"How long are we going to be stuck here?" Indianna wondered, looking up at Greyson, who shrugged.
"Your guess is as good as mine."
"It's been two hours," she muttered and pulled at her hair in frustration. "I—oh... Uh-oh."
"Sugar, are you all right? You look like you're going to be—"
"Sick."
Indianna scrambled up from the floor and rushed into the girls' bathroom, which was only a few metres down the hall. She stumbled into a stall and fell to her knees as she retched and vomited into the toilet bowl.
"Indianna?"
Greyson's footsteps neared the stall she was in.
"Go away," she groaned and gagged.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Don't come in!"
Indianna was sick again, and Greyson pushed open the door to the stall.
"Clearly," he said, and she felt his warm fingers graze her neck as he lifted her hair from her face.
"Greyson, please, I don't want you seeing me like this," Indianna complained.
"Deal with it, sugar."
Indianna vomited once more before falling back onto her heels and taking a deep breath.
"Oh my God," she grumbled and gratefully accepted the tissue from Greyson.
"Thank you," she muttered and wiped her mouth.
"Are you done?"
"I hope so."
"Come on, up you get."
Greyson reached out and helped Indianna up from the floor, holding her tightly to him.
"You're definitely going to need food after you've just brought all that up."
"God, just the thought is making me nauseous."
Indianna shuddered and washed her mouth out at the sink, groaning.
"I just want to go to sleep. I feel like death."
"Let's go back into the hall, and you can sit down."
Indianna didn't complain as they returned to the hall and sat down. She closed her eyes and felt sleep taking over immediately. She ended up sleeping soundly on Greyson's shoulder.
Greyson looked up when he heard footsteps approaching him and Indianna.
"Greyson."
"Hello, Brooklyn."
"Greyson, she's ill, isn't she?"
"Yes."
"Is it...?"
"Yes."
"Is she...?"
Greyson paused. "Yes."
"But she doesn't know?"
"No."
"Why aren't you telling her—"
"Don't say anything. She's waking up."
Indianna stirred, and her eyes fluttered open. She yawned and narrowed her eyes when she realised she was leaning on Greyson's shoulder.
She quickly sat up and looked at Brooklyn, who was sitting opposite them.
"Hi, Indianna. Are you feeling any better?" Brooklyn asked, her voice gentle.
Indianna shrugged in response.
"Not really," she mumbled and looked at the time on her phone. Two hours had passed while she was asleep. "Is the storm still going on?"
"Yeah," Brooklyn nodded and shifted uncomfortably when there was a crash of thunder. "But I heard the teachers saying that it should be over soon, thank God. I hate storms."
"Good," Indianna said, and she frowned when Greyson stared at Brooklyn with a knowing expression.
Brooklyn's eyes flickered to him, and she quickly looked away.
"Can I get you anything, Indianna?"
"Actually, yes, you can."
"Of course. What would you like?"
"Answers."
Indianna looked at Brooklyn, who paled, then at Greyson, who rolled his eyes.
"I heard you two talking. You both know something about me that I don't. I'm pretty sure all your friends do too. So, tell me."
"Indianna, this is getting very repetitive," Greyson sighed. "I'm not telling you anything. Neither is Brooklyn."
"I would if I could," Brooklyn said, giving Greyson a look. "But I wouldn't be able to get two words out before Greyson stopped me."
"That," Greyson nodded, "is correct."
Indianna narrowed her eyes at Greyson.
"How far does your authority spread?" she asked. "You seem to have everyone under your thumb. Will no one go against you?"
"You will."
"But it's not helping me at all," Indianna muttered and pushed herself off the floor. "I'm going."
"Where?"
"Away from you," she said honestly and threw his jacket at him. "Just leave me alone."
"Sugar—"
Indianna grabbed her bag from the floor, glaring at him angrily.
"I've told you not to call me that!"
"Stop."
"No, you stop!"
Greyson caught Indianna's wrist, holding her still.
"Just because you're not near me doesn't mean I can't talk to you," he said quietly.
You can't get away from me.
"Greyson!" she exclaimed and closed her eyes in frustration. "Please," she whispered. "I've had enough of you! Just give me some fucking peace!"
Greyson narrowed his eyes at Indianna, but after a few moments, he released her arm and let her walk away from him.
Brooklyn, who had witnessed the exchange, sighed.
"She needs to know the truth."
"Leave it, Brooklyn," Greyson snapped.
"Why? Why won't you tell her?"
"The time isn't right."
"Greyson, if you wait for the right time, then it's going to be too late. She's going to hate you."
"What is this place, your safe haven?"
Indianna looked up from her book when Cassie sat next to her.
"You're in here a lot."
"I guess it's something like that," Indianna mumbled and looked around the library. She liked it. She liked the peace.
"What are you reading?"
Indianna held up her book, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Cassie scrunched her nose up disapprovingly.
