Page 118 of Knox Academy Omnibus
“Can we just take it slow? Everything went so fast before, and then I went home...I have things to work through.”
“We can go as slow or as fast as you want.”
I smile at his words and lean forward to thank him with a soft kiss in return. Desire stirs within me, but I push it down. I’m not about to start making out with him after I’ve just asked for time to slow things down.
I move away to put some distance between us, and a large yellow padded envelope on my desk catches my eye. I open it to find Susan tucked away and a new timetable. All my classes are the same, except I’m now in music. I sigh.
“What’s wrong?” Sawyer asks.
“Your pain in the ass brother, that’s what. I’m now in his music class.” Electives here at Knox are mixed year levels. I keep scanning and find I’m also in a new self-defence class taught by Onyx. Are you shitting me? “Also in a class run by Onyx. Since when did that happen?”
“Since I’m no longer teaching.” Guilt crashes over me like a cresting wave.
“I’m sorry,” I say walking back over towards him. He grabs my hips and pulls me in closer.
“Don’t be, everyone has always walked on eggshells to make sure I keep busy, so it’s a relief actually. To not have them fussing over me like I’m a small child. Though Dad has already found new ways to keep me occupied.”
“At least we can do this,” I say, feathering kisses on his face. “And not get in trouble.”
“I think we may still be breaking rules, having a boy in your room.”
“Didn’t you know the headmaster is my stepdaddy? I’m sure he’ll go easy on me.” Sawyer laughs and pulls me on top of him, both of us falling onto my bed.
My necklace drops from under my shirt, and Sawyer eyes it, placing the small metal pendant between his fingers.
“Where did you get this?” he asks, and I shrug, I really can’t remember.
“I’m not sure, it’s something I’ve just always had. Doesn’t it look so much like your tattoos…what do they mean anyway?”
He looks like he is debating what he is going to say to me. “Brotherhood. We got it because for us it represents the three edges being three families and this circle here,” he says, tracing it with his finger, “is family.”
I’m positive he is lying, because how does Baxter fit into this? He has the same tattoo and he’s not family. Now I’m positive I need to ask Baxter because he is less likely to lie to me. He also has no reason to.
Sawyer's phone rings, and Slate's name flashes across the screen, so I sit up so that he can answer.
“Hello.”
“I’m with Amelie, can this wait?... Not my fault you guys fucked up… Tell Onyx that I don’t give a shit if she is why I lost my job, she’s worth it. I’ll be there soon. Uh...she is mad about that. Okay, bye.”
He looks at me and smiles. “I have to go. Are you sure you’ll be okay?”
“I’ll be fine. I have to go and see Elsie.”
“Okay, I’ll call you later,” he says, placing a light kiss on my lips. It’s sweet, and yet it still makes me tingle from head to toe, like any heavy makeout session would. Yep, I’ve got it bad. Still.
Chapter Eight
Amelie
Once he’s gone, I decide to be brave. I take a can of pepper spray from my desk. I hadn’t seen it before, but someone feels that it’s necessary I have it. Then I take the short walk to Elsie’s room. I manage to get there unscathed, with only a few names thrown my way and nasty comments when I pass a group of girls.
Whore
Bitch
Watch your back
Nothing I can’t ignore. I have a feeling though that this will probably get worse when school resumes properly.
