Chapter 77

Ruby

Atwood’s words stick with me for the next few days.

“I’m going to marry you first,” he had said.

Before, when I had first been whisked away to the castle, the thought of marrying Atwood practically made me sick. Now, it only makes me excited.

I don’t see Atwood much over the week, partly because I’m too busy with my midterm exams but also partly because he’s busy working to protect the hybrid villages and preparing a memorial for my village. I appreciate that he’s communicating with me on the matter; feeling connected to his work also makes me feel connected to him.

It’s Friday now, and I’ve just completed my last midterm exam. Just one more semester and I will be finished with school entirely. I wonder if Atwood plans on marrying me once I’ve graduated.

Once I’ve finished my exam, I hand it to the professor and head out of the classroom to go gather my things.

Nancy is waiting for me at our lockers. She’s been living at home again this week since her parents have returned, but we still make time to hang out after school.

“How do you think you did on the exam?” she asks, biting her lip and clutching her bag to her chest. “I feel like I didn’t do so well.”

I shrug. “I did alright, I think. The last question was hard, though.”

I open my locker and take out my coat and scarf. There’s no need for any of my school supplies, since we have a month off of school now due to the holidays.

“Sooo,” Nancy says, rocking back and forth from her toes to her heels, “there’s kinda sorta supposed to be a party tonight in the basement of the old warehouse near Greenwood. Wanna go?”

The thought of a party sounds fun, but I’m not sure if Atwood will approve of me going with everything that’s going on. Since there has been so much snow lately and it’s been so cold out, the Bears are far more powerful right now. The Lycans are also weaker during this season, so we stand less of a chance against the Bears, who may use it to their advantage and be more likely to attack.

“I dunno,” I respond as I shut my locker. “I’m not sure if Atwood will let me. But I’ll ask.”

Nancy squeals with excitement. “Okay,” she says, “it starts at eight o’clock tonight, so I’ll pick you up around seven-thirty. If you come, wear something cute, okay?”

“Alright,” I say with a smile. I hope that Atwood says yes. Seeing Nancy’s excitement also makes me excited to go.

Nancy grins and skips away, turning toward me one last time before she leaves to motion with her hands for me to text her.

I didn’t know this, but Atwood heard about my phone breaking. That day that he took me to Greenwood and we split up, one of the things that he bought was a new phone. He gave it to me earlier this week, so I can contact people again.

Atwood personally comes to pick me up -- he’s been driving me to and from school this week now that our relationship is out in the open -- and smiles at me as I get in the car.

“Did you do well on your exam?” he asks as he pulls out of the parking lot.

I nod. “I think so,” I say.

Atwood smiles and puts his hand on my leg while he drives. It always makes my heart flutter when he does that. Seeing him drive with one hand makes my panties a little wet, too.

“Actually,” I say, feeling more brave with questions like this lately, “I wanted to ask you something.”

“Sure,” he replies. “Ask away.”

“Nancy told me that there’s supposed to be an end-of-semester party tonight. Is it alright if I go?”

Atwood is silent for a few moments as he watches the road ahead. He speeds up a little on a stretch of back road, revving the car engine. I’m not sure if he’s doing it just for fun or if he’s a little annoyed with me.

Finally, he answers me. “I’d love to say yes, but it’s really just too dangerous right now,” he says.

My heart sinks a little. I figured that he would say no, but I was also really hoping that he would say yes.

“I know you really want to go,” he says. “You can go to the next one, when it’s a little safer.”

We spend the rest of the car ride in silence, and when we get back to the castle I feel too disappointed to socialize any longer.

“I’m really tired from all of my exams,” I say as we enter the foyer. “I think I’m just going to go to bed.”

Atwood nods and lets me go with a kiss on the top of my head. I head up the stairs and go to my room, flopping down on my bed with a sigh.

There’s already a text from Nancy on my phone.

“Well?” it reads. “Did he say yes?”

“No,” I answer. “He said it’s too dangerous.”

After a few moments, Nancy texts back.

“Aw, come on! It’s super safe there. Earl and the other student council members even hired security guards, and it’s underground so it’s not like anyone will even know that we’re there!”

I don’t reply right away and shut off my phone, staring at the ceiling for a while.

Nancy is telling the truth… It’s probably not as dangerous as Atwood thinks, and we can always just run away if things start to get bad. Besides, I’ll only be a high school student for so much longer. I’d like to enjoy myself before I truly have to be a princess.

Biting my lip, I pull my phone out again and tap out a response.

“I’m gonna sneak out,” I type. “Pick me up a little ways down the road, at the intersection.”

“Yayy!!” Nancy replies almost instantly.

After reading Nancy’s reply, I jump out of bed and start getting ready. I still have a couple of hours, so I spend that time showering, drying and styling my hair, putting on makeup, and picking out an outfit. I decide to go with a pleated skirt, boots, and a sweater.

Once I’m dressed and happy with my appearance in the mirror, I quietly crack open my door to check if the coast is clear.

The hallways are quiet, which makes it easy for me to slip out and sneak outside through the garage.

Pretty soon, I’m at the meeting spot.

Nancy pulls up in a pink sports car and rolls down the window. My jaw practically drops at the sight of her car.

“Well?” she says with a grin. “Like it? My parents gave it to me as a ‘sorry-we-left-you-alone-during-the-most-dangerous-time-ever gift. Hop in!”

I clamber in on the passenger side. The interior is entirely cream-colored leather. There is a fuzzy pink wrap on the steering wheel and two pink dice hanging from the rear view mirror.

Nancy takes off before I even have a chance to buckle my seatbelt. She cranks up her music really loud, and soon all my nerves have dissipated as we speed down the road singing to pop songs.

When we arrive at the warehouse, however, I realize something.

This is the same location as my vision.

It’s where Earl is going to assault Beck.