CHAPTER7
IVY
I layred cheeked and flushed, but most of all I felt dirty. I felt embarrassed and the fact that she walked out the room just made me feel so much worse.
Darting from the bed, I ran for the bathroom and turned the water as hot as it would go so it scalded my skin. I needed to clean her off me, I needed to wash the dirty thoughts and the sin off me. I scrubbed at my skin till it was red and raw, until it was sore to touch.
Wrapping the stiff towel around my slender frame, I padded back to the room and threw on clean pyjamas. Grabbing my phone, I looked at the time. It had just gone one a.m. and I felt wrecked suddenly. I needed sleep.
Placing my phone face down, I rolled over before my eyes fell heavy and I was plunged into a deep sleep with my mind being filled with her sapphire green eyes.
My alarm screamed,I was groggy and miserable. I needed more sleep, but we had to go for breakfast. If we didn’t, we would have a mark against our name. The only time we could get away with not going for breakfast was if we were ill, but we couldn’t even fake that. We had to have the school nurse or doctor to visit before telling the head of the school that we were in fact ill. Groaning loudly, I threw the covers back and padded to get dressed. I was over today already, but I was slightly grateful it was Saturday, and for some reason all classes were cancelled today. I could literally have breakfast then dive back under my covers and lose myself in Netflix and sleep.
I tugged my jeans up and pulled a top up from the floor before slipping it over my head, but not before giving it a quick sniff to make sure it smelt clean.
Pulling my hair into a high ponytail, I grabbed my keys and put my shoes on before walking out of the door. I stood for a moment, looking up the hallway to see if bitch face would appear, but it was quiet.
Phew.
Rushing towards the stairs, I flew down them and knocked on Regina’s room. After a few moments, she opened it up smiling at me.
“Morning,”
“Morning,” she chirped back.
“You okay?” I asked her as we began walking to the breakfast hall.
“Yeah, I’m better today.” She nudged into me.
“Good, that’s good. I am glad.” I smiled at her as we turned the corner for the stairs that led down to the hall. The corridors were busy, I hated it.
“You okay?” she asked as we were checked off the register.
I nodded. I didn’t want to speak because I was worried if I did, I wouldn’t be able to not tell her what happened last night.
Sure, we hadn’t known each other long, a few weeks if that. Still, I considered her a close friend.
Sitting on the bench, I was grateful we were nowhere near Fallon and her measly crew. Even thinking her name left a bitter, sour taste in my mouth and I hated it.
I felt constricted. I didn’t hate her, but I didn’t particularly like her either. I was drawn to her, like a moth to a flame.
Even if I didn’t want to go near her, it was in my instincts. I just couldn’t stay away.
I felt a pinch on my arm which brought me quickly back round. My head turned slowly to look at Regina whose eyes were pinned to Fallon. She sat facing us, her arms wrapped around Jude’s broad shoulders as she ran her other hand through his thick, blonde locks.
I stilled, Fallon’s eyes connecting with mine as her lips lifted into a sickly smile.
“She’s playing a game,” I whisper to Regina who dropped her head, but I didn’t take my eyes off Fallon. She was playing with fire.
Once we were excused from breakfast, we headed to the coffee shop that was on campus. Regina was quiet most of the way which irritated me. Not that it was her that had done anything wrong, it’s just I didn’t like the way Fallon made her feel.
“Two oat milk caramel lattes please,” I said to the barista as I clicked my phone onto the contactless card machine.
Meeting Regina at the end of the counter we waited in silence. The boarding school grounds were a lot quieter, what with some of the younger years going home already for their break; our break wasn’t for another week. Not that I was going home, I scoffed at my thoughts. I hadn’t even heard from my parents but then why would I? Dad was self-absorbed and selfish in his own work and mum was busy with her stick thin models. I mean, why would they want to spend time to see their daughter for a few days?
I passed her the paper coffee cup before we walked along the path of the boarding school, the sun was shining but the air was crisp. It was the perfect spring day.
“You going home for break?” I asked Regina, finally breaking the thick silence between us as she kept her eyes locked in front of her.