Ex Nihilo Academy (13 page)

“Why not?”

“I just don’t want to hear it.” He says defensively.

“Do I make you uncomfortable?” I sit back on my heels so I’m face to face with him. “Yes, Lily, a little.” He replies seriously.

“Good.” I smile and lean closer, silently thanking the tequila that has me throwing all of my inhibitions out the window. “You are all I can think about.” I whisper as I kiss the corner of his mouth.

“This is not a good idea.” He groans but I choose to ignore him, instead trailing kisses along his jaw and back to his lips. Even though I feel heady from the alcohol I’m conscious of how little clothing I’m wearing and how close I am to him. I press my lips lightly against his and he hesitates
for a moment, before allowing his lips to mold to mine. It’s like every nerve ending I have is simultaneously on fire. I wrap my arms around his neck and move so I’m sitting on his lap. He moans in response then abruptly lifts me off
and sets me down beside him.

“I can’t. Not like this.” It’s like having a bucket of freezing cold water thrown in my face and it sobers me up quickly.

“I should go.” He says apologetically and I nod, staring at
the carpet, refusing to look at him.

“Lily… ” He starts but I cut him off.

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll see you at school tomorrow.” My eyes are stinging from the unshed tears and I just want him to get out.

“I’m sorry.” He says it quietly before sliding out the window and into the night. Not as sorry as I’m going to be in the morning I think to myself before collapsing back on to the bed and passing out.

Sunlight streams in through the open curtains and blinds me. I open my eyes a slit then cover my face with a pillow. I’m still wearing the clothes from last night and my mouth feels furry like I’ve been chewing on a
dirty sock. I’m such an idiot. I am never drinking again. I slip out of bed to take a cold shower then slip on yoga pants, a tank top and sunglasses before throwing my hair into a messy ponytail. I trod downstairs to the kitchen only
to come face to face with the space-age looking coffee maker. I am in desperate need of a coffee only I have no idea how it works. It’s the size of a microwave oven and has so many silver buttons that I don’t even know where to start. I’ve been staring at it for about five minutes when Rowan comes in. The tension from
the other night still lingers between us but I can’t help but soften when I see how adorable he looks in his worn Sonic Youth t-shirt and backwards baseball cap with his auburn curls poking out the sides. He assesses me carefully then
turns his attention to the coffeemaker. “Your parents really liked espresso so Niall had this thing put in. It’s a bugger of an appliance that’s for sure.” He sets to work on it and I grunt a thank you before sitting down on one of the
island stools. I lay my cheek against the cool granite counter. “Rough night for you, then? Best for that is hair of the dog. Trust me when I say that it’s better than coffee.” He adds cheerfully.

“Hair of the what?”

“It means you need to take the hair of the dog that bit you and have another drink.” He winks at me.

“Not on your life.” I moan and he laughs. It’s good to joke with him again and to hear him laugh. Things have been weird since the beach
and we haven’t talked much.

“Some orange juice then, and I’ll make you toast and that cardboard-like fake bacon you eat. A little Irish fry always helps, even if it doesn’t have any meat in it.” He sets about cooking me breakfast and I must
look surprised.

“Wipe that look off your face. I’m a domesticated man I’ll have you know.” He passes me a mug of the coffee he’s brewed and I sigh gratefully before taking a sip.

“So where’d you go last night? I knocked on your door a few times but you didn’t answer.” He says it casually enough but I can tell the curiosity is killing him.

“I went to a club in Belfast with some friends from school.”

“And you decided to get pissed?” I can’t tell from the tone of his voice if he’s angry or amused.

“I didn’t decide anything.” I say shortly. “A friend was giving me shots and I thought it would loosen me up but it just ended up ending
horribly.”

What do you mean by that?” He frowns at me and I wish I could take back the words, knowing that now I’ve said them out loud he won’t let it go.

“Nothing. It’s taken care of.” I say, avoiding his gaze.

“What exactly is taken care of?” He hands me a plate of toast, then stands in front of me with his arms crossed. “Spill it.”

“Fine. A guy I know from school - the one I rode into
Belfast with - got the wrong idea. Like I said it wasn’t a big deal and I handled it.” I say, though technically Luca handled it but I don’t think it would be wise to mention that right now.

“What did this ‘guy from school’ get the wrong idea about?”
He says, his jaw flexing in anger.

“He just kissed me and I wasn’t into it and he got the message.”

“Who was it?”

“A guy from school, jeez.”

“His name?” He says, his mouth set in a hard line.

