Tales & Time (Lost Time Academy #1)(25)

“I have the best and coolest roommate ever, that is all. See you back in our room,” Tavvy tells me before letting go as I laugh and then spot Ella not far behind her as she walks past Tavvy to get to me.

“I have to admit, I am impressed,” Ella tells me, yawning, “even if I don’t like you, new girl.”

“It kinda seems like you like me, Ella,” I say, and she only laughs as I walk to Tobias and through the door he holds open. I enter a small room, with two cabinets and a medical bed pushed against the white walls.

“Sit on the bed,” he demands.

“Yes, sir,” I jokingly reply, and he shakes his head at me as I walk in and sit on the edge of the bed. My cheek does ache, now the buzz of the action in there has worn off. I no doubt will be left with bruises after all of this. I watch Tobias as he opens the cupboards and pulls out a green, small box before closing the doors and coming over to me. Tobias moves right in front of me, so my knees press against his thighs as he focuses on opening the tin. When he opens it, there is light blue shiny gel inside, and Tobias rubs some onto one of his fingers before reaching to spread it on my cheek no doubt, but I back away.

“I can put whatever that is on myself,” I suggest. “I don’t need your help or pity, Tobias. You’ve made it clear I mean nothing to you despite our past.” My harsh words make him look up and meet my eyes, showing me some of the guilt I can see hidden in them.

“Just let me, Sleepy,” he asks carefully, still keeping his eyes locked with mine. I find myself nodding in agreement, holding my breath as he gently rubs the gel into my sore cheek.

“Why didn’t you come and see me?” I gently ask him, wanting to know. “Did you never think of me at all? I thought about you a lot, and even though you were so angry when I saw you first, I was happy to see you.” My whole body lightly shakes from admitting any kind of feelings to a guy who doesn’t seem to even care about me at all.

“You don’t need to be nervous around me. I make everyone nervous,” he replies, the movement of fingers on my cheek is so relaxing I could almost close my eyes if I didn’t want to keep them on Tobias as I try to understand him.

“I’m not nervous around you, Tobias,” I reply truthfully. “Why would you think that?”

“Everyone is,” he replies. “You should be.”

“I’m not everyone. I never was to you and the others. Or have things changed that much?” I ask, my heart beating in my chest at even saying it out loud. I almost feel like I don’t know this Tobias at all. That I don’t know the Tale brothers like I thought I did, because they have changed so much.

“You’ve changed, Madi. We’ve changed, but I thought after you saw how I was on your first day that you wouldn’t want to know me,” he admits. “I was angry at Noah over something, and you got in the way.”

“Everyone gets angry, even me. I was angry at you once, remember? I threw my shoe at you, but you were still my friend,” I reply, and he smirks at me for a second. “What happened with you two?” I ask quietly.

“Noah is a tool who thinks he knows everything. Simple as that,” Tobias says, making me laugh, and even serious boy’s lips turn up a little at the edges.

“I’m sure it is more than that,” I say and flinch as Tobias’s finger goes over my cheekbone where it is sorer. “Noah said you have been getting into things that aren’t good for you.”

“Noah still tells you everything, huh?”

“Not exactly. He didn’t tell me what you are doing like I wanted,” I reply, flinching again as he runs a finger over another sore point of my cheek. Tobias grumbles something and moves his hand away.

“I can help with the pain, soothe it for a little bit, but you have to stay still. No talking,” he warns me.

“Yes, sir,” I reply, and he shakes his head but with a smile this time.

“Don’t call me that, and stop being a cheeky little madam. Now hold still,” he says and places his whole hand against my cheek. It hurts for a second before I feel a coolness spreading from Tobias’s hand, making any pain fade away.

“The healing gel will kick in soon, but I can take away the pain for now,” he tells me, and I automatically go to reply when he places a finger against my lip. “Shh, remember.” I don’t say anything or move at all as Tobias runs a finger across my bottom lip before moving his hand away suddenly. The door opens to the room, and Oisin walks in, staring at us both.

“I was going to see if you need any help, but clearly you are busy,” he says and walks out before either of us can say a word.

“Oisin was always the jealous type. Everything from toys to food, he would never share. Yet the fact he didn’t punch the shit out of me for being this close to you means he might have finally learned how to share for the right person. Funny that.”





Chapter 15





“You can’t wear that to the party tonight,” Tavvy protests as I pull my hoodie over my leggings and shrug at her as she stares at me with her hands on her hips, a disgusted expression on her face.

“Why not?” I ask. This is what I would wear to parties back home. I don’t think I even have a dress in my stuff I brought from home anyway. Tavvy tuts as I look at her green dress that compliments her blonde curly hair up in a messy bun and the light make-up she has put on. I’ve been too busy reading all the books the teachers have given me this week to even notice how Tavvy started getting ready the moment we came back from lunch. On Saturdays, thankfully, there are no classes, and we can do what we like. Tobias actually spoke to me at breakfast today with Oisin and Noah, but I haven’t seen Knox at all, which is odd. I don’t know if he is still mad at me for putting him to sleep. Everyone else seems to think I’m the coolest thing since sliced bread, and I don’t know how to feel about that. I usually like to stay in the shadows rather than the spotlight, like at the moment, though I’m happy I won the prize, which turned out that the best one on offer was a phone call to my parents tomorrow.