As I pass a few guards, I nod at them, trying to act as natural as possible but failing miserably as I never nod at them. Mostly, I barely notice them…
Smooth.
Today, they are everywhere.
Thankfully, I see Jasmine flitting around the halls. "Hey," I say, grabbing her elbow and tugging her in for a—completely unlike me—cuddle. "Can you do me a favour?" I whisper in her ear, holding her tightly so she can't push me away.
She lifts her arms, but they are uncertain as they return my embrace with loose pressure. "That depends entirely on what you are about to say."
"I need you to get me your hoodie and then pretend we are talking about private things because I'm upset, because there is a lot going on, and I'll tell you everything later but… I need to sneak out the staff exit."
"No."
"Please?"
"No, Fawn."
"It's important!" I whisper-cry, burying my face in her hair a little to muffle the words. "I just want to talk to Max. He's upset, and I don't think he'll talk to me if he thinks H—Boltonis listening…" I hate myself for this, but I need her to do this, so I manipulate the side of her who pretends she knows things she doesn't, who pretends she's worldly when she's not. "You know what men are like." I chuckle, a sound so utterly forced that it hurts. "All macho around each other."
"Can we have some space, please? You're like such a space invader," she calls over my shoulder, hopefully to my pain-in-the-arse tracker.
He retorts, "You best not be up to anything."
"Well, my girl is sad and shit. She doesn't need an audience foreverything. You lot treat her like she isn't a grown-arse woman." She talks back into my hair loudly, saying, "It's okay, Fawn." Then she drops her voice. "Why is Max upset?"
"I promise to tell you everything after. Please, we have to go now. He might leave before I have a chance to talk to him properly."
"Okay. Okay." She wraps her arm around my shoulders, poking her tongue out at HJ, before steering me into the changing room.
He doesn't follow us in.
Jasmine goes to her locker. Quickly pulling her black hoodie out, she hands it to me. While I pull it on, she eyes me with scepticism. "Your hair is very noticeable."
I pull the hoodie up and tuck my blonde strands into the back and out of sight. "I know."
"Are you going to get in trouble?"
I lie. "I just want to talk to Max."
"Can I play with your cat?"
"Sure."
She half grins. "Can I name her?"
"No." I think about her white fur and multicoloured eyes, her uncertain little manner. "She isn't ready for a name just yet."
Jasmine tilts her head questioningly. Not at all understanding why the kitten that looks a little like me isn't ready to have a name. And I don't waste time leaving through the back door and navigating the staff quarters to get to the unused office, hoping Max is still fuming and eager to act.
Checking the passages, I enter the room quickly and close us inside. I exhale hard. Hurriedly, I turn to Max, who has twisted in his seat, his stoic grey landing on me.
I take a big breath in and say, "I'll go with you."
Dark brows furrow, but he only returns his gaze to his whiskey, ignoring me completely.
I frown, rounding the seat and table to stop in front of him. "Did you hear me? I'll go to the campsite. We can meet them there. But we have to gonow."
"No." Is all I get from him.