The Lonely King | Ongoing [New Edition]

32 | Out of Breath

"'Cause I don't wanna fall in love

If you don't wanna try.

But all that I've been thinking of

Is maybe that you're mine.

Baby, it looks as though we're running

out of words to say,

And love's floatin' away."

❁❁❁

IT DIDN'T TAKE long for us to reach the Academy. When we exited the car, Emily had long stopped crying, but I still pulled her into a tight embrace. Surely nothing could hurt more than seeing someone you care so deeply for in pain, right?

Robin quietly took her presents out of his trunk, and waited patiently as I gave Emily a short pep talk to cheer her up. Then, we headed to Emily's dorm.

"Thank you for sending me home," Emily said sincerely when we came to a stop outside of her door. Rummaging through her purse, she grabbed her room key and opened the front door.

"Are you sure you'll be alright?" I asked, eyebrows creasing in concern. I knew Robin and I were supposed to have a 'talk', but it could wait if Emily wanted me to stay the night.

"Yeah," she replied, grabbing her birthday gifts from Robin. Her lips curved upwards into a half-hearted smile, and she hobbled into her room, gifts piled in her arms. Once she set all her presents down, she dusted her hands and turned to face us again.

"Again, thank you so much. For everything," she said, pulling me into a quick hug. "You guys should head back, too. It's really late already. Robin, take care of her, okay?"

"I will," Robin promised. We exchanged goodbyes and promised to meet each other for lunch tomorrow, and then I allowed Robin to drag me off back to my dorm.

The entire time we were headed back to my dorm, I couldn't help but vent my anger out.

"Don't you think that he's being so insensitive?" I ranted, throwing my hands in the air in frustration. "Emily clearly cares about him— she might even have feelings for him! And he didn't even bother coming for the party that he organised."

Robin sighed, placing his hand on my back and guiding me down the empty hallway. I turned to face him, realising that he had been silent the whole time.

"Do you know why he's acting like this?" I asked, eyes narrowing in suspicion. I placed my hands on my hips, waiting for his answer. When I thought about it, the boys definitely seemed to know something was up with Asher. Every single time anyone brought him up, they'd give some vague excuse for his weird behaviour and then proceed to sweep the topic under the rug.

"Alexandra, even if I did, it is not our problem," Robin replied, sounding more mature than his age. "This is between Asher and Emily. Don't make it any more complicated than it needs to be."

"Ugh!" I couldn't help but groan when I knew that he was right. It was none of my business, but it just felt so wrong that I wanted to do something about it.

"Come on. Let's get inside first," Robin said, his velvety voice soothing my anger. I didn't even realise we reached my front door, and sheepishly opened the door with my key.