Page 39 of Until We Burn
Today is not about the HMG. Today is about working on Mellonbaum’s midterm project so Kai and I can get an A, bàba’s pride in me can be restored, and I can focus wholeheartedly on the joint project with the Decibel 6 and the Pacific Observer. I won’t let anything else throw me off today. Otherwise, rooming with Kai and tempting my impulses will all be for nothing.
“I’m fine,” I lie, “We should head to Granville Island before we run into traffic.”
CHAPTER 19
KAI
Whatever was botheringDiana back at the arena hasn’t gone away.
I shouldn’t care so much, yet I can’t stop the question from hurtling out of my mouth when we get to the Yaletown Docks.
“Are you sure you’re okay to do the project today? You just seem really on edge.”
Diana hesitates as she hitches the other end of her mask back onto her face. For a second, I don’t think she can hear me until she leans in to whisper back, “My father hasn’t said anything about Gregory, and I can’t stop thinking about why. It’s never this calm after a scandal. There’s always a scolding, a speech about protecting our reputations. Now? Nothing. It’s never good when the men in my family go quiet.”
My blood runs cold.
This is why you need to stay away from her and the Huangs. Whatever is happening to Sasha Vellair can happen to you.
The dread churning in my gut calms a bit when we reach the giant sign spelling out ‘aquabus’ in rainbow block letters. The fresh air sours into an earthy, fishy stench. Seagulls cry out and swoop over the boats anchored in the water. Gentle waves ripple against the boards as we walk down the bridge towards the ferries.
There’s a familiar brunette standing at the ticket booth in a DHU sweatshirt.
Emilie’s gaze turns wary when she notices me. “Hey, Kai. I didn’t think I’d see you out today.”
Why is she acting so weird around me?
I fake a smile. “Yeah, my partner and I are trying to get a project out of the way.”
She shrugs and hands us our tickets. “Well, it’s good you’re keeping busy in the middle of all the stuff coming out about you.”
The air tenses. I can barely feel the words on my tongue. “What do you mean?”
Diana softly grabs my shoulder. “Maybe we should go?—”
“People all over Instagram and Threads are talking about you,” Emilie says, “Something about you doping again because you kept screwing up during practice on Friday.”
The bridge suddenly feels like it’s shaking under my feet. My hands twitch at my side, itching to brace onto something.
“He was trying to cooperate with a frustrating partner he had to work with,” Diana assures, “Kai was just stressed. That’s all.”
Her wrist slightly brushes mine, and it anchors me back into focus.
Emilie is already over this as she picks up her phone and waves us off. “Well, good luck out there.”
Panic circles my thoughts throughout the entire ride to Granville Island, and I think if the ferry had capsized, I wouldn’t have noticed.
Diana tugs on my sleeve.
I look over to see her leaning into me. “I’m sorry about messing up your practice on Friday.”
“It’s okay.” I swallow hard. My shaking hands knot together in my lap. “I shouldn’t have let the whole thing get to me in the first place.”
“It’s not your?—”
The engine quiets down. The ferry slowly bobs toward the Granville Island public market. People walk out carrying bags of fruit and fresh seafood wrapped in butcher paper.
Diana and I hop onto the wooden deck, making the seagulls flinch and trot away. The fresh air and the rhythmic clanging of constructionnearby distract my mind from spinning into a dread I can’t claw my way out of.
