Page 22 of Grace of Spades

Me:hey babe. I got my bike last night want a ride to school?

Kennedy:a motorcycle? yes!

Me:wear pants.

Kennedy:I'm so excited!

I chuckle as I leave the bathroom. Christian is standing there looking at my room with a sad and confused look on his face.

"What's wrong?" I ask.

"Just... why is your bedding on the floor?" He asks. Oh, thank God. I was afraid he'd seen a knife hidden somewhere. Not that he didn't see the one I woke up with but one knife is easier to explain than the twenty-something I have all over the room.

"I'm not used to sleeping on a bed yet." I shrug.

"What do you mean?" He looks sad.

"Well, I've never really had one and this one feels like it's swallowing me. I'm working up to being a normal person." I admit.

"Like never?" He asks horrified.

"I mean, I'd like to believe my parents were at least decent enough to give me a crib when I was a baby but there is no evidence to support that theory," I confess.

"I know your parents weren't great but I didn't know it had been that bad." He mutters.

"Sweetie, that's not even the worst of it." I chuckle brushing my hair out. I throw it into a loose braid so my hair doesn't go crazy on the bike.

"Oh, that's shitty. I'm sorry." He looks a bit pale.

"That's life." I shrug grabbing my bag and jacket. "You coming?" I ask heading down to breakfast. Ruby is dancing again in the kitchen it's Journey this time. She grins when she sees me and spins me to the table with a laugh. I eat my bacon and scrambled eggs trying not to eat too much again.

"You don't eat much," Christian observes and receives a smack upside the head from Ruby.

"You leave her alone. She's being smart you stay out of it." She scolds making me smile. I love her.

"It's okay, Ruby, but thank you. I'm used to not eating at all or in very small amounts. So it's another thing I have to ease into." I explain. His lips are set in a thin hard line. "It's okay, I just have to take it easy so I don't make myself sick, that's all," I reassure him. He nods but I don't think he's happy about it.

Ruby turns on the news while we eat and I see there were a bunch of deaths last night. Including one Paolo Roberts as well as about fourteen others. Shame. They think it's gang-related. I barely contain my snort at that.

Andras comes rushing into the kitchen grabbing a coffee to go and an apple shouting a good morning over his shoulder as he runs out of the kitchen. Oh right, he's a defence attorney. He'll be busy today.

"I'll be helping him out today once you get to school," Christian assures me. I nod appreciatively.

"Well, I better go too. I gotta pick up Kennedy today." I smile. "Thank you, Ruby. It was delicious as always." I say trying to sneak over to wash my plate but getting swatted again.

"You win this time, but it's not over!" I call out with a maniacal laugh. Christian keeps close behind me. Too close. I can't stand it. I turn around to face him causing him to almost crash into me.

"What is going on?" I ask.

"I... um... I just need to make sure you get to school okay." He stammers looking nervous.

"So you're going to ride my ass all the way there?" I ask.

"Wha... no, I just..." he stutters turning pink. God, he's cute. No! Bad Grace! He's a Bianchi. He's not cute enough to risk your life! Woman up!

"You need to calm down, okay?" I warn him. "I need room to breathe."

"Sorry." He mutters as I turn and grab my helmet and head to my bike.