Delcan looked up, and when he realized the call had ended, he sighed angrily. “Why do I even try?” he asked himself.
He would be the only one who’d give the brutal truth. “What happened, Delcan?”
“She said things that were out of line so I yelled at her for it,” he looked at me to make sure I was listening. “Yes, I did slap her. And no, I don’t feel bad for it at all. She was trying to blackmail you, and use Evvie and me to let her ship sail.”
Delcan stopped for a minute, and I looked at him. “What is it?”
“I just felt like putting her in her place,” Delcan said, shrugging. He changed the subject in a matter of seconds. “Is Evvie...okay?”
Like I would know.
“Yes,” I said. It was a lie, but it was all I had. “Was she in pain?”
Delcan smiled. I wondered what would’ve happened if my parents realized the effect of his beautiful smile on me. How I acted like a teenage girl in a Netflix romance when he smiled. All he had to do was look at me in a certain way, and I was melting. It made me feel idiotic, actually. And I’m sure he knows it.
“Extreme pain,” he said.
I resisted smiling. “I hope Evvie is alright.”
“You told me she was.”
“I don’t even know what Haven is talking about,” I admitted. “Sh-she moved with her dad to Alaska towards the end of 8th grade, though in 9th grade we were still friends. She never talked to me over summer, but what Haven said makes no sense.”
Delcan searched my face as if my eyes would have the answer. “I don’t know,” he muttered. “I mean, she probably had some type of reason.”
I’d always wanted Evvie and me to stay close. Maybe I like being around people Dad doesn’t like, but they actually become good friendships (or relationships, for Delcan’s matter). Evvie had never been one to hide too much, though I began to wonder what type of effect this will have. I just don’t know.
Delcan’s work. “You like deals, right?” I asked him. Delcan raised his eyebrows.
“Depends on what I get out of it.”
I continued talking. “If you get an 89 or higher on a test-”
“Any test or just one class-”
“Let me talk,” I told him. He rolled his eyes. “If you get an 89 or higher on any tests, I’ll....kiss you.”
There was silence. Delcan looked down at his ring, twisting it around his finger. “You kiss me all the time,” he muttered.
“That’s all I have,” I said.
Delcan’s eyes met mine, and I immediately knew he had already thought out what his prize would be. “How about this,” he said. His eyes were amber, and I could only assume he was intrigued. “When I get a good grade on a test, you have to do whatever I ask for an hour straight.”
I hesitated before responding. “Don’t make me do anything stupid,” I told him.
He smiled, like a fox. “Clearly, you don’t know me enough,” he challenged. You put this on yourself, my brain told me.
“Alright,” I said.
Delcan laid his head on my pillow. “Knew you’d agree,” he said to himself.
I turned to look at him. “And what is that supposed to mean?” I asked. Delcan sat up, his eyes green.
“Nothing,” he said.
I’m ignoring that.
My siblings still didn’t seem to worry about checking on me. This was probably the first time in my entire life either Emmanuel or Evelyn didn’t want to be a part of conversations that were pretty meaningless. I’m taking advantage of this. “You know,” I told Delcan. “While we’re still alone. One kiss couldn’t...hurt.”
Delcan’s eyes met mine. “That’s really smooth,” he said sarcastically. My skin felt like fireworks and the blood rushed to my cheeks, but Delcan kissed me anyways.
ns 15.158.11.143da2
