Chapter Ninety Eight: Day Four: The Shape of Honesty
Christina's Arc: Bend or Break
"Christina, wait. Why are you leaving class before the bell?" I asked, but she ignored me. I followed Christina out of the class, and boy, did she seem pissed. But I didn't understand why she was so upset when I hadn't done anything.
She walked down the hallway at a fast pace that felt like running. I could hardly keep up without running every couple of steps.
"Christina!"
"Stop following me, Antwon. You don't want me with you, so consider it done."
Well, she's not wrong, but I can't leave her angry. Someone might die.
"What the hell happened in there?"
I sped up and grabbed her wrist, and she stopped. But she looked at me with low-lidded eyes and a clenched jaw.
"C-Christina?"
"Is it because I'm not smart enough?"
…
"Maybe it's because I don't have enough weight because of my training?"
I scratched my head.
"What?"
"I mean your fucking science girlfriend. The one you were all over."
"She wasn't all over me, and she's just a friend."
I could see flashes of rage shine in her eyes, and then she snatched her wrist away from me. Then she continued down the hall. I continued to follow her until she walked into the girls' bathroom.
"Seriously, Christina, running away?" I said, but she ignored me. "Don't think I won't go in there… like when you walked into the boys' bathroom," I shouted from the doorway.
Of all the times she could have used the damn bathroom, it had to be now. Well, if she thinks that I won't go in there…
"Raah!!"
I slowly made my way into the girls' bathroom. I'd peek around the corner and leave if any other girls were in the bathroom. But it was clear. The doors to the stalls were open, and Christina was washing her face.
I stepped into the bathroom, and Christina glared at me.
"This is the girls' bathroom, Antwon."
"Really? I hadn't noticed. Listen, I don't know what I did or why you're complaining about your weight, but Abby is—"
"Is that her first name?" she asked, holding her hands out.
Oh, shit.
…
"You can't even fucking answer me." Her hands dropped to her sides.
"So what? It's just a—"
Footsteps echoed at the entry of the bathroom. Christina grabbed me by the jacket, pulled me into the stall, and made me crouch on the toilet. But why was she acting so strange? Couldn't she just use her bloodsprout magic and make them unsee me?
She held a finger to her lips. Her way of telling me to shut the hell up.
"By the gods, I'm so bored. I hate being here."
"Shit, we can always skip. It's not like we really need high school, or anything."
"For fuck's sake, you two, I don't see no damn crown on either of your heads. My mom is a nobody in the Crimson army, your moms are nobodies, and we're going to be—"
"Shit, bitch. I get it."
Christina reached over and touched my cheek, and then the bell rang.
Cool, I'm trapped in the girls' bathroom with my handler, and I'm going to be late to the most badass teacher at the school. I wonder what my excuse will be?
"At least we'll get laid a lot."
And there it is. This messed-up world's way of reminding me that I'm someone else's meal.
"Who's going to fuck your ugly ass?"
She brought her face closer to mine. I shook my head because this wasn't the time or place to be—whatever the hell we were.
"Antwon—" she whispered. "I'm going to bash her brains in until she isn't smarter than me—"
She brought me closer. "After your science crush, I'm going to crush Takano—"
It isn't a crush! If these girls are skipping, then we need to leave. But how do we get out without making it look suspicious? Not to mention, they sound like they are the daughters of clan members, and this hothead is considering killing girls from their turf.
"After that, you'll never—"
I grabbed her shoulders and pulled her in, causing Christina to squeak, and then I kissed her so aggressively that she couldn't contain her moans.
Who cares if they think we were doing something? At least I won't be trapped with this nutjob until she drags me home. Well, if I didn't have a reputation before, I do now because I'm going to make it look convincing.
With dexterity, I traced my finger from her belly to her chin, pulling her shirt out and unhooking her bra on the way up. Then I stepped down from the toilet and backed her against the stall door.
"W-who's in there?"
When we stopped kissing, we were out of breath. But before I could open the stall, she unbuttoned my collar and bit me in the exact same spot, which hurt like hell. Then I yelped.
