It felt more like a circle of sharks swimming around me, waiting to scent my blood and make their attack.
Only time would tell if I could survive these waters.
CHAPTER5
“You look much better,”Alexander said as I approached the dining hall. I was wearing a black dress that hung just above my knees, a pair of leather boots I found tucked in the back of my closet, and a black cardigan pulled over a white blouse.
Everything else in my wardrobe seemed too bright, all pastels in pale pinks and yellows. Cheerleader colors that made me feel like a bluebird instead of the raven that hunched deep within my heart.
“Thanks,” I said. “I feel better.”
He stepped with me, and we walked in silence together, our footfalls landing on the concrete in sync.
We walked through the dining hall doors, and the echoed chatter of hundreds of students ground to a halt as all eyes turned to me.
Whispers started as soon as the voices stopped, and Victoria cut us off as we walked towards a long table in the middle of the large hall.
“What are you wearing?” Victoria asked in a harsh whisper. Her voice was low and squeezed through tightly clenched teeth.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Those boots,” she said. “Those are from Halloween last year. Why are you wearing them?”
I looked down at her feet and took note of the strappy sandals and brightly painted toenails.
“They’re comfy,” I said. “And I like the way they look.”
“That coma really fucked up your fashion sense,” she snickered. “God damn, I hope I never wreck my head.”
“Enough, Vic,” Rome said, walking up behind Alexander. As he approached, Alexander’s hand snaked out and clutched my waist, pulling me towards him.
I didn’t struggle against it, but I didn’t give in easily.
“Or what?” Victoria asked, cocking her hip and putting her hand on it. “What are you going to do,Roman?”
“I think you know,” Rome said, shooting her a glare that stopped her in her tracks. “I think you fucking know.”
“Whatever,” she said and flipped her hair. She turned on the heel of her strappy sandal and strode towards the table.
“She’s all fired up. What did you do?” Alexander asked with a chuckle. He sounded like he admired her, and that irritated me.
I shrugged my shoulders and used that as an opportunity to get away from him. We walked together, but not touching, to the center of the hall. He took his place at the head of the grandest table and gestured to the chair next to him for me. Victoria was already on his other side, and she watched me like a hawk as I sat.
“You’re different,” she said in an accusatory tone. “I don’t like it.”
“I was in a coma,” I replied. “I’m sure my brain being rattled around knocked a few things loose. Don’t worry. I’ll be back to being your bitchy sidekick in no time.”
Our eyes locked, and we both knew that wasn’t true. I would never be her second in command again. I wasn’t the kind of girl who would be second for anything.
Rome flopped into the seat next to me and said, “Enough girl fighting unless y’all are gonna take your tops off.”
“Now that I’d pay to see,” Alexander smirked. “Anybody want to earn a quick thousand bucks? I’ll apply the oil.”
“Me,” one of Victoria’s little minions giggled and squirmed in her seat just down from us. “I would love to.”
His eyes darted towards me, and he had the good sense to grow red in his cheeks. He was caught, not because he cared what I thought, but because I sensed he liked to think he was getting away with things right in front of me.
I wondered what had actually happened the night of the accident. What had we really been fighting about?