Academy Of Mates novel Chapter 34

Chapter 34

Chapter 34

Just like the first day, Benedict and I were certainly a sight. We had walked into the arts and crafts activity dripping wet, barefooted and smiling like idiots caught doing something they shouldn’t be.

Countless eyes were focused on us, weighing me down as we walked in. Not all were pleased to see us together, the heat of their glares was so intense I could feel it burning my skin.

The whispers were loud, piercing in the quiet room. “I thought he hated her. He left her, didn’t he?”

“And she was just with Beta Andrew too.” Another added.

“Slut.” They murmured, rolling their eyes.

Benedict must have heard it because after shooting them with his own steely glare, he took my hand, his fingers brushing against mine. “I’ll see you later?”

I was taken aback by this. “Okay,”

Among the onlookers were a familiar pair of eyes that I would never forget, even if I wanted to.

Andrew and Jeff.

They were in the crowd, sitting with a few other men.

No one spoke from their side of the room.

But they all stared.

Andrew in particular.

I see a few of them, glance at Andrew, trying to read his expression, trying to see what he felt about all this when we were together just yesterday. To them, only a few hours ago in that cave, we were holding hands and could barely let go.

Now, Andrew’s hands were balled up in front of him, turning white as his fists shook uncontrollably, nearly rattling the table. I could tell he wanted to stand, wanted to yell or maybe fight.

Something.

Anything.

But he stayed in his seat, his jaw clenched tight.

He didn’t say anything.

I doubt he even thought about it.

But something in me could feel the words whisper in my head; ‘how easily you replaced me,’

I wanted to go to him and smile reassuringly and hold his hand, tell him this is nothing and that he had no reason to worry- but we were strangers now, weren’t we?

He and I, we were… nothing.

We were always nothing.

I didn’t owe him an explanation.

So I turned away from him, following my words about us not knowing each other anymore and pretending like nothing happened between us.

“Over here, Vareesa.” Kelcey sat up, waving her hand. She was sitting at a table with Christ and a few other people Christy was close with. “Sit with us.”

Grateful that at least I still had Kelcey and Christy, I plopped myself down on the only vacant chair on their table and gave them a small smile. “Hi, thank you.”

Kelcey shoved everyone out of the way to lean towards me. “Did you just come in with the hottest guy in the School of Love? And why are you wet? Did you guys swim in the lake together? Like the first day? That’s romantic!”

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Chapter 34

I look down at myself, feeling the soft carpeted floors with my toes. “It’s not like that at all. But it is a long story.”

She squeals, tugging Christy towards me. “Two of the hottest boys are after you. Yum. Yum. Yum!”

“How to be you?” Christy teased, smiling. “Everyone has been trying to get Benedict’s attention but only you have successfully done it! Tell us… did you sleep with him? Is he good in bed? Does he have a big dick? Come on, share with the group.”

My back straightened almost instantly, my cheeks heating up. “What? No. Nothing like that.”

Kelcey made a face. “Christy? Hush. She doesn’t need to tell us that. Vareesa can sleep with whoever she wants. If that’s what she wants. Big dicks and all.”

“I didn’t sleep with him.” I insisted, feeling my entire face turn hot. “He just helped me with something.”

“What a gentleman,” Christy comments with a roll of her eyes. “And the guys I have can’t even remember my name. It’s literally an easy name to remember.”

Suddenly, baskets and baskets and more baskets are placed in front of us, successfully ending the conversation. I peered inside to see chunks of clay, pieces of thick wood, blocks of gemstones, fresh and fake flowers, fancy paper and colorful paint and so much more.

“What’s this for?” I asked, taking a piece of wire from the basket closest to me.

Christy took some flowers out of the basket, knowing exactly what to do. “These are for making things for the boy or girl you like.”

“But I don’t like anyone yet.” I whispered softly, my mind thinking about Benedict immediately, but I banished this thought to the back of my head.

“You’ll give it to someone when you finally do. It’s just tradition to make something with your own hands and offer it to whoever you want to go home with. It’s merely a symbol of your interest in someone.” Christy explains, already hard at work with hers. “All attendees will craft something and give it to each other when they’ve decided.”

“Oh.” Was all I could say as I stared at the materials in front of me.

Kelcey looked up when I went quiet, her obvious worry written all over her face. “Don’t worry. You don’t have to give anyone anything until you’re sure. It has to be special that way.”

As hard as I tried not to, I found myself looking in Benedict’s direction, but just like I expected from him, he did not touch the baskets in front of him, keeping his attention on a blank wall.

That is until his eyes glanced in my direction.

We held each other’s gaze for a long time… thinking, feeling, speaking without words until I broke it to look down at whatever was in front of me.

I didn’t know what I was going to do but, somehow, my heart did as it reached for the molding clay and my hands moved to do my best sculpture of a wolf with beautiful ocean blue eyes- his eyes. I tried to get them just right, attempting to match whatever memory and emotion I was recreating into this small figurine. For I certainly couldn’t just look up to check for myself.

“Oh, Vareesa, that’s so pretty.” Kelcey gushes, leaning over to look at my work. “I’m sure he’s going to like it.”

I was going to ask her who ‘him’ was when I noticed she was already looking at Benedict from across the

room.

He happily showed that he wasn’t bothering with the entire thing with his feet up on the table as he leaned back on his chair, his arms behind his head.

Always the rebel.

He was in the right pack alright.

No rules.

I stared down at the wolf in my hands and flushed. “Oh, uhm, I don’t know about that.”

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Chapter 34

Kelcey frowned, her eyebrows furrowed. “Why did your answer sound like a no?”

I tried to think of a good answer but all I could think of was the cliche; “It’s complicated.”

“What? But you two look so close that first night and honestly… very happy.” She says with a thoughtful look on her face. “I would have thought you two would choose each other at the end of the week.”

I thought so too.

But I didn’t say that.

With a shake of my head and a shrug of my shoulders, I forced a smile. “Things change is all. He’s a Beta. It was never going to be possible.”

“He made it seem like it was. What happened? What changed?” She kept her voice low so it wouldn’t carry and to keep others from listening in.

My fingers brushed against the blue eyes of the wolf I was making. “We just accepted what we had always known before.”

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