Academy Of Mates novel Chapter 32

Chapter 32

Chapter 32

When I woke up the next day, the birds were singing, the smell of pine was in the air and a hint of something sweet like honey stirred my stomach.

That is until a wave of something sour like acid and bile bubbled up my stomach instead.

Why was this feeling so familiar?

Oh.

Because I woke up the very same way yesterday.

My head hurt, a pounding sensation on my skull and my eyes felt heavy as I rolled on my side, keeping my blanket all the way to my nose.

I could lie and say I don’t remember anything from last night, but I do. I remember every single word I said to Andrew and what he said back to me. I remember how, after that, I held onto a random man like I would break and how he, in return, kept his arms around me to keep me together.

He didn’t say a word the entire time.

He didn’t tell me he was right.

He just stayed there, unlike everyone that had disappointed me in the Academy so far.

When I finally calmed down enough, he helped me into my room and waited until I was in bed before closing the door like nothing happened.

Dejavu struck once more with that.

Another wave of something sour went up my throat and I’swallowed it down, refusing to feel anything else from last night. My stomach grumbled, my eyes glancing at the clock on my nightstand to see that it was already ten in the morning.

I blinked, not realizing how late it was.

Remembering the schedule for today, I rushed to the bathroom and quickly showered. While I dry myself, I choose a simple long summer dress from my closet and wiggle into it. In only a few minutes, I fixed my hair and my face as best as I could, which wasn’t great with the bags under my eyes and the pale color of my skin.

My stomach kept lurching but I fought it down, opening my door to find Sebastian where he was last night, which was right in front of my door. He looked up and merely tipped his head forward in greeting.

He must have come to check on me after not seeing me at breakfast.

I waited for him to make a comment or to make fun but he didn’t, merely staying quiet.

I take a deep breath and decide to start the conversation. I owed him that much. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry you had to see me like that.”

“No thanks needed. I just needed to see that you’re okay.” He tells me.

I managed to smile. “I’m okay.”

Sebastian turns away, heading for the other end of the hallway and with one last look at me, eyes full of this emotion that I can’t place, he waves and is gone.

Staring at the empty hallway… something in me pulled towards his direction but I had already embarrassed myself too much in front of him and turned the other way.

My stomach does a little flip when I make it to where everyone is having brunch. The gardens have been transformed into this beautiful gathering of attendees eating among flowers and nature.

Tables and chairs have been set up in every possible nook and corner with staff moving along carrying plates and glasses full of sparkling liquid for everyone.

In front were tables upon tables full of never ending food; fruits and salads and meats and biscuits and pastries. I spotted sandwiches, cheeses of every smell and chocolate covered marshmallows. There were

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Chapter 32

fountains of juices and drinks, some even alcoholic. A lot of attendees hovered there, refilling their glasses greedily, trying to chase away their hangover with another hangover.

A live band was playing classical music from the gazebo far ahead, calming everyone’s otherwise hungover expressions.

Kelcey suddenly waved from in front of a table of food, beaconing me to walk over to her. She looked a little worse for wear but still absolutely beautiful. She had thick black sunglasses on which she lowered to look at me. “What an amazing night, huh?”

She obviously didn’t see or know what happened at dinner.

And I didn’t have the heart to tell her.

I forced a smile, remembering exactly what happened last night with a wince. “Right,”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t spend more time with you. I was trying to distract myself with a boy who I was too good for.” She grumbles, handing me an empty plate and taking one for herself as she looks at the selection. “I’m so hungover, I can’t even feel my stomach.”

We stack our plate high with food before we find a table near the gazebo.

She removed her sunglasses and spread her legs apart with a sigh. She was wearing a dress like I was, but even then she looked positively ravishing even if she shouldn’t. “We’ve only been here two days but I’m already so damn tired.”

Just as I was about to agree, Christy slammed her plate down on our table. She looked terrible, much like we all did and she was armed with a tray of coffee cups that she was aggressively chugging like her life depended on it.

“I’m never drinking again.” She announces, cringing at her own loud voice. “I haven’t stopped hurling since last night. I wanted to sleep but my mouth and stomach had other plans. It was like a broken faucet. On and on and on!”

“What did you expect?” Kelcey replies humorlessly, nursing a cup of coffee in her hands. “You single handedly finished the entire stock of stolen liquor last night. It’s as if you were possessed.”

“My prospects aren’t prospecting.” Christy mumbles to herself. “I needed to distract myself. You might think it’ s easier if you’re ranked with a good family, but it’s not. There’s always going to be someone else that these men want.”

We all shared a look, realizing all of us were in need of distractions. “Men,”

The three of us stuck out our tongues in agreement before digging into our food.

Two bites in and Christy pushes her food away. “I think I’m going to throw up… okay, wait, I think I’m okay. Wait… maybe not.”

“Can you face the other direction just in case you’re not okay?” Kelcey comments with a scrunched up nose. “I just showered and I don’t plan on showering again so soon.”

Christy pouted. “You don’t trust me?”

Kelcey didn’t even bat an eye. “No. You’re green. You look like you’re a second away from releasing something from within.”

“That’s certainly what I feel.” Christy answers, holding her stomach. She directs her attention at me. “How was your night, Vareesa?”

I didn’t bother lying. “Terrible. Just terrible.”

“The Beta didn’t work out?” She asked, patting the hand I had on the table.

I shook my head. “It was never going to work out. I don’t know why I even tried.”

Kelcey frowns at this. “I hate guys. You love them, you tell them you love them and they leave you.”

“I hate them too.” I agreed with a laugh.

“And we have this class thing for them as well.” Christy continued with a shudder.

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Chapter 32

“What thing?” I asked, dreading to do anything today.

“A very long class that will make you fall asleep.” Christy answers, already looking bored.

“Arts and crafts.” Kelcey added with a roll of her eyes. “They make you create something, to pour your heart into and give it to someone.”

I was about to say more when I caught sight of him.

Andrew had just walked into the garden, his pretty hair was a mess on top of his head as he looked around the garden. I melted into my seat, ducking my head down.

“What is it?” Kelcey asked, looking around until she saw him. “Oh, him.”

“I have to go.” I mumbled quickly, keeping my head down as I hid behind flowers and bushes. “I’ll see you in that arts and crafts thing.”

Just when I thought I was in the clear, I slammed into him. Head first. Staggering back.

Oh, Goddess.

Andrew tries to steady me, hands on my waist, but I remove it. “Varessa, come on.”

My lips pressed thin, unable to even look at him.

“Let’s talk? Please.” He begged like I had begged. “Last night was a mistake-”

I drew back as if he slapped me. I didn’t think he was capable of hurting me even more. “A mistake? That’s what I was to you?”

Jeff was right.

What was I thinking?

“Just let me finish.” He pleaded, seeing as I had already started to retreat from him.

Unrelenting, I continued to back away. “I think you already said what you had to say.”

He took me by the hand and even if I fought against it, he held me close, pulling me deeper into the gardens where people couldn’t see or hear us.

I thrashed around, pulling with all my might, but he was holding onto me with all his strength.

He only let me go when we were far away. We were alone with only our heavy breathing and the beautiful sculpted statues around us. “I’m wrong for you, Vareesa. I’m all kinds of wrong. Everyone knows it. You know it.”

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