Ever After (East Raven Academy Book 1)(14)

He’s annoyed that I’m sitting down.

“I do,” I say, between breaths. “I just didn’t play all summer. It’s not my fault you’re making me run a mile. I’m not a runner.”

“Well, you are now,” he says.

I roll my eyes.

Seriously, this is torture.

And I swear Uncle Matty enjoys every second of it.

“Get up,” Uncle Matty says.

“I can’t,” I say. “My legs are noodles.”

Uncle Matty looks at Jake, who is standing beside him.

“The sooner you get up, the sooner you can go back to doing whatever it is you were going to do today,” Jake says.

This causes me to stand up.

“If you want to train me, fine,” I say. “But remember that I am sixteen. And this is hard. I also have soccer tryouts on Tuesday and I need to be able to use my legs if I’m going to make the team.”

“Fine. No more running until you get used to soccer,” Jake says.

Uncle Matty grunts.

He’s obviously unhappy with Jake’s decision.

“But you have to learn self-defense,” he says.

“I thought it was your job to defend me,” I say.

“We can’t always be there,” Uncle Matty says. “I mean, we could. But that would require us to follow you around the school. All day. Every day. We’d be there twenty-four seven. When you’re hanging out with friends. When you hang out with boys...”

“Okay, okay,” I say. “I get it. I have to learn how to fight. Whatever. I’ll learn. Just try not to kill me, please.”





An hour later, I am lying on the floor, looking at the light at the ceiling. Every time I blink, I see a black spot where the light is, but I’m too tired to look away.

A figure comes and stands in the way of the light.

“You did good, kid,” Jake tells me.

Uncle Matty has already left.

“I don’t think Uncle Matty likes me,” I say.

“Don’t take it personally,” Jake says. “He likes you, he’s just tough. He wants to make sure you’re safe.”

“I know,” I say, sitting up as Jake sits beside me on the floor. “This is just all so hard.”

Almost getting kidnapped.

Leaving my family.

Coming to boarding school on the other side of the country.

Lying to everybody about who I am.

“You’re the same age as his kids,” Jake says. “I think when he looks at you, he sees them. You’re in an impossible situation, and he’s super protective of you. He wants you to be safe.”

Aw.

Okay, maybe Uncle Matty isn’t so bad.

“I can’t imagine what your parents must be feeling. If anybody ever tried to hurt my baby girl, I’d kill them,” he says.

“I’m sorry you have to be away from her,” I tell him.

“I’ll see her soon,” Jake says. “I Skype with her and my wife every night.”

“Yeah, but seeing them through a screen isn’t the same,” I say.

“I know. But unlike you, I am allowed to leave campus. I’m going to see them every other weekend,” he tells me.

Still.

Only seeing your wife and child every other weekend has got to suck.

“Still, I am sorry,” I say.

“Don’t be. This is my job. This is how my wife and daughter can afford to eat and the reason they have a place to live,” Jake says. “This job won’t last forever.”

“I certainly hope not,” I say.

Because, seriously.

Jake pushes himself up from the floor and holds out a hand to help me up. I accept it, because I’m pretty sure I couldn’t get off the floor now if I tried.

“You got this, Phoenix,” he tells me. “Go hang out with your friends and have fun.”

“I’ll try,” I say.

Because, really, I will.

I just wish I didn’t have to try so hard.





11pm.





East vs. West.





Late that night, Teagan and I walk down to the docks to hang out. I promised Estaine that I’d be there, plus I kind of want to go. I want to see where everybody hangs out and I want to make friends.

Estaine isn’t here yet, so I sit down at the bonfire while Teagan runs off to go talk to some of her friends. I’m thankful for the moment of solitude. I sit close to the small bonfire, wondering how they don’t get caught. Doesn’t security see the smoke? Or do they just not care that we all go off to hang out after curfew? Or maybe they don’t see it. Behind us are lots of trees, and beyond the lake there are more houses. Maybe they think the smoke is coming from one of the houses.

I look across the fire, and I see a guy I don’t recognize. Teagan is pretty popular and I thought she had introduced me to nearly everybody here. I’d like to say that maybe I don’t remember him, but he’s not the kind of guy a girl would forget seeing. He’s standing by another guy I don’t recognize. He locks eyes with me from across the fire, making my heart jump.

Crap.

He totally saw me staring.

I glance away, hoping I don’t look like a creeper.