“What are you going to do, beat him up?” I roll my eyes.

“Probably. His name, Lily.” From his tone I can tell he’s not going to back down on this one.

“Tristan, okay?”

“Tristan Powers! You let that gobshite drive you into Belfast alone?” He laughs shortly and I raise my eyebrows at him, which is hard to do considering how badly my head is pounding.

“You seem to know a lot more people from Ex Nihilo then you let on.”

“That doesn’t matter. What matters is you. You can’t be so daft, Lily. You’re too important.”

“Too important for what? Too important to get felt up in a
sports car?” I am shouting and I can’t help it.

“Is that what happened?” His face reddens and he looks like he’s about to explode. “What, you’re surprised some guy is actually interested in me?” I spit back and he laughs bitterly.

“A guy interested in you? I’m starting to feel like I should get you a deli counter so they can line up and take numbers.”

“And that’s my fault? I’m sorry I’m attracting so much
trouble. Maybe you should spend more time focusing on your girlfriend and less time accusing me of being a slut!” I scream.

“I never said that!” He throws his arms in the air and I can feel my bottom lip start to quiver.

“You make it sound like what happened is my fault.” My voice breaks.

“What if it were Jenny?”

“There is no Jenny!” He yells and my jaw drops in response.

“I had a crush on a girl named Jenny in middle school,
that’s all. I made her up.” All of the anger seems to fizzle out of him just as I’m about to boil over.

“Why would you make up a girlfriend? Do I seem that desperate that you were worried if you were single I would throw myself at
you?” I shriek at him.

“It’s not like that! It’s more complicated than that, Lily.”

“I can’t believe that Luca was right when he said you were lying about her.” He paces the length of the kitchen then spins on his heel.

“And we’re back to him again are we? I’m getting damn tired of hearing that name come out of your mouth!” Suddenly I’m not hungry anymore. I push the plate away from me and stand up.

“Then I’ll spare your ears. Thank you very much for breakfast but I think I’ve been insulted enough for one morning. I hope that you and the fictitious Jenny will be very happy together.” I stalk out of the kitchen, the pain of my pounding head now dwarfed by my anger. I can hear him
calling after me as I climb the stairs to my room. What gives him the right to judge me? Like I’m sure he’s never made a mistake or been drunk before. In my room I throw some clothes and books into my backpack and head down the back
stairs to wait for the ferry to school.

He’s usually the first person I’m looking for when I step off the boat in the morning but today I cringe when I see him waiting at the end of the dock.

“Good morning.” Luca says, his mouth curling into a smile as I walk toward him and I can’t tell if he’s making fun of me. The first bell sounds.

“Hi. I’ve got to go, I’m late for class.” He tilts his head and studies me.

“Don’t go to class. Walk with me.” Though I’m dying of embarrassment and would rather sit through an hour of Supernatural Politics than face him directly I find myself saying yes and following after him around the back of the building.

“How are you feeling this morning?” He asks and I rub my temples.

“I’ve been better.” I grip the straps of my backpack nervously. “Luca, I’m so sorry. I’ve never really had alcohol before except for
one time my neighbor in California had a backyard barbecue and he gave me a beer but I poured half of it into the bushes so I don’t know if that counts. I’m rambling aren’t I?” I blush and he smiles broadly, easing the backpack off my shoulders and setting it on the grass. “Anyway, I’m saying sorry. You saved
my butt for a third time and how do I thank you? By throwing myself at you. You’ve made it clear that you are not interested in me and I promise to respect that from now on.” There. I’ve said the speech I’ve been rehearsing in my head
the whole ride over and now we can put it behind us. He sighs and rubs his head in a gesture of frustration.

“You really have no idea do you? Last night I had a beautiful blond alone in her bedroom wearing basically a bra and a scrap of
fabric that barely passes for a skirt and she was giving me carte blanche. You have absolutely no idea how difficult it was to leave you.”

“Then why did you?” I say quietly, trying to process exactly
what he’s saying.

“Because I’m a gentleman.”

“You vampires must have incredible self-control then.” I say jokingly and his eyes darken.

“No, Lily. We don’t.” He pulls me against him and kisses me
deeply, his lips parting mine. His mouth is warm and tastes faintly like chocolate and mint toothpaste. His tongue gently explores my mouth as he backs me up against the stone wall. His lips are firm and possessive and he doesn’t stop kissing me until I pull away and heave in a breath.

“Does this mean that we’re together?” I ask breathlessly.

“Do you want it to mean that?” He asks and I nod shyly.

