I don't own Night World. I'll be late updating next week; I'll update either Wednesday or Thursday.

Chapter 10

I'm a lot happier by the end of the practice, and I feel easier the next morning. I'll treat Blackthorn as I did before all this drama, and if he makes another move on me, I'll call the police. It is, after all, illegal.

I don't have English until last period, and as I don't see him for the entire day until then, it builds up, almost like a pressure cooker. Because of this, I am just the tiniest bit hyper, which is sometimes quite embarrassing. And there's no way that I can force myself to calm down. So I am really quite chatty to Julia (she seems rather taken-aback), and I also feel Blackthorn looking at me sometimes. That's probably because of the rather manic laughing, though.

But like before, he shoots out of the door as if the classroom is on fire, and my hyper mood quickly abates, instead leaving me tired and very glad that I have nothing to do tonight. I even call mum to pick me up, which is a very rare occurrence. She seems to realise that I am a bit out-of-sorts and lets me go to my room in peace.

Well, more like in pieces, because as soon as I get there I bury my face in my pillow and scream, hoping that my parents don't hear me.

After a couple of hours of wallowing in self-pity and gazing up at the ceiling whilst hugging a pillow, my phone rings. I pick it up without looking at the caller ID and just say, "What?"

"Wow. Are you alright?"

Oh, Raven. I rub the back of my neck as I sit up. "Hey, Raven. What's up?"

"Umm... well, I... I'm just going to go right into it."

"Okay..." I say warily.

"I know you don't like giving people advice, but I felt like you were the only person I could turn to." She takes a deep breath. "Do you think I made the right decision? I mean, breaking up with Val."

I hug the pillow closer to me and sigh. "I'm going to tell you one thing. You know after a gig, when Val usually hollers and acts like a madman?"

Raven chuckles. "Yes. I know."

"Well, he didn't do that last Saturday."

There's a pause. "He didn't?" she finally answers, her voice coloured with longing.

"No."

I hear a sigh. "Well... I'll still have to think, but... I think you're right. Just give me some time. Anyway, what's wrong with you?"

"Nothing."

"You don't usually answer the phone like that."

"Just tired."

"Oh. Okay. Well, I'll go then. And you sleep! You don't have band practice tonight, do you?"

"No."

"Okay. Then sleep. Night night," she says with a laugh.

I answer with, "sleep tight, don't let the bedbugs bite, but if they do use dynamite, or maybe kryptonite, then ball them up tight, and send them flying into the night." What? It's cute when a six-year-old says it.

She laughs again. "Oh, we were strange kids," she says before hanging up.

I feel a little better after having helped Raven, so I go downstairs to do some piano; which makes me feel even better. I'm almost relaxed as I go to bed as I don't have English on Wednesdays.

And the next day is easy. The Music assessment goes perfectly, and though the examiners are not supposed to reveal anything, I notice they have barely-discernible smiles (although I hope they're not laughing at me), and band practice that night is the easiest in quite a while. We have a gig coming up a week Saturday, so get right back down to business to practice a few songs, and I even write some lyrics to one (it's about Blackthorn, but nobody needs to know that) and I almost forget when I've woken up that I have English on Thursdays. And not to mention the tutoring on Fridays.

If that's still on. But surely he would tell me?

I ask him on Friday. He meets my gaze quickly, then flits away, says 'yes' in a low voice, and slams my book slightly harder than necessary on my desk, which causes me to jump. My dad gives me a lift again, and I'm shifting uncomfortably as I wait for him to answer. He greets me, quite cordially, but won't meet my gaze so I stalk in, pushing him out of the way slightly. "Jez!" he says in shock.

I turn to glare at him as he closes the door. "Oh, I'm sorry," I say sarcastically. "Was that rude?"

I don't let him answer, but instead go right into the library and sit at the desk. It takes him a couple of seconds to follow me, and his eyes are wary. "I don't expect you to forgive me..."

"I sure as hell won't."

"I had no other choice, Jez!" His eye colour changes to silver, so abruptly that I can't answer. What? It's a bit disorienting when someone's eye colour changes. I'd never seen anything like it before. "Do you have any idea what they would do to me if anyone found out?" I still can't bring myself to answer. He's even more beautiful when he's angry. "Or to you? I know you choose not to have friends, but people don't bully you, do they?"

