RYOT GRL

Chapter 13

They’ve been suspended for two weeks”, Georgina whispers and I look at her with wide eyes. “Two weeks”. We’re sitting in the library, after the boys were dragged away with the principal all eyes were on us. Including the cheerleaders, who were outraged they’re beloved boy band had just been carted away. “You know we’re going to be walking targets now from the cheerleaders and the rest of the popular students”, Stella says her voice laced with worry. “We’ll be fine”, I assure, and I know I’m going to eat those words. There’s no way we’re going to get off lightly for this. We decide to go to the ice cream parlour after lunch. One because I know my mum won’t be working and two because after the day, we’ve had we need it. I walk into the ice cream parlour, feeling my whole body go into stand still as I stare at the 3 figures who are sitting in the booth at the corner. “Dodo what’s wrong?”, she asks, and she follows my eyes and gasps, putting her head in her hands. “What are we going to do?”, she hisses and all three of us look at each other with wide eyes. “They will kill us when they find us”. “Let’s just go before they see us”, I suggest and as we’re about to make our escape Castle’s eyes lock with mine and I know I’m in trouble. He jumps out of the booth, striding over to me. “Dodo. What a nice surprise?”, his voice doesn’t match his expression which is hard and cold as he stares me down. “Come sit with us”, he demands, and I notice it wasn’t a request. “No. We were just leaving”, I look to Stella and Georgina who are both trembling. “I insist”, and he puts his hand on my shoulder leading me to his booth.

We sit down, and the first thing Castle does is put his arm around my shoulder as the waitress comes over. “What can I get for you?”, the waitress asks. She’s not looking at me, her eyes are on Castle eyeing him and pushing her chest out whilst she does, which is absurd because she looks twice his age. “Can I have a milkshake please?”, I respond. “What kind?”, she questions, not hiding the bored tone in her voice. “Vanilla”.

“No. What type?”. She means on the menu and Stella puts it in front of me. There’s whole bunch of words and the pictures all look the same. I tense up, seeing everyone staring at me. “I, um...”. “She’ll have the California shake”, Castle cuts across and she nods, everyone else giving their orders. He’s been looking at me the whole time and as the waitress leaves, I feel my whole-body tensing. Georgina, Stella, and I keep staring at each other, trying to figure out how we’re going to get out of this. “Did you hear we got suspended?”, Hames announces, his steely eyes on Georgina. “Oh. No, I didn’t”, she whispers softly her eyes flicking to mine in alarm. “For someone spray painting our names on the wall of the old art room”, Jordan pipes us. I lower my eyes from their burning one’s. “Well, we should be going”, I blurt, and Castle latches on to me, halting me in my step, just as the waitress comes back with our orders, flashing a toothy smile at Castle. He doesn’t notice, his eyes still glued to me. “We were wondering if you wanted to come to a party?”, he says, and I look at him in confusion. “A party? Where?”, I ask. “Jordan’s house”, he winks, and I instantly shrink in my seat. “It’s about time we call a truce”, he mumbles, and I frown.

His eyes are telling me he’s sincere, but I don’t trust him. “I’m not going to a party”, I say crossing my arms over my chest. “Why? You went to one before?”, he says, and I see Georgina and Stella glance at me with confused looks. “Remember?”, he whispers in my ear and I’m about to jab him in the stomach, when the door of the ice cream parlour opens and my mum steps in dressed in her uniform. “It’s the hot waitress”, I hear Jordan say. I look down. “I need to go”, I mutter. “Not until you say yes”, he says. “Fine. I’ll go”, and she walks past so the only thing I can do is lean into him catching him off guard. He leans down. “If you wanted to get close to me princess all you had to do is ask”, he whispers, and I jab at his stomach. I wait until she’s past before I jump up. “Let’s go” and hurry out with Georgina and Stella. “Why did you agree to go? “, both of them stare at me like I’ve gone mad. “You heard him it’s a truce”, I say my voice unconvincing. “We’re not going to a party”, Stella groans her eyes on the floor. “We’ve got each other. It will be alright”, I say and nether look convinced. “We’ve never been to a party before”, I can see Stella is almost in tears. “Neither have I”. “But Castle said”. “He was winding you up. I promise I haven’t. I’ve barely drank anything or done anything”, and the girls look at me in surprise. “What? Did you expect me to have”, I say and Georgina shrugs. “I don’t know I just guessed because you could always handle yourself that you would have lots of experience”, she murmurs, and I can’t blame her. I haven’t exactly been open with them about my past, shutting it down before they can even ask me any questions. But it’s my business and I’ll share it if I want. “We can meet at my house”, Georgina remarks. “Let’s go”, I say before the boys comes out of the ice cream parlour and hound us again; Georgina taking us all home. When I get outside, it’s strange to come home to an empty house. Even if Mum isn’t there to greet me, Ruben always is. I go to my bed, missing seeing his big body there curled up on my tiny bed, filling up most of it. I decide on my black mini skirt, fishnet tights, black converse, and a cropped black top. Applying heavy eyeliner, red lipstick and curling my hair. I wouldn’t normally put so much effort into my outfits but knowing I’ll see Castle tonight has me on edge.