“Then it does. And that is a good thing because if you said
no I’d have to go around ripping the doors off all of your dates’ cars.”

“You wouldn’t.” I laugh and he wraps his arms around my waist.

“You won’t find out.” His eyes gleam wickedly as he moves in
for another kiss.

* *

The room is buzzing with low chatter when we walk in to Demonology class. At first I think it’s because Luca has my hand in his, that is until I see that no one is seated at their desk. Instead everyone is at the
back of the classroom talking in hushed tones. Luca frowns, then leads me over to our usual spot. He pulls my desk right up against his and I sit down and open my book to chapter ten. I was worried we’d be getting an earful from
Lucinda for showing up late but she is noticeably absent. A beat later Nissa flops down in the seat beside me and lets out a long breath. She glances over at Luca, then at our hands linked together and purses her lips but doesn’t
comment. Cai arrives next and walks right over to us.

“Did you guys hear about Tristan?” He says and his strange amber eyes are lit with worry. “What about Tristan?” I add.

“He didn’t come back to the dorms last night and no one can
find him.”

“I saw him last night. We were all in Belfast together. He was drinking so maybe he crashed somewhere? Did someone try calling him?”

“Yeah, they’ve been calling but his phone is off. And the
fairies are saying that it’s not like him. They are saying that sure, he parties, but he always comes home.” I sneak a glance at Luca whose face is impassive. Suddenly Kennedy storms across the classroom and stops in front of me, placing her hands on her hips.

“I heard that you were at the club last night playing dress up. You were the last person to see Tristan, and didn’t he give you a ride home?” She says it accusingly, jutting out her pointed chin.

“I did see him but not on the way home. I got another ride.”
My eyes shift nervously to Luca and she pounces.

“Oh I’ll bet you did, Lily. You know, I’m totally not buying the innocent act anymore. You probably know exactly where Tristan is and just
don’t want to tell us you conniving little b——”

“Enough!” A voice erupts and Kennedy jumps back startled. Professor Winters is at the chalkboard wearing a very stern expression.

“It seems that Lucinda is absent today so I will be teaching
in her place. I know that you are concerned about your classmate but please know that we are doing everything we can to locate him. Now all of you take your seats immediately and take out your lessons before I give every one of you
detention with no use of powers for a week!” The tone of her voice sends everyone scrambling to their seats and the only sound that remains is her chalk clicking against the board.

Are you alright?
Luca asks in my head, his eyes
staring straight ahead at the board. I nod and lean toward him.

“I can handle Kennedy.” I whisper fiercely and he gives me a mollifying smile.

“Did you know about Tristan?” I ask in a hushed voice and he
puts his finger to his lips to silence me which only frustrates me more.

No, I did not.

“So you didn’t have anything to do with him disappearing?” I add and he rolls his eyes.
As much as it would please me to never see that
idiots’ face again, no I did not have anything to do with his disappearance. Now stop talking before Winters has you beating out all of the chalkboard brushes.

“Is that like a form of punishment or something?” I whisper,
confused, and he shakes his head.

So young
.

“So old.” I snap back. Luca has no idea how backward things are here, especially for people with so much money. This school could use a few
IPads. “So you promise me that you don’t know anything about Tristan going missing.”

I said that I didn’t. Why is it that you don’t believe me? My goal is to keep him far away from you and that’s it. Whatever else
happens to him I could care less.

“That’s kind of harsh.” I mutter.

Is it?
How far do you think he would’ve gone if I didn’t step in?

“Look, I appreciate what you did but don’t treat me like
some damsel in distress. I’m not a child.” He turns to me, his eyes stormy and speaks out loud.

“No, you are my girlfriend and I protect what is mine. Now drop the subject before one of us says something that we will regret.” I huff
and turn my attention back to the Professor. As much as I dislike his bossy tone I can’t be mad at him. He did save me from an awkward and potentially dangerous situation and he just called me his girlfriend. I hate that it makes
me swoon like every other overly sentimental girl I’ve ever known but it does. And I get that the overbearing thing is partly his nature and partly his age but it’s something that we are definitely going to have to have a talk about. I
stare at him in profile for a minute, tracing with my eyes his strong jaw, the line of his straight nose, and his full lips. Even when we are fighting I can’t help but be awed by how beautiful he is and I remind myself that he’s chosen me. I’ve never been the self-deprecating kind but it’s hard for me to imagine
why someone so gorgeous and cultured, someone who has seen so much in his lifetime would want to hang around with me. As if on cue he speaks in my head.