Page 41 of Foes & Cons
He frowns at the chair like I’m tricking him into mounting a wild stallion. He raises his eyebrows at me.
“It’s honestly fine,” I say, shuffling forward a little. He lowers himself onto the seat so we’re sitting back-to-back. I turn away so I’m not right in his face. “See?”
I feel his back muscles start to relax, and I think he’s nodding.He doesn’t say anything for a few beats, then he lets out a long sigh.
“It’s actually kind of nice,” he says, looking over his shoulder at me. “Weird, but nice.”
“Maybe they’ll put that on my gravestone,” I say.
“They should,” he says. We turn to look at each other, and I’m relieved to see the colour returning in his cheeks. “Thank you for this.”
“Any time,” I say, totally meaning the sentiment but maybe not the literal set-up.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
BUD LEROY
It’ll be OK, Lila.
LILA MURPHY
Juliana is gone, McKinley is about to turn,
and Viggo still thinks he’s being stalked by Illias. In what way is any of that OK?
BUD LEROY
I said OK. I didn’t say anyone’s idea of a perfect situation.
Vampire Falls. Season four, episode seventeen – “Alone On My Own”
I won’t go into detail about how Roxy found me once Fake McKinley gathered himself, but if you guessed along the lines of me being wedged in the lift doors, you’d be on the right track. She helped me hobble from the lift to our room and, after applying layers of hair wax stick along my inner and outer thighs, Roxy managed to pull me free. If we weren’t close before, it would have been an incredible bonding experience.
The first heat of the competition is about to start, and Roxy is nearly pulling my arm from the socket as we tear towards Conference Hall A. Despite my almost broken arm, I am thankful she is on top of this competition stuff because, frankly, I’ve been a little befuddled since I stepped foot in this place. Yes, befuddled.
We flash our badges at the stewards as we bundle through the doors and I run right into the back of someone flicking her hair over her shoulder, catching me in the face. It smells like a seabreeze rolling off crystal blue waves on a perfect summer’s day, which is annoying.
“Better get your teamup there.” I blink at Vivian, who nods at the stage where they’ve set up tables for theVampire Fallsquiz. Three tables offour. “You’ve got your little team together, right?”
Shit. Team? I turn to Roxy who blinks at me.
“Yes,” I respond, confidently, but it’s all lies.
“OK then,” Vivian says, backing away from us. “Just getting a lemon tea for my voice. Want everyone to hear all my correct answers. See you centre stage, bitches.”
She sashays through the doors and Roxy grabs my arms and spins me round.
“Did you pick up the envelope earlier? In the coffee shop?” says Roxy.
“No,” I say, my eyes widening.
“Shit, Eliza! I only glanced at it; I thought this was a solo quiz,” she says, blinking wildly as she looks around. “Why didn’t you pick it up?”
“I’m sorry, I was having a slight crisis at the time, Roxanne.”
“I can’tliterallypick up after you wherever your trail of destruction leads, babe.” She releases a puff of exasperation then rubs her forehead. “Whatever. We need to find you a team. Like, now.”
Roxy and I look frantically around Conference Hall A but anyone who makes eye contact either laughs (because of the chair thing) or glares (because they’re jealous I’m a contestant). Sadie sees us from the front row where she’s sitting with her brother, because, you know, they have front row passes. She jumps up and scurries towards us, looking very cool in an oversizedVampire Fallshoodie, red leggings and leopard-print boots, her cheeks flushed with convention excitement. She throws her arms around my waist and squeezes me, and for amoment I forget about the quiz. I mean, I still have one eye on the clock, I’m not a total softie.
