“Why do I have to do what you say? You’re no different from me. Here in this place we’re both pupils.”
“Wrong.” I let go of Flake’s tie and shove her with my hand against her chest. She goes skidding back on her chair, flailing to get her balance and only just manages to keep it. “I’m king here, not Daddy dearest. You want to enjoy your time at Caspian, then you vanish. If not, I’ll make sure everyone makes it a living hell. Get it now?”
I’m a complete and utter bastard, and I will do it; I’ll set the entire school upon her and make her life a misery. She won’t be able to walk down the corridor without sarcastic comments being directed at her, and she’ll have her possessions broken and stolen. If she gets in my way, I’ll make sure every bullying tactic in the book is used against her until she’s on her knees crying.
Juniper’s shoulders slump, and she slouches down in her chair. “Go away, Jacobi, I’ve no intention of coming anywhere near you or your cronies. I want to be here as much as you want me here. I plan to do the bare minimum required to achieve my grades and get out of here at the end of the year. Now, just like you demand of me, pretend I don’t exist and get the hell out of my way so I can figure out this schedule and what work I need to catch up on. Believe me, I want to have as little to do with you as possible.”
Just like that I’m dismissed from the conversation. I know I’ll not get anything else out of Flake. She’s accepted my rules, and I can finally relax for the first time since I saw her. The problem with that is my body’s wound too tight.
Leaving the classroom without looking back, I head straight to the school’s running track. It’s empty for now, and I’m grateful. It’s my favourite place. I’ve always enjoyed running. Without thinking, I remove my jacket and jumper, and throwing them down on the dusty ground, I walk out onto the track. Taking a start position, I imagine the firing of a pistol in my head and begin running: slow, fast, changing speed as I make circle after circle of the track. I don’t know for how long I run, because I forget to keep a check on the time, but more importantly, I forget about Juniper being here. All’s right in my world again.
As I leave the school and walk back through the courtyard toward my room, I spot him on the running track. I knew he was there. I saw him through the window in the corridor, and I told myself I wouldn’t look. I’m sure there’s another route, a better route, to get me back to my new home, but I’ve always been a daredevil; it’s why we used to get along so well together.
I know I should be scared of Jacobi; I certainly made sure he thought I was, even going so far as to say hello to Taya in a submissive gesture. But the truth is, he still intrigues me, and I wish he didn’t, because as much as I’m curious about who he is now, I hate him, immensely.
“Hey, I heard you were back.” The familiar voice hits me as I turn the corner to my studio flat.
“Emmie,” I breathe her name out, almost shocked to see her, which is crazy because I was fully aware we would run into each other at some point.
She waves, it’s cute and a little unsure. “Your mum told my mum you were here.”
I stand still, and dropping my bags down, I grin outrageously with pure happiness at seeing my friend again. Like something out of a film, we both run at each other and hug, giggling and tearful.
“I missed you so much,” I whisper into her short, blueish hair.
“I missed you too,” she whimpers before pulling back, but not letting go.
We stare at each other, and I revel in the familiar roundness of her face, her cute button nose, and the scattering of freckles across her cheeks. She has grey eyes and shoulder-length, soft curls which are naturally blonde, but she’s dyed them for as long as she’s been allowed.
We let go, and she helps gather my bags.
“You want to come up to my new place?” I ask with a smile.
“Of course.” Her answer is immediate, and I realise it’s correct what they say: a true friend will always be a true friend, no matter the time passed between visits.
“Your place is pretty nice, snug, but nice,” Emmie offers, dropping my bags on the floor as we walk into my flat.
“Well, Daddy dearest wouldn’t want me to have anything too lavish, but it wouldn’t do for the fake princess to be seen in student halls.” My laugh is hollow and Emmie frowns.
“Things are bad between you and your dad then?”
“Things haven’t been good for years, you know that, Emmie.” I remind her, collecting all my bags and dropping them on the bed. “You wanna order pizza?”
Emmie wrinkles her nose, and I remember she hates pizza. I smile. “Indian?”
Her eyes alight. “Chicken curry, naan bread, basmati rice, and onion bhajis, please.”
I look at her small frame. She’s shorter than me by at least six inches at around five two and she’s a size ten when wet, possibly a size twelve when she’s layered up in the winter. I’ve no idea where she stores her food, but she’s always had a big appetite. It must be her metabolism, if only mine were as fast.
Grabbing my phone, I glance at Emmie. “Still the Taste of Asia?”
She smiles. “The only place I’d get my curry from.”
I open my phone, pleased when I see they have an app for ordering.
“Okay, I’ve placed the order. Delivery will be in thirty minutes. Help me put all this stuff away?”
Emmie nods, and we get to work unpacking the bags from my shopping spree.
“Phew, I’m exhausted.” Emmie complains, dropping into the armchair.
I glance over my shoulder at her and roll my eyes as I finally manage to wrestle the new cover I bought onto my duvet.
The buzzer rings for my door, and I look back to Emmie. “Get that please. My purse is on the side.”
She groans loudly but drags herself up from the chair, and I listen as she opens the door and trudges downstairs to the entryway to get our food. I’m just putting the last pillowcase on as she gets back inside and starts unloading the food onto the measly kitchen worktop I have.
“Ugh, what have you ordered yourself?” Emmie asks.
“Sag aloo and tandoori chicken.”
“So basically, nothing with fat or flavour.”
“Hey, tandoori chicken has flavour.”
“I’ll think of you as I dip my naan into my chicken curry sauce.”
“We can’t all have your figure,” I state, crossing my arms. “Some of us have to be careful with what we eat.”
“You’re what, a twelve-”
“More like a fourteen,” I cut her off.
“And also five eight. You totally pull it off. Guys want tits and arse.”
“Oh please,” I shake my head and snort at the ridiculousness, “no they don’t.”
Emmie starts to open her mouth again, but I shut her up with my hand and she huffs.
“Emmie, honestly, I have no hang ups about my weight. I know I’m not overweight. I eat what I want and try to maintain how I look rather than change it, but I’ve already had two takeaways this week.” I shrug, hoping she understands why I’ve chosen a healthier option today. “Let’s just have something nice to eat and catch up,” I semi order, and when her shoulders drop, I know she’s given in.