The rest of the day passes by in a blur of classes, lunch eaten in the library on the go while cramming in even more, because I have nothing else to do other than excel at the path I have chosen for myself.
By the time evening comes I'm tired, and in no mood to have company but I also dread to be in my own company so I choose the lesser evil, which is spending the evening with Laira and Riley.
So far, Riley is unaware of my history with Mason, but I make a point of reminding Laira that it should remain so because I don't need any more mud thrown my way. I'm bearly keeping my head above it as it is, I don't need to choke on it for Christ's sake.
Laira nods and I know she will do her best to keep her promise. We will have to employ evasive tactics throughout the evening and avoid any slip-ups. Easy, right?
A knock on the door breaks our little meeting, and Laira heads to open the door so she can greet Riley. The girl is punctual, not a minute late, not a minute early. Damn, I'm sure Laira is already in love with her, just because of that little fact. I'm always late.
" Nice to meet you, Riley," Laira stretches her hand and pulls Riley inside, closing the door behind her.
Riley smirks and pulls a hot water bottle out of her bag with the widest grin on her face.
Laira meets my gaze over Riley's shoulder and frowns. It is a very odd thing to bring at a girl's night and I'm expecting some sort of follow-up.
Riley doesn't disappoint," Whiskey," She chuckles and throws the hot water bottle on the bed, Laira and I fall into a fit of giggles because the academy doesn't forbid alcohol consumption but doesn't condone it either. They are neutral about the whole damn thing, as long as none of us gets into trouble. I quickly found out that as long as everyone keeps it under wraps, nobody really cares whether we drink or not.
Riley frowns, a blush creeps on her cheeks and looks at the bottle on the bed rather intensely. I was fortunate that I had Laira, and she already filled me in on what to do to stay off the faculty radar, but Riley doesn't, so I suppose us laughing at her makes us assholes.
" Sorry," I grumble and lean in to pick up the bottle off the bed" We are allowed to drink as long as we stay out of trouble. On the grounds of the academy is not forbidden but they don't actually agree with it either," I say as a of explaining myself, " No need to smuggle it in, but you get ten points for effort," I wave the bottle at Riley and she nods, Laira fetches us glasses, and grimaces at the sight of the bottle.
" It's clean. It has never been used. It was a Christmas gift from my mother," Riley frets and I find myself giggling again. Maybe inviting Riley wasn't such a bad idea after all.
We all settle on Laira's bed and take a swig of the whiskey. Laira hums appreciatively and it is my turn to grimace at the taste. After my past experiences with alcohol, I still find myself unable to stomach it, so I put the glass aside and settle for a glass of water.
" You're such a pussy," Laira picks up my glass and empties it, " Even after all this time you don't allow yourself to live a little. It has been, what, two years since you've had a drink. Come on," She fills up another glass, and downs it in one go, and I find myself slightly shocked that my reliable voice of reason has a wild side which I haven't had the chance to acquaint myself with, not just yet, anyway.
I've never been one to cave into peer pressure, but Laira is very persuasive and I manage to take another sip of hard liquor. Even though I relish the trail of fire that leaves in its wake, I find that I'm still not ready to enjoy alcohol. I can't allow myself to falter, not just yet.
" I think, that is more than enough for me," I hand over the glass back to Laira, while Riley just watches us with a curious eye, probably trying to gauge our relationship.
" Have you heard that Titian has complained to the Dean about being kicked out of the class today," Laira grins, and takes another sip of her drink while I just settle back on the bed.
" How do you know this?" I find myself asking even though I couldn't care less about what happens to Titian, but it tells me that his family is rather influential considering the nerve of him to complain to the Dean about Professor Lyndhurst.
" Crystal and Gemma were chatting in the showers, and I overheard them," Riley grins from behind her glass, and I have questions.
" What showers?" As far as I'm aware everyone has their own bathroom, one of the privileges of being filthy rich.
" There is a gym, at the back of the building. Did you not know?" No. I'm a moron. I have been training in the loft for the past several weeks, when there is a gym in this place.
" No," I shrug and Laira shrugs as well. I don't think she has ever set foot in a gym in her entire existence.
" Well, if you are interested we can all go late afternoon or early morning when there is no one there. You look like you go regularly," Riley points towards me, and Laira shudders in disgust at the mere thought of hitting the gym.
" No thank you, I would rather rebuild the entire building than spend a single minute in a place that smells like sweaty socks, and balls," We all laugh at the very accurate description, and fall on the bed. This is good, I like their company, and buzzed Laira is more fun than I've ever imagined. Regret creeps in at how much I have missed spending time with her, and her sharp mind.