The Secrets Of Dragons: Book One

Chapter 38

Only a few days had passed since Halloween, and I still couldn't look Ryker or Abraham fully in the eyes. They had both spent their fair share apologizing to me for the way things had happened that night, and I had too. But it didn't seem to make any difference. I could admit to myself that I secretly tried to blame it all on the drugs and the euphoric state were forced into without our knowledge. But now that I was back to my regularly scheduled sobriety, I still couldn't keep my mind away from the memory of them both.

I leaned forward against the surface of the counter in my first class of the week, propping my head against my hand and trying hard to keep my eyes open that so desperately wanted to close. I yawned as I pulled my study material closer to me and my eyes lingered on the words without actually reading anything.

I could not remember the last time I was as tired as this. In an attempt to avoid all the men in my life, I had taken to watching over Giovanni at an alarming rate. I spent the last two nights shacked up on his fire escape, fully loaded with a blanket and hand warmers shoved into my gloves, boots, and coat. I kept both of my phones on silent and busied myself all weekend with catching up on class assignments at the coffee house. Sleeping came rare, and it was finally catching up with me.

Between the bitter cold and the echo of Giovanni and Sarah's argument, I couldn't decide which had been worse last night. If it was not obvious before that there was trouble in paradise, last night was proof of that. Their yelling could be heard clearly through the glass windowpane facing his kitchen. I had kept myself tucked neatly into the corner against the brick to avoid being detected, the only evidence were little wisps of my breath in the frigid air.

His door had slammed closed, and I could hear Giovanni's grumbling as he stalked into the kitchen, slamming dishes into the sink. He sighed before he leaned against the counter and ran his fingers through his hair. In that moment, I hadn't the slightest clue as to what advice I could really offer him, with my fucked-up history and all. I fought down the urge to open his window and crawl through to distract him from his obvious discontent.

It was not much longer before he decided that sleep would be the best course of action, so I stayed put. It looked like the only one of us who seemed like they had the most of their shit put together was Elsie, whom I had intentionally been avoiding too. She didn't know what had happened that night, luckily having Niklaus to step in on her behalf. As far as our messages had been, it had all seemed like a really drunk night, following a serious hangover.

She was back to her bubbly self, whereas I was still dealing with the consequences of my actions and complete lack thereof.

I snapped out of my thoughts as the eruption of students talking grew in volume. I looked up and realized the lecture had been dismissed and I was the only student not making my way to the front to leave the hall. I groaned as I gathered my book and the papers that I had sprawled out in front of me until I had them firmly clutched to my chest and stood.

I had to pause as a wave of vertigo washed over me and my head spun, resulting in the churning in my stomach. I really needed to find food and then sleep. I forced one foot in front of the other and tried to put on my best face as I emptied out with the stragglers of the class and took care not to bump into anyone in fear of releasing the dry contents of my stomach.

When a brick wall landed in front of me in a near miss, I cursed under my breath.

"You really need to watch where you're walking some time." The wall rumbled.

I used the last bit of stored energy to roll my eyes as I looked up. "You are just always in my way."

Abraham smirked.