𝔖𝔞𝔩𝔱𝔟𝔲𝔯𝔫

𝔗𝔴𝔢𝔩𝔳𝔢

The night after, we all gathered in the library to watch The Ring. James was eating out of a jar of Nutella. Pamela was cracking open some kind of canned drink. I sat in between Felix and Vee, a large bowl of popcorn between us. Ollie and Farleigh were nearby on the floor.

A jumpscare came on the screen. Everyone jumped, except for James, who just stopped eating with his jaw dropped. Venetia's dramatic scream scared me more than the movie.

"Vee! Jesus!" I asjusted. She jumped again, making the popcorn fall out of the bowl.

"That's what you look like when you're out of the shower." Farleigh looked back at me, referencing the girl with long hair on the television. I shoved popcorn towards him.

"That's what you look like twenty four seven." I said back.

"Why is she wet?" Elspeth seemed confused.

"Because she's been down the well, mum!" Vee responded.

Another jumpscare came up. This time, me and Venetia were the only people in the room who jumped. Felix and Ollie laughed, but I noticed Farleigh glaring towards Oliver's way. It caught my attention, which was quickly diverted by Felix's hand high on my thigh. Before I knew it, his head was in the crook of my neck.

"I don't really want to stay the rest of this movie." He whispered in my ear. I was about to say something, but Venetia screamed again, followed by James, which made me jump. Popcorn spilled all over Felix, the two of us breaking out in a fit of laughter.

"Sorry. I'm sorry." I said, brushing the popcorn off of him. He grabbed my wrist to stop me, looking into my eyes.

I knew what he wanted.

So I pulled my wrist away.

"Um, hey, Im not really feeling too well. I think Im gonna call it a night, you guys."

"Oh, was it the jammie dodgers?" Pamela asked. She had given the kitchen staff a recipe earlier to make for that evening, cookies with jam in the center. Everyone had one to be polite, except for Elspeth, who insisted they'd make her skin oily.

"Just a headache, I'll be fine. Felix, could you walk me to bed?" I asked. I scooted up out of the couch, not making eye contact with Ollie or Venetia, who were staring.

"Yeah. Of course, yeah."

Felix grabbed my hand, walking in front of me and leading me out of the library.

"Goodnight, everyone." He said for both of us. They barely waved, their minds to consumed into the television.

As soon as me and Felix exited, his hands found themselves to my waist. He pushed me up against the wall in the hallway and kissed me roughly.

"Felix..." I said, whispering. He went into my neck.

"What?"

"What it someone sees?"

Before he could answer, Farleigh walked out of the library, immediately seeing me and Felix against each other. I stiffened, which Felix noticed. He looked at me with concern, then followed my eyes in the direction Farleigh was to see him standing there.