dorm rooms, to piss off our controlling parents and grumpy headmaster by getting the hell out of this damn school. Both of us turned eighteen this year, which meant that the only thing holding us here was a diploma. We tested out of the easy courses and aced final exams. Even though I knew nothing awaited me after this, I still wanted Reed to get out of this hellhole where he was bullied daily and criticized for who he was at his core.
I guess, in many ways, we connected because we were both hated and ostracized for who we were, and we bonded because of our desire to get the fuck away.
“My first tattoo is going to be Molly in script over my heart. I wanna always remember where I came from. That poor girl survived a lot,” Reed replied while staring at the joint in his hand, rolling it between his fingers as smoke circled his wrist.
I smiled with understanding. Reed wasn’t the sort to shy away from the shit that bothered him. He wore it proudly on his chest, like armor.
I brushed my fingers over my amber amulet adorned in a silver cage. Closing my eyes, I tried to picture the future Reed painted while remembering why it wasn’t possible for me to escape. I was a Void. I was deadly to supernaturals and hated for it. My necklace was a reminder of everything I was capable of but also the only thing keeping me safe.
“I think that’ll be great. But you might have to explain it to future girlfriends. Girls get jealous when they think their boyfriend is holding a torch for an ex.”
Reed snorted and took another slow drag of his joint, holding it in his chest for as long as he could before coughing it out. I looked around the safety of our attic space. We’d hidden here so many times over the years. I’d been shipped off here when I was ten, and Reed came just a year later. I’d had zero friends. The girls had made fun of me when I woke up one night after a nightmare and started talking about magic. Reed had been instantly ostracized too for having a “boy” haircut and walking to his own beat. This attic space was our sanctuary from all the judgmental bullshit, and I’d be sad to see it go, but more importantly, I was sad to see Reed go. I took in the dust covering the floor and the tacked posters on the wall. I’d miss this—hanging out, just the two of us. Reed might not know anything about the existence of supernaturals, but he knew me without just seeing the Void, and that meant more to me than anything.
“I hope any girlfriends I have would know about Molly long before seeing the tattoo,” he replied.
I always liked how he referred to his alternate ego like she was a separate entity, similar to how I felt about my power—the Void. It was a part of me but still autonomous from me. It was deadly and dangerous. I’d always considered myself a pacifist, but the supernatural community saw differently.
I leaned forward and kicked his boot before snatching the joint from his hands. “To Molly,” I said with a half grin before taking another worthless drag. The smoke filled my lungs and then disappeared up against rafters.
Handing it back, Reed replied with enthusiasm before inhaling. “To Molly!”
The trap door opened as we laughed, and brunette hair appeared, ruining the camaraderie of the moment. A frowning face popped up, and I watched in amusement as Poppy Rhodes’ nose wrinkled in disgust at the smell. Reed scowled the moment Poppy situated herself on the platform near the stairs. She was in uniform—she was always in uniform. The white button up top was fastened all the way to her chin, and the pleated, plaid skirt hit her knee. I bet she slept in the damn school’s attire, all the way down to our standardized knee highs.
“Headmistress is looking for you, Devicka,” she said while looking at me and avoiding Reed’s gaze. It was awkward, to say the least. They’d had a hot moment in the girl’s bathroom three months ago and had been avoiding each other ever since. Poppy was controlled by...well, control. She didn’t like outlying variables. She liked everything just so. She liked following a plan. And being attracted to Reed was something she wasn’t quite sure how to cope with.