Page 75 of Vying Girls

The TV’s blaring but it’s a whisper against the roar of the storm. I slide further down the sofa as it batters the windowpanes, the glass flexing like it’s made of plastic. I’m not sure they should be doing that. Feel like they’re going to implode any minute, and I’ve already had my fair share of glass-related injuries.

They got the timings wrong. The storm landed a lot earlier than five. Final lectures were cancelled, but it was still a treacherous hike through the forest back to the lodges. Those spindly trees aren’t made for winds like this. There’re rumours a student’s already been killed by one falling, but everyone seems a bit given to hyperbole today.

I usually adore storms, as rare as they are in this part of the world, but this one has me restless. I think it’s a combination of a few things—the absolute battering this glorified log cabin is receiving, the fact there’s a psychopath out for my blood if Nic doesn’t give him hers.

And then there’s the small issue of Nic still being out there, supposedly on her way with her tent. Lockdown started an hour ago, but I guess the same rules don’t apply to her. They said they’d enact punishment on anyone found breaching them, but who’s going to out there patrolling in this?

The lounge illuminates with a flash of white, and I swear I see a man’s face in the window. I slam my eyes shut, damning this paranoia.

Thunder cracks a split second later, sounding like a bomb.

In the kitchen, Haz whoops. ‘Get away from the windows, baby!’

She’s cooking up a batch of chilli in there. I’ve already been threatened with cheese grating duty.

‘Yo, taste this.’

I sit up as she comes at me with a spoon. I open my mouth dutifully, letting her tip in the red sauce.

I nod enthusiastically. ‘Lush.’

‘Fucking right. Best I’ve ever made.’ She sticks the spoon in her mouth, eyes straying to the windows when lightning flashes again. ‘It’s giving end times.’

‘Better repent then, ye gay.’

‘You too, baby. On your knees.’

There’s a split second where I’m tempted. Haz still stands before me. If I was to kneel, I’d be at perfect deepthroating height.

‘Where’s your usual taste tester, anyway?’ I ask.

‘Drawing dicks. Leave her.’

I cackle, imagining Elly in her room finishing her Life Drawing pieces. ‘Bless her.’

‘She’s nearly done. Dinner too. Just waiting on that other shitting idiot.’

Thunder cracks again, the wind shrieking like a hundred banshees. Something unseen slams into the lodge wall, making me jump.

‘Ten more minutes and I’m going out there,’ Haz says.

‘No, you’re bloody not.’

‘Gonna stop me, princess?’

‘I’d follow you.’

‘Into the abyss.’ She launches herself next to me, kissing my shoulder and then my neck. ‘Would you really?’

‘Really, really.’

‘For me or Nic?’

‘Both.’

She grunts, easing off. ‘You two have gotten pally.’

‘Still not sleeping together.’