"Oh God, I hate that book. It's so boring!"
"I quite like it. I like the way it's written from Scout's point of view. Everything is so simple from a child's perspective."
"Boring."
Dread filled Indianna when Greyson sat down opposite her and Cassie. He linked his fingers together on the table and leaned forward, looking directly at Cassie.
He smiled, but Indianna could tell it wasn't genuine.
"It's Cassie, isn't it?"
Cassie blinked, staring at Greyson in shock. She moved her head ever so slightly, attempting to nod.
"Wonderful. Now fuck off."
"Greyson!" Indianna gasped. "You can't say that! Cassie, I'm sorry—"
"Leave," Greyson interrupted Indianna. "Now."
Cassie didn't need to be told twice. She disappeared in a blink of an eye, not wanting to anger Greyson.
"Oh my God," Indianna groaned, covering her face with her hands. "What is wrong with you? I told you to leave me alone."
"I don't do what I'm told, sugar."
"Why are you doing this, Greyson?" Indianna asked. "It's exhausting. Why are you interested in me? I'm nothing special."
Greyson gently pulled Indianna's hands away from her face and placed his fingers under her chin, tilting her head to look at him.
"That's exactly why I'm interested in you. You have no idea just how special you are, sugar."
"Can you ever give me a straight answer, or do you enjoy giving answers that create more questions?" Indianna asked, pulling away from Greyson.
His touch made her mind feel dizzy. She couldn't think straight when all she could focus on was the feeling of his skin on hers.
Greyson smiled.
"I'm not leaving, so we may as well talk."
Indianna closed her eyes, refusing to talk to him. She didn't want to have a conversation with Greyson unless he was providing her with answers.
"Sugar, talk to me. It's rude."
Indianna looked at Greyson and arched an eyebrow at him. He gritted his teeth and shook his head, a small chuckle escaping his lips.
"We've already established that I'm not a patient man."
Indianna stayed silent.
You can't ignore me, sugar.
"ALL STUDENTS MAY LEAVE THE SCHOOL PREMISES. THE STORM HAS NOW ENDED. ALL STUDENTS MAY GO HOME. I REPEAT, ALL STUDENTS MAY VACATE THE PREMISES. THANK YOU."
The loud announcement over the school speakers made Indianna jump from shock and relief, and she scrambled up from the desk, grabbing her bag and walking out of the library, away from Greyson.
She followed the rush of students down the stairs and out into the school car park. She had to jump over a fallen tree to get out of the gate, and as she set off towards home, it started to rain.
Indianna sighed and dug her hands into her pockets. She'd rather deal with the rain than call her mother to pick her up.
She kept her head down as she walked, so she didn't see the car pull up beside her, but she heard the familiar voice.
"Get in."
Indianna stopped in her tracks and turned to Greyson, who was sitting in the car parked beside her on the road.
She rolled her eyes and continued walking.
"It's raining, and you're ill! You're going to feel even worse if you walk home in the rain."
"I'm fine!"
Sugar, I'm trying to be nice.
I wasn't aware you were capable of being nice.
Funny, he muttered.
"Indianna, get in the goddamn car."
Greyson suddenly manoeuvred the car so it was across the pavement, blocking Indianna's path.
"Now. Please?"
Indianna wasn't even surprised by Greyson's actions. She looked up at the sky as the rain started to get heavier and then back at Greyson, who clearly wasn't going to give up.
She pursed her lips and glared at him, but sighed and walked around the car and got into the passenger seat, slamming the door behind her.
"I'll pretend you didn't do that," Greyson muttered.
He waited for Indianna to put her seatbelt on before reversing off the pavement and driving down the road.
Indianna didn't speak. She didn't want to be in the car with Greyson, but he had given her no choice. It didn't mean she had to talk to him.
"You're coming out with me tonight," Greyson said, breaking their silence.
Indianna didn't respond, and Greyson didn't move his eyes from the road.
"I can't guarantee it will be worth your while, sugar."
Indianna pursed her lips tightly.
"I'll be picking you up at seven."
Indianna whirled her head around.
"You will do no such thing."
"I will. Because if you come to dinner with me, then I promise you that I will answer some of your questions."
Greyson looked at Indianna, smirking at her expression. He could tell how badly she wanted to say no, but she desperately wanted answers.
She stared at Greyson, trying to work out if he was telling the truth or not.
"You promise me?"
Greyson smiled and stopped the car outside Indianna's house.
"Yes. I promise I will give you some answers tonight."
"Fine. I'll go."
"You didn't have a choice, but I'm glad I won't have to drag you out of your house later tonight."
Indianna glared at Greyson yet again and swung the car door open.
"Do I not get a thank you?" he called.
Indianna climbed out of the car and shut the door in Greyson's face.
"7 p.m.!" Greyson yelled through the open window. "I don't like to be kept waiting, sugar!"