"Okay, knock that shit off and come on out!"
"Shut up. I mean, at least someone's enjoying school."
My freaking neck hurts; no enjoyment.
"Why the hell did you bite me, Christina?"
"Because I don't forgive you, Antwon."
Christina turned and opened the stall, and the girls stared in bewilderment.
"Whoa. The queen and the gaijin," the shortest girl said, and then they bowed.
Christina took my hand, and we both stepped out of the stall. I was caught between embarrassment and nervousness because their eyes were fixed on me. Then Christina moved me behind her, which was thoughtful, I guess. But I did this for her reputation, not mine, and she performed her role well. She unbuttoned her shirt enough to fix her bra, then fixed her shirt and skirt.
"Damn. Gaijins are awesome."
I don't know how to respond to that.
"They have their benefits," Christina said, and then she turned to me and started buttoning my shirt.
"Oh wow. He let you mark him?" the second-tallest girl said, moving closer to me.
I didn't let her do shit!
"Oh, now he looks mad."
"I'd love to tell you all about it, girls, but we need to go."
We exited the bathroom late for Ms. Igarashi's class, but part of me was still in the bathroom, being pulled apart by those girls and begging for mercy, while the other half was being dragged to class by a ticking time bomb.
***
My only solace was that we weren't the only students late to class, but they weren't late to Igarashi's class: a class where you have to explain why you were late. But what do I tell them? The queen and I were hooking up in the bathroom? I stopped two murders, and more were pending?
I started to pick at my bottom lip.
Rika Igarashi is the reason I'm still alive. She fought off Shizuka in that run-down apartment building. But I don't remember anything after she—
Christina took the hand I was using to pick at my lip and held it, as if she hadn't flipped my life upside down. So, as we walked, we looked like a happy couple. I wanted to rip my hand away and run for the hills, but where would I go that she couldn't find me? On top of that, she could pull me out of school.
Why the hell hasn't she said anything since we left the bathroom? Maybe this is a good thing.
I touched my neck, and it stung from where she had bitten me.
"Antwon, I'm going to ask you something, and I want you to be honest with me."
Are you a jerk? Yes. Am I pissed about this bite? Yes. Do I want to go home to my family? Yes. Am I upset that you threatened Abby and that one girl from my homeroom? Yes. Am I still upset that you beat up my sister? A little bit.
"Wait, was that a question or an order?"
She exhaled.
"I—want to know what happened to you, you know, when you ran away. I also want to know why you ran."
I swallowed the truth.
"Was it because of what I did to your sister, or my claim?"
A little bit of it came back up, but went back down once she started squeezing my hand.
"I just want to be there for you, and I know I've failed you. Fuck, I've had you for days now, and I thought having you was enough."
Holy shit! What's happening right now?
"Look—what I'm trying to say is—"
Yeah?
"You can cry on my shoulder when you're sad, and I'm going to work on being a more efficient queen, okay?" she said, holding my gaze… Well, she held my gaze because I slowly drifted back into the seemingly endless hallway. "Antwon? Do you understand me?"
"Sure."
I really thought she was going to say something sweet. I mean, she really had me going, but nope. She's just Christina.
"I fucking mean it, Antwon. I want you to tell me everything, all the time," she said, and I believed that she freaking meant it, but what does that mean for me? I don't need her to amp shit up because that would make it worse. I don't even know what she wants me to tell her. She already knows about the money I stole from that one place with all the crazy yet attractive older women.
I'm not telling her about Kami. As big an asshole Kami is, I didn't want her to die. If I'm not telling her about that stuff, then the love hotel is off the table.
She squeezed my hand again, and I glared at her because it was pretty hard. But she didn't give me any attention, just stayed forward-facing. Hisashi and his group of assholes were passing by. I'm still surprised he becomes Ryo's father… I would tell him to raise his kid better, but I don't think it would—it wouldn't matter, because he's going to die for breaking the royal order.
They bowed, and Christina nodded her head in approval, but I couldn't let him pass.
"Hisashi!" I didn't mean to scream it; I just wanted him to stop moving long enough to talk to him.
