Suppliant

  Chapter 35

  “Are you sure that this is a good idea, Layla? You need to rest up for tomorrow,” Zeke says. It’s cute that Zeke is worried about me.

  “A party is a great idea. I need to relax tonight, and this will get my mind off things. Don’t worry, I’ll watch what I drink,” I try to reassure him.

  Damien is meeting with the Dean to clear us for testing tomorrow while we’re meeting Trish for the party.

  When we reach the dorm on the other side of campus, the party is in full gear. I haven’t had the chance to go to college back home, but this seems like a typical frat party.

  The music is so loud that we have to yell to hear each other. I start to relax with a beer in hand as Damien shows up. One quick nod is all I need to understand that he has taken care of matters; we are cleared for testing.

  Remembering our cover, Damien drapes an arm over my shoulder and pulls me close for a kiss.

  “Love birds reunited, how precious,” Trish gushes. “Speaking of love birds . . . .” Trish nods toward Anna who is approaching our little group.

  Zeke embraces her and plants a kiss on her cheek. I have to fight the rise of jealousy. This is hard on both of us, I remind myself.

  “Hey guys, what’s going on?” Anna asks. Pleasantries are exchanged all around.

  “So I was thinking that since you guys are Zeke’s best friends here,” Anna says, “we should get to know each other better. How about a double date tomorrow night?” Anna asks me and Damien. “There’s a swim--up movie planned that I would like to see.”

  I don’t want to go to a movie with you and Zeke. Why would I want to watch you guys suck face all night? I put on my best smile, remembering that I have a cover to uphold.

  “A double date sounds nice, though I’m not sure that tomorrow will work,” Damien speaks up. I could kiss him for getting us out of it.

  Princess Anna puts on a pouty face. “I just want to get to know you, and the movie sounds like fun,” she says.

  Zeke and Damien exchange glares. “We have a big day ahead of us tomorrow, and will probably be exhausted. I’m sure that you will understand,” Damien says. His award--winning smile present on his face. How can anyone say no to that smile?

  Zeke catches on to Anna’s evident disappointment. “You don’t mind, do you, Layla?” Zeke asks.

  What in the hell is he doing? Of course I mind. I don’t like her; why would I want to spend more time with her than I have to?

  He must be pushing the issue because that’s what any attentive boyfriend would do. I’m sure that Damien would do the same thing to make me happy. I can’t help but feel sorry for Zeke.

  He’s stuck in the middle. He’s trying to keep Anna and me happy, but still trying to play along with our cover. I sigh, knowing that I would expect him to fight for me if I were his girlfriend.

  “I’m sure that we will be fine,” I say. “A movie sounds like fun.”

  Anna lights up. I feel Damien’s hand squeeze my shoulder. Great, now my day tomorrow is jammed--packed with action.

  Trish pulls me aside, “What was that all about?” she asks. “Damien clearly didn’t want to go.” Leave it to Trish to pick up on the subtleties.

  “We just have a really busy day tomorrow, and he was worried about me getting dragged down,” I say, trying to play it off, but I can tell that Trish is not buying it.

  “It’s no different than any other day. Our classes here aren’t that challenging that it drains you,” she digs in. My response is a smile as I brush off her statement.

  By the time we make it back to the dorm, I’m falling asleep on my feet.