Page 34 of Surviving Year One (Grim Reaper Academy 1)

“Err…” I had a couple more bites left, but my appetite had taken a dive thanks to Pandora. “Yeah. Just let me go grab another bottle of orange juice.” I was so thirsty! For sure, what GC and I had done in his room had something to do with my constant thirst. “Do you want anything?” GC shook his head and kissed me on the temple, which made me blush hard. I hurried to the open buffet like my life depended on it.

“Are you okay?” Klaus had seen me leave the VDC table and thought this was his chance. “I heard what happened. I can’t believe those dirt bags would do something like that to you!”

“I’m fine.” His blue eyes seemed to be filled with genuine concern. “Really, you have nothing to worry about. GC got me out of the water.”

“I heard Lorna tied a rope around you? And attached a boulder to it to pull you under? Oh my God! What is wrong with that bitch?”

“Sariel put her up to it. I’m sure. Whatever. Now I know to expect anything from them. I let my guard down last night. I shouldn’t have.”

He shook his head. He was at a loss for words. I didn’t blame him. What Sariel and Lorna had done was legit insane. Neither of them was right in the head.

“So, you still don’t want to help me take revenge?”

He stuffed his hands in his pockets and stole a quick glance around. His voice was a whisper, now. “I’ve thought about it.”

“And?”

“I’ll help you. I don’t know how, yet, but I’m in. Let’s do it.”

I could barely contain my excitement. I would have hugged him, but this wasn’t the time, nor the place.

“Good. Good. I don’t know what I’m going to do, either, but I’ll keep thinking. Something will come up.”

“Do you want to get them both?”

“I don’t know. Maybe. Lorna is horrible, but I know that Sariel has been the brains all along. I want to get him first.”

“Alright. We’ll focus on that.”

We nodded conspiratorially and parted ways. GC left the VDC table and we headed together outside. We walked for a bit, hand in hand, just enjoying the late September sun and the breeze coming from the ocean. As more students finished their breakfast, they poured out of the building and spread around the inner court, some just chatting, others having brought books or board games with them. It was the first time I noticed (since I’d mostly avoided the inner court on weekends) that most of the NDC students played chess, while the MDC was into fantasy board games, and the RDC had headed to the sports field with the guys from the VDC.

“We usually play against the RDC,” GC told me when he caught me watching the two Cabals choosing their teams.

“What?”

“Depends. Softball, sometimes. Lacrosse. The RDC girls want to play handball all the time, but that’s not very manly.” He laughed.

“You know, I’ve always wondered… Why doesn’t the Academy have an official team?”

“And that official team would compete against… whom? Grim Reaper Academy is unique in the world. Also, the Merciful Death Cabal and the Neutral Death Cabal are generally known for their disinterest in sports. I mean, look at those guys! They’re playing chess!”

“You can go play if you want. You don’t have to stay with me.” I didn’t mean it, though, and I hoped he’d see it.

“The RDC has convinced them to play handball. No thanks. Besides, this is our first day together, as a couple. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

He took my chin between his fingers and tipped my head to the side. I closed my eyes when his lips met mine, and I allowed myself to melt against him. This was nice. This was really nice. Things were finally looking up. I was spending my first weekend in the courtyard, with the other students, and I had a boyfriend. Not just any boyfriend. I had the hottest guy in school, the guy all the girls wanted. Yeah. I could get used to this life. It was sad that I almost had to die for it.

“So, what do you wanna do?”

We sat down at one of the stone tables. Briefly, my mind went to the day when I’d sat with Paz just a few feet away from there, and he’d confessed all sorts of things to me. Why was I thinking about Paz? What was wrong with me? This was way bett

er.

“I don’t know. Maybe we could play something?”

“Board games are not much fun in two, but I don’t want us to join a group, either. I want you all to myself today.” He winked at me, and I giggled. Oh God, I was turning into one of those tramps who wanted to get into his pants twenty-four seven. “I’ll go find a pack of cards.”

“Okay. Don’t be long.”

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