I don't answer.

"And if they find out, they will. I promise you that."

"And if you ignore me, it brings more attention to us! Treat me like you always have. Don't ignore me. Or at least give me a heads-up."

His eyes are back to green now and he sits down next to me. "I know. I'm messing this up. I don't know what to do."

"Join the club."

He watches me for a minute. "Shall we get started?" he finally says, his tone much calmer.

We do. And it's actually quite fun. He gives me back the essays I've written and tells me how to make them better (I don't actually listen to him, but oh well).

"What did I just say, Jez?"

Dammit. I suppose it doesn't work unless you're in a classroom. He just stares at me, until I look away and duck my head so that my hair forms a blanket between us.

But he pushes my hair back and takes hold of my chin so that I have to meet his eyes. His hand lingers against my neck longer than necessary. "What exactly do I have to do to make you pay attention to me?" he says softly. I smile slightly as he touches my bottom lip with his thumb.

"I'm paying attention to you," I say, surprising myself (and, by his expression, him also) at how flirtatious I sound. "Just not the work."

I had no idea why it always came to this, us only seconds from kissing, even after all the trouble it's caused. I suppose we can't help it, now that we know what it's like. And dad won't pick me up for about a half-hour, so we really will be uninterrupted.

It's strange that I'm thinking that when my phone rings. I grin when he sighs and turn away to pick it up, although I'm not sure how calm my voice will be when, at this precise moment, he is kissing down my neck instead.

"Hello?" I say experimentally. Thankfully, my voice is normal.

"Hey Jez. It's Raven."

"Oh. Hi."

"I just wanted to say that I took your advice and talked to Val."

"Oh?" It's all I trust myself to say without my voice cracking.

"Yeah... and we're back on," she says.

"Really? That's great!"

"Yeah," she sighs, her voice wistful. "So what are you up to?"

Definitely not making out with my English teacher. "I'm having an English lesson."

"Oh! I'm sorry. I'll go now. See you on Monday?"

"Yep."

She hangs up.

"Is that what they call it now?" Blackthorn says.

"Umm... sir..."

"I think you can call me Morgead now. When we're alone, at least..."

I bite my lip as he kisses my shoulder. "Morgead, stop," I say.

He sits up immediately, his eyes apologetic. "I'm sorry. I'm moving too fast, aren't I?"

I can't help but laugh at him. "It's not that. It's just... I don't want to fail this exam."

He sighs. "Well, it's depressing when you're the mature one. I just want to say, 'screw the exam'... But that wouldn't be right. Okay, from now on, exams come first." He takes a deep breath and pushes the essays back to me. "So... what did I say about this one?"

"What?"

"You weren't listening, were you?"

"No."

He shoots me a disparaging look before going over it again.

And it's only when we're half-way through the essay that something hits me. "Wait, what about Ella?"

He pulls a face and looks away. "I broke up with her last Saturday. It wasn't fair to be with her when I was thinking about you all the time."

"Oh. I'm... sorry," I say, feeling kind of awkward as to what I'm supposed to say. He smirks.

"That's a first. You're sorry that I broke up with Ella?"

"Well... I'm sorry I made it necessary."

He grins and leans closer to me, but I hold my ground. "Well, that you did. I completely blame you, Jez." He's so close now, and my eyes are fluttering shut as my breath quickens.

And my phone goes off again.

I laugh at his expression before picking it up and checking. Obviously it's dad, waiting for me.

"Your father," he says, ducking his head and frowning. I squeeze his hand as I put the phone in my pocket and picking up my things. He stays sitting, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'll walk you out," he says in a disgruntled tone. "But... we do need to talk. About us. Would you be able to come here on Sunday?"

"Sure. I think that'll help. At least."

He does try to steal a kiss just before I open the door, but I duck out of the way before winking at him and leaving (in full view of dad). What? I'm having fun here.

And it isn't until I'm home, still feeling like I'm floating in a happy cloud that the storm comes, and I remember.

"Oh dammit... Hugh."