only five of us, you know that? Five seniors still in Minor Hall. Every cool new person that shows up leaves us behind and never looks back.”
I purse my lips.
“I mean, I’m happy for you and all. It’s just…”
I nod. “It’s the outcast hall. It’s only fun when there’s someone else to share it with.”
She gives me a sad smile.
I squeeze her hand. “I know you don’t believe me, but I really do not intend to leave Minor Hall. I like it here. I feel safe, and I need that. Especially if I’m going to be spending time in Elite Hall. And I like you. You and Lola. My first day would have been literal hell without you. I want to be your friend. Even if… even if…” I swallow, unable to finish the sentence.
“You’re dating a literal prince?”
“Ademonprince.”
Grunting grabs our attention, and Janet and I both turn to find little Lola carrying a water bottle larger than her entire body by the bottle cap, wobbling to and fro as her little wings struggle to keep them in the air. “Here I come!” she squeaks.
I snort a laugh and reach out to take it from her gently. “Thank you.”
Lola drops to the couch, panting heavily. “You’re. Welcome,” she says between breaths.
I take a sip. Cool water soothes my throat and eases the tension in my chest.
“So, tell us again how you don’t know Jarron that well?”
I allow a small smile. “Okay, yeah, I knew him. But I didn’t—” I look up at the mismatched glass above our heads. “My sister had a crush on him, so it’s really weird to think he’d be into me now.”
“Oh, yeah. I could see that.”
“But also, you don’t say no to him,” Lola adds. “He’s like drool worthy hot.”
My heart clenches. “He is quite attractive.” To be honest, that’s part of the problem.
Jarron is model hot. I’ve never put a lot of stock in what I look like. I’m vaguely attractive by human standards. It never mattered to me that I wasn’t the turn-heads kind of beautiful like my sister.
