Protective

Paint

Lana

"You win today, Rose," I smiled as I ate my apple in the courtyard. You not only win but you dominate."

"What are you talking about?" she raised her eyebrows at me.

"The new cheerleading uniforms," I shrugged simply, "The girls have been asking for them. The school has done nothing and one of the girls in the running for captain is going to come to the rescue. It won't matter how much they fear Violette, they will love and worship you."

Rose shook her head, "You're are leaving the team aren't you?"

I sighed, "I don't know if I can make it to half of these practices with the job I got at Icon. I don't think that either the Coach or the other girls will just be okay with me cutting so much."

"See, that is the only reason why you think you can solve this plan so easily with money," Rose took a sip of water, "Well you're good but I doubt anyone will be letting you off that easily. Besides, balancing all that stuff will only burn out your brilliant mind. The uniforms are a great idea."

"Thank you," I smiled, "I thought of it while working at Icon."

"I genuinely still can not believe that you not only applied for the internship late, but also managed to get a job as a stylist and model. Violette must be livid."

"I wouldn't know," I shook my head, "I didn't even see her there."

Rose furrowed her eyebrows, "But she practically flew out of practice yesterday claiming that she was late for her internship."

I raised my eyebrow and smiled, "So we have caught her in a lie?"

Rose laughed, "You, my dearest friend, are terrifying."

I laughed before finishing up the last of my apple. I had managed to skip breakfast again and Yeremy had given me that to sustain myself.

Pieces of our conversation from last night still sang in my head. I felt as if he was always reassuring me of my feelings. Telling me that it was okay to feel whatever I was feeling.

Why did he want me to show weakness in front of him? What could he gain from that?

_______
Yeremy

"What did he know?"

Dmitri shook his head, "He was one of Petyr's men but he didn't have a location. Petyr wanted something of Lana's and tasked the son of a bitch to take something."

"It was a good catch, Yeremy," he nodded at me approvingly, "Did you get your hand treated?"

I showed him my bandaged hand, "Sixteen stitches."

Before he could reply, there was a knock at the door, "Master Dmitri, Mistress Lana is requesting your presence in the library."

Dmitri sighed, "Alright let her know that I'll be there in a few minutes, you may retire."

"You may go," he directed at me, "Make sure to check in with my father."

I nodded and exited his office before walking down a different hallway than him.

My hand still ached badly but I had taken a few pain killers that should be working soon enough.

I sighed before entering Mikhail's office. He told me that if I ever needed privacy I could come here. I felt like all I ever needed was privacy.

I rarely had a moment to myself since I arrived here. Every breathing waking moment of mine was spent watching Lana, anticipating her next moves in case she attempted to ditch me, working with security at her new job, casing all of our classmates and teachers.