Page 77 of Distortion
They both just stare at me. My words won’t be enough, I realize. I’ll have to prove to them that I won’t be dead weight.
‘I didn’t know you guys would be here. I didn’t know your majors. No one told me. If I’d known ...’ I huff out a breath and shrug. ‘I’d still have gone to Applegate. This is my life. Do you understand?’
I look them both in their eyes.
Five seconds.
‘I want alife!’
I stop talking, precariously close to tears. What if they make it impossible for me to work here with them? Barista Plan B sucks. I can admit that. If I have to do it I will, but I don’t want that. I want to do what I enjoy. I want to use my brain. I want to prove that I’m not stupid. Maybe that makes me shallow or vain or arrogant, but I don’t care.
‘We ... we could make a deal,’ I say, closing my eyes and gritting my teeth in the face of their combined silences.
This is a mistake. I already know it. They’re lions, and with those five words ... I’ve just made myself a baby zebra, a sickly one that limps behind the herd. I’ll get picked off if I’m not careful, but there’s no other choice.
John has manipulated my life enough. I’m not going to let the Novelles continue to influence everything so that I appear as someone ... somethingelse.
‘Does Shade know about this?’ Mav asks after a moment. ‘His father?’
I shake my head. ‘Please don’t tell the Novelles.’
‘I won’t say anything,’ Mav mutters. ‘Yet.’
He seems ... resigned to me being their assistant.
‘But you earn your fucking keep here like anyone else, you hear me? You do the work.’ His lip curls. ‘When you can’t cut it, we’ll tell Applegate and you’ll be dropped. I hope you have another plan, princess, becausewhenyou fail, I’m going to go to John Novelle himself and rat you out.’
I nod, staying calm even though his threat makes my stomach twist. ‘I do, but I won’t need it. I’ll do whatever you want. I’m not leaving and becoming a barista.’
And I’m not going back to The Heath.
‘What?’ His face is scrunched up.
‘Someone who makes coffee.’
‘I know what a barista is, but ... why would that be your Plan B?’
‘I don’t have many transferable skills,’ I say honestly.
Blake just stares at me.
‘I need some fresh air,’ Mav mutters. ‘Have her do the formulas.’
‘Dude!’ Blake exclaims, bringing his arms up in a gesture that I think means he can’t believe Mav isn’t fighting this harder.
‘What?’ Mav looks at his friend. ‘What are you worried about? She’ll realize within five minutes that you don’t justdecide to doAdvanced Chem, and Applegate will, too.’ He snorts. ‘She won’t be our problem for long. He’ll toss her out on her ass, give us thecompetentassistant we need, and then Novelle will make sure she’s gone for good, just like we wanted. She’s fucked herself royally with this game she’s playing.’
Mav tears open the door and gives me a nasty smile that makes me shiver.
‘She’ll be on a plane halfway across the pond by Wednesday without us having to do another damn thing.’
The door clicks shut behind him and I sigh with relief that he’s gone. It doesn’t matter if they think I’ll fail, I remindmyself. Their opinions don’t matter. I have a chance. That’s all I need.
‘I promise I’m not what you think,’ I say to Blake, not sure why. ‘I’m capable and I’ll do whatever you need me to do as your assistant. Properly.’
Blake steps closer. ‘That’s Mav’s deal, not mine.’
‘W-what do you mean?’ I take a step back.
