Page 24 of The Revenge
Okay feels relative.
“How’d the exam go?”
Penny rolls her eyes. “Because that’s the important thing here?”
“Come on.” I link my arm through hers. “Let’s head back to your room. You can tell me about your exam while we walk there, and I’ll tell you what I can when we get inside, away from prying ears.”
Even though I don’t really understand what she’s saying, I listen to Penny as she half-heartedly gives me a run down on the questions and answers as we make our way back to the dorm. Royal remains a few paces behind us, like a bodyguard, much to Penny’s annoyance, but she doesn’t say anything until we reach her door.
“What’s with the human ankle monitor?”
“After Lissa’s prank—”
Penny snorts. “Assault.”
“He’s just making sure no one does anything else,” I assure her.
Compared to normal, the doors down the corridor are closed, and there’s no one about to say if his presence has beeneffective, but I also haven’t been covered in other gross liquids—or worse.
“You see the irony in that, don’t you?” Penny asks, but she doesn’t wait for a response as she unlocks and opens her door.
I’m not surprised when Royal tries to follow us in, but I am surprised at the lack of hesitation from Penny as she stands in front of him, trying to block him.
Penny’s only a couple of inches shorter than I am, but neither of us are short. Compared to Royal, the basketball player who towers over her, we all know she’s not going to make Royal leave unless he chooses to.
“You’re not welcome in here.”
“I’m here to make sure nothing happens to Tori.”
“Fuck you, and fuck your insinuation, Royal,” Penny snaps at him, refusing to budge. “Tori’s my friend. I’m not going to hurt her. If she needs protecting from anyone, it’s you.”
“Royal, Penny’s not going to hurt me—and you’re an asshole if you think that’s the case. Just wait outside.”
He narrows his eyes, but steps back out of the room. He’s barely clear of the door before Penny’s slamming it in his face. She whirls around and stares at me in disbelief. “Is he planning on getting in the car with us?”
A long sigh escapes me as I sink onto her bed. “About that.”
“Tori, are youinsane?” Penny’s eyes are wide. “Is that why he’s here? To make sure you don’t leave? Because I will call the police ifanyonegives us any trouble leaving this place.”
“Honestly, I’m pretty certain questioning my sanity is a moot point now.” Wearily, I pat the spot on her bed next to me. “Just hear me out.”
Face full of frowns, Penny pulls her coat off, tossing it to the side before she comes to sit down next to me. The scowldoesn’t go anywhere as she folds her arms and continues to stare at me.
I’ve told Penny a lot about what’s happened, but not everything. Even though I completely trust her, and despite the agreement I had from Syn for no harm to come to her, there have been so many threats—veiled and obvious—against her, that I’ve always held things back.
The only thing she knows about the XXXVII was from when I told her that Arthur Willsberg had mentioned it. Telling her more now will just lead to her asking a bunch of questions I can’t answer.
She also knows about the video of JP. Even though I know she’ll never tell anyone about it, I’ve not spoken about it since the night I showed it to Syn. Bringing it back up now doesn’t seem right.
I don’t know what’s connected and what’s coincidence, but I do know I keep falling deeper and deeper into whatever this is. Penny will only be safe if I don’t drag her down with me.
Without mentioning reason, I quickly explain what I can.
“So, you’re telling me that your plan is to stay with them? Can’t you just move back into your room next door?”
“The room someone broke into while I was in it and covered me in fake blood?”
Penny’s lip curls up. “Compared to the house that someone broke into while you were in it, and nearly killed you? Stay with me—fuck that. Let’s go stay in a hotel in the city and turn up to this charity event together.”
