Page 64 of Fractured Fates

“Why?” I yell back, my own loud words making me wince.

“Chores! You’re fucking late.”

Chores. The ones Professor York said I’d be required to undertake if I wanted to keep Pip with me at the college. I’d forgotten all about them.

“It’s early!” I groan.

“I’m giving you to the count of twenty to haul your ass out here or I’m coming in and doing it for you.”

Asshole! I think as loudly in my head as I can, knowing he’ll be able to read the thought.

“Takes one to know one, Blackwaters.”

“You’d better get up,” Winnie whispers up to my bunk. “Stone isn’t known for his empty threats.”

I groan again and slowly slide off my bunk, trying not to make any sudden movements or I’ll disturb my stomach.

I hobble over to the wardrobe and pull on a pair of jean shorts and a t-shirt, ignoring Pip’s angry snorts around my ankles.

“Would you feed him for me?” I ask Winnie.

She eyes my pig but nods her head. I think she may be beginning to soften towards him.

I shut the wardrobe door, the bang making me yelp and take a quick peek at myself in the mirror.

I have rings of mascara under my eyes and my hair is a mess around my head.

“I’m waiting,” Stone yells, and I scowl at the door before opening it gingerly. “Fuck,” he says, staring down at me, “I didn’t think it was possible for you to look any more awful, Blackwaters, but you seem to have managed it.”

“I need to pee,” I tell him, pushing past him and stumbling down to the bathroom.

“Hurry the fuck up,” he tells me and I consider giving him the finger. “Do it and I’ll double the number of chores you have for today.”

After I’ve used the toilet, I scrub my face at the sink and wash my pits, taking a long drink of water straight from the tap. Then, I dry myself on the thin paper towels and go to find Stone waiting for me at the dormitory door.

“You’re hungover,” he says, with disgust, his nostrils flaring like he can smell the alcohol I can still taste on my breath.

“Yep,” I say, “I really need to eat.”

“Tough shit. You think this is how I want to be spending my Sunday morning?”

I glance towards the horizon. The sun hovers above and it’s clear it’s only just risen.

“Is it morning?” I grumble. “It’s so fucking early.”

Stone shrugs and stomps down the path and I’m forced to half sprint to keep up with him. He doesn’t need to read my mind to know how sick that makes me feel. I’m sure the retching noises I’m making are damn obvious. But it doesn’t slow the bastard down, instead, he picks up his pace, weaving around the buildings. The campus is quiet this morning. No bouncing bunnies, no football team, and I’m grateful for it when I’m forced to stop, hunching over my knees and heaving into a flowerbed.

When the sickness passes, I don’t move, panting and staring down at the ground.

“Are you done?” Stone asks with annoyance.

I wipe the hem of my t-shirt around my brow and over my mouth.

“If you weren’t walking so damn quickly–”

“If you hadn’t been so fucking irresponsible and drunk so much last night.”

I stand up straight and glare at him. “I’m twenty years old. This was my first chance to explore the city.”