Page 142 of Fractured Fates

“Are you nervous?” I ask her, as she pulls a casual black dress over her head.

“About what?”

“You know … doing it.”

I know they didn’t go all the way last night. I also know Winnie is dead keen to rectify that situation.

“A little, I guess.” She tugs the tight material down her body and admires herself in the mirror, before her eyes meet mine again. “Oh … wait … you didn’t think … Rhi, I’m not a virgin.”

“Oh,” I say, feeling my cheeks turn the red Winnie’s so often do. “I didn’t mean to assume. I’m sorry if … really? Who?”

“This guy back home. Before I left for the academy. We weren’t in love or anything like that but curious and … well… we decided it might be a good idea to practice.” She smiles. “We ended up doing quite a lot of practicing. I guess that’s why I’m so desperate to do it with Trent. I know how good it can be. And, oh god, it’s such a long time since I got laid.”

She flings her head back and groans.

I thought Winnie and I were alike. Just as clueless when it came to men and sex. I’ve misjudged my friend and as usual, it turns out I’m the ignorant one who knows nothing.

Winnie must read this on my face. Because she takes my hand.

“You don’t need a man, Rhi. But if you wanted one you could get one. I mean if I can–”

“Winnie don’t you dare,” I warn her.

“Well, in the meantime we could get you a vibrator.”

Maybe a vibrator is what I need. Maybe it would stop me feeling things about people I shouldn’t. People like Stone.

That moment we’d had before the fucker invaded my mind had been thrilling, had made my skin come alive, had made everything in my core spin.

Of course, then he’d had to go and ruin it all. Reminding me exactly why he is not the man for me.

“A vibrator sounds interesting,” I venture. Definitely preferable to a fucker like Stone. “Maybe I’ll do some research while you’re out.”

She leaves me later and I consider a dinner of more cookies, anything to avoid the dining hall alone.

In the end, I decide I’m braver than that and not cowered by a bunch of kids with too much money and oversized egos.

However, I needn’t have worried. The hall is almost empty. There isn’t a bouncing bunny in sight. In fact, their usual table is completely empty.

Everyone must still be sleeping off their hangovers. Or like me wanting to avoid scrutiny after whatever humiliations they encountered the night before. A little perusal on social media shows me I’m not the only one who’s had my photo and name pinned up for public ridicule.

I grab a plate of pasta and head for our usual spot in the corner. I’m halfway through my dinner when the bench on the other side of the table scrapes along the floor.

I look up and find Andrew taking a seat opposite me.

“Hey Rhi,” he says with a hint of caution.

Although we’re talking again, things aren’t entirely back to the way they were.

“Hey Andrew, on your own too?”

“Yeah, Dane’s still puking his guts out. He claims he has food poisoning but I think it has less to do with rancid food and more to do with the barrel of beer he consumed last night.” He shakes his head, grinning. “Is Winnie suffering too?”

“No,” I shrug, “she just has other plans tonight.” I’m not sure how public I am allowed to go with Winnie’s new liaison.

“Trent?” Andrew asks with another grin.

“Hmmm, how did you–”