Last Year of Seventeen

Chapter 6 - Guinevere

Like Theo, I've also known Gwen since childhood. Her mother is 'the' Allesandra Evellon, a world renowned Fashion Designer and my mother is one of her clients and biggest fans.

We were in the same daycare, and for a while our family thought about merging our clans. That fizzled out around the time we got to grade school and she's now engaged, though not formally announced yet, with the heir of SLSF Insurance Company Inc. We didn't like each other very much back then so I didn't really care. And she was perfectly happy that it didn't work out for us because she's already completely smitten with Royce. We never exchanged much words apart from polite greetings and nods on family and company events. So her, pulling me back on a private corner was definitely something that doesn't happen often.

"What do you think you're doing Hughes?"

I knew immediately what she came for.

Her friendship with August was a peculiarity within the Academy. If Gwen was the wave, August was the shore. August is order and she pandemonium. She's adorned and flashy and every bit flamboyant, while her friend is always just modest and unpretentious. She talks a lot and all the time, August never talks more than what's necessary. But if there's anything they have in common, it is that they always speak their minds and never mince the truth.

"You keep your filthiness off of her, you hear?" Gwen really decided to come for my throat with her sharp, unforgiving words.

"Whoa, a bit judgmental aren't we?"

She rolled her eyes in revulsion. I could've sworn I saw her brain.

"I know what kind of person you are. You'll fuck anyone with a skirt on."

This should be offending but Gwen lacks that daunting stare August always has. She was more amusing than scary in fact. "Excuse me Evellon, I actually am very picky."

"So what is this? Is August another one of your conquests? Something you need to win to make you feel better about yourself?"

That one, well that burned. Partly because it was true. It's a bragging right to be the one who made the Ice Bitch fall, even if it wasn't real. The other part was how she implied that my self worth lies on the people I date– which was also true.

"I don't answer to you and I don't care how you see it. I like August and if it goes anything beyond that, then that's going to be between us."

Gwen is seething. I can feel the anger oozing out her small frame. She pushed me back against the wall, with force that surprised me given her build.

"Nothing is going beyond anything. You are going to stay away from her."

"I'll let August decide on that."

I pushed past her but before I could round the corner I heard her call. I didn't turn but she said it anyway, "You'll ruin her Hughes. End it before you ruin her."

I should have listened.

August was pushing a book cart along the Reference Section when I found her. She's got her headphones on, fully absorbed. She was restocking the books on their shelves. Such a dire task but she looks more calm and less pressed. With how the afternoon glow from the windows frames her, she looks almost serene. None of the ire and weariness, I almost didn't want to bother her.

"Hey." She didn't hear me. She was completely in the zone that she missed my arrival. I tap her shoulder.

She gasped a tiny, soft breath of a sound and straightened up a little. Removing her headphones she said, "What?" clearly annoyed that I have ruined her tranquility. Like a sudden droplet on a perfectly still pond.