ARMANI
I blocked Emerson's path on her way out of the school. The hallway had cleared out, and we were the only ones standing in the deserted hallway.
"You should take your own advice," she said, before sidestepping to walk around me.
I grabbed her waist, pulling her back against my chest, effectively stopping any movement from her.
"Again with the double standards. What happened to not touching you without permission? Can you not extend the same courtesy to me?"
"I'll let you go once I know you aren't going to walk away from me."
She refused to look up at me. "What's there to discuss? Don't you have training to go do?"
"You're jealous or pissed," I noted. "Which one is it?"
"Jealous of what exactly?" She asked, folding her arms in front of her chest.
"You tell me."
She massaged her temple. "I'm too tired to have this discussion with you."
I snorted. "You don't do anything except attend the Communication class for three different years."
She shrugged. "Maybe when my dragon accepts me, I'll see about taking aviation and combat classes with him. Until then, one class will have to do."
"You're the passive-aggressive type."
"Tell me more, Armani. Am I eighteen? You seem to know everything about me."
I tightened my arm around her waist. "Emerson."
She finally looked up at me. "What do you want from me, Armani? I'm not doing any back and forth with you. You either want to let me go or you don't."
I clenched my jaws. "It's not that easy."
"Well, I'm not going to stop my life until you make up your mind."
"You can't be my rider. I don't want you to be my rider."
"Okay."
"Okay?" I asked to be sure I heard her right.
She laughed, but the sound lacked any humor. "You're not making me lose my mind over you, Armani. Let me go."
I uncurled my arm around her waist, letting her walk away from me.
"Emerson." She kept on walking, but I spoke anyway. "If you tell anyone the truth, they won't believe you. That's the reason I made the thing with Cheryl public in the auditorium. It's your word against mine, and we both know they aren't going to choose yours. That's all I wanted to say."
***
EMERSON
The rest of the week was uneventful.
I ended up choosing not to stay in the dormitory. The hostility from the girls wasn't something I wanted to deal with every waking and sleeping hour. The few hours I spent with them during school hours were enough for me.
Armani and Cheryl made a show of 'training' with the teachers. I only got to see him during the Communication and relatability period we had together, and for most of the class, he was usually asleep.
The teacher didn't disturb him, and when it was time for the next class, he left. I was still privy to his nightmares, but I didn't bring that up to him. It was the same as the first time; he was battling with his inner demon, but night by night, those demons became stronger. I could feel how much the nightmares weighed on him.
The only time he got to sleep was when class was in session, and the teacher probably chalked it up as exhaustion from training with Cheryl.
On more than one occasion, I was tempted to walk up to him and ask him about the nightmares, but I knew he wouldn't say anything to me. Maybe I could get Cheryl to talk to him. She was his 'girlfriend', after all. That would have to wait for later.
I took my usual spot underneath a tree, watching the dragons fly back and forth in the sky. From afar, they didn't look big, but I knew better than that. A gold-scaled dragon was as large as a building. They could trample my entire body with just one ginormous foot of theirs.
After a gruesome wait and another Communication and relatability class, I was finally done for the day.
I pulled out my phone, shooting off a text to Belinda. We hadn't spoken all week, and I wanted to know where I stood with her.
E~Wanna meet up after school today?
I got a reply almost immediately.
B~Heck, yes! I've missed you.
I grinned at my phone, relieved that she wasn't mad at me.
E~I've been miserable without you! Where do you wanna meet up?
B~You pick. You're the one with the rich parents now.
E~ You could come over. Emily and Darren would love to meet you. They're good people.
B~ Sure. As long as I get to sip expensive wine while I pretend I'm a billionaire heiress. Tell me you have a pool.
I giggled at the text. This was one of the numerous reasons I was best friends with my sister. She made me laugh even when I was in the shittiest of moods.
E~We do. You need the address?
B~It's a date then. I'll get your address from Dad. Bye bitch.
I shoved my phone back into my pocket, grinning like an idiot all the way to the car. I couldn't wait to meet Belinda after a long week. Even though she mentioned the pool, I had a feeling we were going to spend the entire night in my closet.
"Just when I was about to shoot my shot, I see you grinning at your phone. So tell me, baby, who's the lucky as fuck guy?"
I looked at the guy who'd dropped an arm around my shoulder. "North." He and his twin brother were close friends with Armani. What could he possibly want from me?
"I'm honored, babe. You know my name."
"It's kinda hard not to. Your name is on every girl's lip."
He grinned down at me. "I know, right?" He flicked his inky black hair out of his gray eyes. "I'm just doing my part in Draconix."
I grinned back at him. He had a laid-back attitude that made me not second-guess myself around him. "What part? Screwing anything with a vagina that walks?"
"Don't be silly, Em. I don't discriminate. Walking or not, I'm happy to help."
I shook my head at him. "You're a whore."
"Aren't you forgetting the man before it?"
"Nope. You're a whore through and through."
"You hurt my heart, sugar." He placed a hand on his chest. "I am no whore."
"I'm sure your heart will be just fine."
"So, what are you doing tonight? You look fun. Wanna come to a friend's party tonight? I could come pick you up."
"Thanks, but no. I have plans."
"The lucky guy?"
I snorted. "I wish. It's my sister. We haven't spoken all week. We have some catching up to do. Maybe some other time."
"You do that. I'll hit you up when there's another party. Bye."
"Bye."
We separated in the parking lot. He moved on to another girl while I slid into the backseat of my assigned car.
North winked at me when our car passed by the girl he was chatting up. I flipped my middle finger at him, making him throw his head back in laughter.
"Have fun with your sister!" He called out.
"I plan to!"
I settled back into my seat, ignoring the dull pain on my side. I pushed every thought of Armani out of my head. I was determined to enjoy my time with my sister and he wasn't going to ruin it for me.