Page 71 of A Dead Man's B-Side
“Maybe the Queens Club, but I’m still reviewing my options.”
Ajax scoffed out a surprised laugh. “You could only be suicidal if you would willingly join the Queens Club.”
His words were fueled with barely concealed venom, and I wanted to question him but found it better to leave it alone.
I’ve heard enough remarks about the Queens Club that it was beginning to give me a headache.
“Like I said, I’m still reviewing my options.” I shrugged and readjusted my bag over my shoulder. I’d never join, and from what I’d seen during my last visit to the theatre, I was sure I wouldn’t ever set foot near any of their registration forms.
Callum Queen was clever, though. Perhaps on par with Rain when he isn’t presenting himself as someone with no greater ambitions than being the poshest bully. He remained under Rain Atlas Jett’s radar as someone she didn’t have to worry about. But if I remember correctly, Callum was a Queen, and he would be an idiot if his only goal was to throw his name around.
But something told me he wasn’t an idiot; he was just really good at playing one.
“Perhaps I’ll visit Fenlon Hall and see if anything is going on there,” I said with concealed intentions behind my words.
It wasn’t something that I’d intended to discuss with him, but the opportunity was too good to pass up. If anything, he had been too obvious in his strange vexation towards anything with the Fenlon name attached. Who was I to ignore it?
Ajax paused in his steps, and I continued walking before coming to a halt, turning to him with furrowed brows. “What’s wrong? Was it something I said?”
He looked over my face, his features no longer friendly. “You know, Alexandr, there’s something about you. And I’m willing to back you because God knows anyone worth sponsoring is worth more than the names and money any of these kids have. But don’t meddle in things you can’t understand.”
I had known I’d hit the nail in the coffin, and I decided then that I liked Ajax Vesper, because not many people can threaten someone so outright, in turn, outing themselves. He was either sure of himself or thought he was. But one thing was for certain: I wouldn’t have to dig for the nuggets of truth between the lines with him, unlike the mental exhaustion Rain would have put me through.
I smiled. “Alright, I’ll digress–”
“No, you’ll leave it. For good.”
What was the name of the boy who’d died?
Malakai Young.
If Ajax had skeletons in his closet he wanted to keep there, he must know we are two faces of the same coin.
I narrowed my eyes. “Why are you walking with me? Ask what it is you want to know.”
He stood quietly for a few moments before shuffling closer, leading us back down our continued path.
“You’ll answer it?” He asked slowly.
I shrugged. “I don’t see why not.”
He chuckled softly. “You and Rain are like two sides of the same coin, you know?”
Is he telepathic?
“Is that your question?”
“No… no, just an observation. I wanted to ask why you dye your hair.”
This time, it was my turn to pause. He tilted his head back towards me, almost proud of himself.
Sometimes I found myself so secretive of everything around me, that these little facts didn’t have to appear so. “I don’t like to stand out. Besides, how’d you even notice?”
We both knew I was lying, but I never said I’d answer honestly. “Your roots are starting to show. Kind of looks like snowflakes on your hair.”
I went to tighten the cap around my head before remembering the rush I was in. I must have forgotten it. We were leaving campus tonight and there was bound to be a store around that sold hair dye. It shouldn’t be too–
Mr Browne.
