Page 49 of Knox Academy Omnibus
“What is that?” I say, taking the bag Elsie holds out for me with an outfit in it.
I don’t bother arguing; it is some form of freedom after all. Wordlessly, I take the bag and disappear into my en-suite bathroom. Once safely shut away from Kalen’s prying eyes, I look in the bag. Actually, Elsie didn’t do so bad, a plain tight long sleeved black shirt, a tartan skirt with attached suspenders and these weird stockings which look like ¾ socks and the rest fishnet stocking. When fully dressed, I go back out into my room for approval.
“Throw on your boots and we can go,” Elsie says. Kalen just stares.
After my boots are on, I even run a brush through my hair and add some product to help tame the waves.
“Another condition…” Elsie starts.
“I thought you said there was only one,” I counter with suspicion. I hate conditions being added on.
“More like three: Kalen; buying you clothes and any supplies that you need; and we have to take your car.”
“Don’t forget, I want to get our costumes sorted for the Halloween party! It’s a week on Tuesday and you’re woefully under prepared.”
“Another party? We just went to one last night.” Kalen laughs at me.
“I hate costume parties.”
“Tough luck, sis. Suck it up, buttercup… Let's go spend my dad's money,” Kalen jokes. “And get some food, I'm starving.”
We go to the student car park where my car is kept, and Elsie shows the security guard our leave passes. He radios down to the main gate to let us leave. Kalen and Elsie fight over the front seat, but of course Kalen wins, only because Elsie gives up arguing with him. I would do the same; the guy has a come back for everything. I sit and stare at him for a moment. He really is handsome. I could see myself being with him and, as much as that scares me, it really does sound nice. I have always kept myself at arms’ length from any guys I have met, knowing that no one would have been accepted by Aadi and Smalls. But now I have the chance to make connections with people and not be worried. It's appealing.
Then I feel guilty for thinking it. I couldn’t be with him; when I’m sent home, I will be on the first flight out of here and far away from the woman who birthed me. Leaving these two behind will hurt, and hopefully they will still want to be friends, but I wonder if Kalen would even consider following me back.
“Earth to Amelie, can we get out of here?” Elsie says, snapping her fingers at the side of my face.
“Hey, stop rushing her, she was checking out my handsome face and amazing jaw line.”
“Pfft, in your dreams, loser. Huge ego much?”
“What was that, Vagitarian? I can’t hear you over my massive ego.”
“You are just jealous that I can eat pussy better than you.”
Kalen laughs. “Wanna put that to the test?”
“Don’t even think about it,” I laugh when they both look at me. I take that as a sign to leave, and pull out of the garage and onto the road that leads to the main gate.
The car is toasty and warm, Elsie made sure to bring me a spare coat, something I will need to buy for myself today. I’m notsure I would survive the year without one. Where I live, we don’t see weather this cold unless it is the middle of winter. Kalen and Elsie laughed about that. They think today is a generally nice day. I think they’re insane; I’ve had a constant chill in my bones since I arrived here.
The address Kalen typed into the gps leads us to a quaint little pub and I’m starting to notice a pattern with him.
“This place has the best roast dinner,” Kalen says excitedly and jumps from the car when it’s barely even parked. Elsie takes her time and throws her coat at me when she notices me rubbing my arms. It would look amazing on her, but it hangs past my knees. She is taller and thinner than I am. I managed to get my incubator’s height, but not much else. My curvy body comes from my Nonna, my breasts too large for my frame, my hips and thighs hold a little weight, just enough to make me look out of proportion for my height. I’m not the kind of girl who gets all hung up on her weight, it is what I have to work with and I like the skin I'm in.
“Come on, we need to order, I’m so hungry I could eat the ass of a low flying duck…was that good, Amelie?”
I laugh. Kalen and I spend way too much time teaching each other slang and phrases. I have noticed a lot of similarities between our languages but so many more differences. It’s been fun.
We find a table and pick what we want to eat. Kalen insists on paying and goes to place our food and drink orders, leaving Elsie and I to talk.
“He really likes you,” she says.
“I know. I really like him too. I didn’t want to, but I do.”
“As painful as this is to say, what’s holding you back?”
“Lots. Unresolved feelings about a guy back home...wanting to go home...knowing that even if I start something, after three years - if it lasted that long - I would still go back to Australia.I don’t see my future here and, as slutty as this sounds, I am so confused about the other Knox brothers. They’re hot and cold.”
