The ultimate playbook

Chapter 6

Tuesday, Afternoon-Ada:

The rest of the day passed by fairly smoothly; she only had one other class with Keaton and thankfully Victoria and Elenor were not part of any of them. After dinner, she returned to her room, tired after a long day of interactions, she soon drifted off into a restless sleep, interrupted by flashes of light, screams and the horrible crunching sound of bones and metal and when she awoke gasping for air, it was only 2 am.

Ada could barely see as she slipped out of bed. She grabbed her flashlight and headed to the door, trying to make as little noise as possible. Ada climbed the stairs at the end of the corridor, desperate for fresh air. She knew there was a ladder up to the roof in a supply closet. She had stumbled upon it mistakenly thinking it was the bathroom. The ladder squeaked as she climbed up hoping it wouldn't wake the people sleeping below. She pushed open the door to the roof, letting the moonlight pour over her as she took a deep breath of fresh air. Ada headed towards a small hidden spot behind a chimney but stopped when she saw another person already sitting there. Keaton.

"What are you doing here?" Ada asked, crossing her arms.

"I could ask you the same thing Thorne," he said, breathing out a puff of smoke.

Ada rolled her eyes, "Don't call me that" She snapped angrily.

"What should I call you then?" He asked, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

"My name?" She answered condescendingly. .

"Nahhh, that's boring"

Ada scoffed, rolling her eyes

"How about....Culera" Keaton said gazing up at her, stars reflecting in his emerald eyes

"What does that- whatever. I don't care what you do" Ada said, a light pink colour tinting her cheeks, though it was too dark to tell.

Keaton looked her up and down, a small smile playing on his lips, "Want a drag?" He asked, offering her the cigarette in his hand.

Ada hesitated for a moment, her natural aversion to anything remotely related to Keaton warring with her desire to have a moment of peace. After a moment of contemplation, she took the cigarette from his hand and brought it to her lips. The ember glowed as she inhaled, filling her lungs with the harsh, bitter taste of smoke. It burned, but it felt strangely liberating.

She sat down next to him and handed the cigarette back, her curiosity getting the best of her. "You still haven't answered my question" She asked, her tone a mixture of curiosity and scepticism.

Keaton shrugged, "You haven't either."

There was something about the way he looked at her, an intensity in his gaze that Ada couldn't quite decipher. "Nightmare, and I just needed a break you know" Ada said, her voice softening.

He nodded in understanding, the silence between them growing. It was strange, sitting on the rooftop with Keaton, sharing a cigarette and gazing out at the night sky. It was as if they were just two people seeking a brief escape from the demands of their worlds.

"It's comforting isn't it," Said Ada looking up at the stars," That no matter what's happening down here the stars just keep on shining."

"Did you get that off a motivational post or something?" Asked Keaton bringing the cigarette to his lips.

"Yeah, right next to those 10 signs a boy likes you posts," Ada agreed giggling, "Which are like so fake

Keaton chuckles in his husky voice "So, what'd they tell you"

"Number 1, and listen up there will be a test on this, at St Augustines we take education very seriously.

"Yes SIR" answered Keaton, saluting Ada.