"Yes, Mr. Carter." Damn. He said that like I was going to kick his ass. Hell, Christina gave me the same look, but with this weird smile.
"We need to talk in the bathroom." Fear flashed across his face, but it was misplaced because I seriously wanted to talk about—oh, I can't talk to him about the future without sounding like a nutjob.
"Wait here and keep her grace entertained."
Wow. She ain't my girl, but if she were, you wouldn't say strange shit like that and live.
"After you, Mr. Carter."
"Hisashi—" Christina said, "play nice, or don't play at all."
***
Thankfully, the boys' bathroom wasn't too far from Ms. Igarashi's room, and if Christina was where we left her, I could slip in without her.
Hisashi and I entered the bathroom, and he immediately checked the stalls to ensure no one else was there. If he is this cautious about a conversation, then how did he get caught sleeping with Jade? But I guess hiding a growing belly is harder than hiding the act itself.
He sighed and then ran his fingers through his black hair. "Okay, Mr. Carter, I've been expecting this since Ms. Tetsusen chose you to sire her bloodline. I only ask that you spare my face."
I stared blankly into his face for a moment, then it hit me. He thought I called him in here to kick his ass?
"No, man. Calm down. I'm not in the business of hurting children, okay? I just wanted to talk away from Christina. I mean, if anything, you should have beaten me better. That way, Christina wouldn't want me."
"But we are kids," he said, staring blankly into my face. "I dare not disrespect the future queen of Iron."
"Sure."
"If you didn't call me in here for revenge, then what do you need of me? Did we hurt one of your friends?"
I walked over to the sink to wash my hands. I really just wanted to wash the Christina off, but I couldn't tell Hisashi that.
"Nothing like that. I wanted to talk to you about your love life." He raised a brow and placed his hand over his mouth. I'd give him an A for acting, but I still don't like him or his future son. I turned the water off. "I mean, of course, with Jade—"
"Mr. Carter—" he said in a loud whisper, "you may address your queen by her first name because she chose you, but do not mistake your newfound position. Ms. Akagiri would not approve, and I will defend our leader regardless of Ms. Tetsusen's method of discipline."
What a touchy prick. Well, he's still better than Ryo, by far.
"Look, I know you and her got something going on. I just wanted to tell you to be careful with the royal order thing."
He walked over to the sink next to me and leaned against it.
"So, you know of my familial status within the Veil's hierarchy. I'm touched that a gaijin would, but not as surprised, since you were able to win Ms. Tetsusen's affection, and since it so happens that you are still a member of the Veil, you do us all an honor. She will be the second Queen of Iron to take a boy from the Veil as her consort."
I'm not a consort, you dick.
"Are you sleeping with her yet?" Shock and shame spread across his face. Guilty.
"How dare you—"
"Look, Hisashi, it's okay to be ashamed if she is forcing you to."
"I don't know what you're talking about, Mr. Carter—"
I faced him.
"Nah, I get it. Sometimes Christina makes me do weird shit I'm not comfortable with, too."
"Stop making baseless implications."
"Did she bite you, too? Can I see?" I reached for his collar, and he moved away.
"This is absurd!" he said, then someone walked in. "Find a different lavatory!"
"I get it; your queen is ashamed of you, so—"
"She is not ashamed of me!" his eyes went just as wide as my smirk.
I touched his shoulder as delicately as a wilting rose. "Brother, I know how it feels to be burnt by fire, but think of your house before you take another plunge."
He collapsed to the floor, and I almost felt bad for the kid. But by saving him, I beat Ryo.
"Y-you don't understand what it's like to be restricted by decree from the woman your heart yearns for."
Please don't tell me your sob story.
"I never knew desire until I met her; I knew not love until she yearned back in return."
Hisashi looked at me with swelling tears in his eyes. I didn't want to feel anything. I didn't want to care, but the more I stared, the more it felt like looking into a mirror. My eyes searched the bathroom for an easy solution. Shizuka said the Aizawa household would be erased. Maybe that's why Ryo was a bitter brat.