23. Quinn

23

QUINN

" T he committee meeting will come to order." Penelope banged a gavel on the desk. Where she'd managed to get an actual gavel from, I had no idea, but she seemed to be overly enthusiastic about bashing it on the wooden surface. The members of the ball committee were seated in one of the classrooms, Penelope at the front as the head of the committee, and the rest of us spread out across several of the desks. Freya and Harriet occupied the desk to my right, and behind them were Katy and Will. The rest of the committee members were other A-level students who I knew but didn't particularly spend time with.

The door flew open with a crash, and Tristan strutted inside, throwing himself down into the seat next to me. He ignored Penelope's huff of annoyance at being interrupted, shooting her a wink as he rocked back in his chair.

"Your latest committee member, reporting for duty. Anyone want to catch me up on what I've missed?"

"What are you doing here?" Penelope's brows were raised. "I thought you said you didn't want to be involved with the organisation of the ball."

He sighed. "I don't, but Professor Donnelly made me. Said it was part of my head boy duties. So here I am, gracing you all with my presence."

Penelope nodded, accepting his words. "If that's all, let's get on with today's agenda. I thought we could have staff circulating with canapés through the evening…"

Tristan dipped his head to my ear. "I'm actually here because Roman's a paranoid bastard, and he wants me to keep an eye on you to make sure no one gives you any shit. He told me about the text you sent him about the hoodie, and I have my suspicions." His gaze slid to Freya and then back. "Doesn't really help with the rumours that things are going on between us, does it?"

"No, but I'm glad you're here," I said honestly. "I can't believe?—"

"Quinn." Penelope spoke loudly. Her brows pulled together, her expression instantly contrite. "Sorry, but this is important."

I nodded. "Of course. Sorry. I'm listening."

She smiled and continued her rundown of the plans, but my mind wandered. Would Freya really take the hoodie? I didn't think she was that petty. My roommates hadn't seen any sign of it, so it hadn't been accidentally tidied away. I couldn't shake the uneasy feeling inside me, sitting heavy in my stomach.

"This is fucking boring, isn't it?" Tristan whispered to me.

"Hmm." Tapping my pen against my lips, I pretended to think. "Maybe you should contribute to the discussion. Make some suggestions."

"Oh, I have suggestions." He smirked at me.

"Tristan. As you're the head boy, could you join me at the front?" Penelope said sharply, and I grimaced when I realised everyone was staring at us.

"I'd love to," he replied, drawing his chair back with a loud screech, and then sauntered up to the front of the classroom. "I have some ideas. Let's get into this ancient Greece theme. Dress the staff in togas. Our gods—of which I will be one—should receive crowns of laurel wreaths made from actual laurels, and each will be served by a harem of women."

"Absolutely no to a harem. Yes, to the togas, no to the laurel wreaths. My parents are contributing a generous amount towards the budget, and so I'd like us to have laurels of gold, as we usually do."

"I guess that works. What would you do without me?" Tristan winked at Penelope, and her cheeks flushed. It seemed that even the head girl wasn't immune to his charms. Clearing his throat loudly, he continued."I had an idea for the name. How about the Olympus ball? Like Mount Olympus, the home of the gods."

"I like that," Harriet spoke up, and I could see several other nodding heads. I had no preference either way, so I kept my mouth shut. As far as I knew, there had always been a gods-and-goddesses theme, so it made sense to name the ball after the mythical gathering place of the gods.

"I had a couple of names jotted down, but I like yours. Olympus it is," Penelope decided, shuffling through her huge binder and making a note.

The conversation turned to food and drink, with Tristan proclaiming that we needed to have a separate alcohol table for those of us who could legally drink, in order to keep it historically accurate. He and Penelope went back and forth for a while, but eventually, they got the food and drink options locked down. Most of the other details had already been worked out, so all that was left to do was to book a DJ and decorator for the main hall, where the ball would take place. Then we could officially kick off the gods-and-goddesses campaign, which I wasn't looking forward to. Having to try to get people to vote for me when I'd rather not be involved at all…

When the meeting was over, Tristan quickly disappeared, shooting me a quick grin as he left, and I slumped back in my seat, rubbing at my head. The room emptied out until only Penelope was left, and when she'd gathered all her things together, she came to stand in front of me.

"Quinn, are you okay? I can't help but feel as if you're putting too much pressure on yourself." She bit down on her lip. "I'm worried about you. Maybe it would be better if you took off some of the pressure."

"How?"

"Well, you're taking on all these extra-credit things. The history project, for one. It's not going to count towards your final grade, so why not drop it and ease up some of your time? Or…ugh, I can't even believe I'm saying this, because I selfishly want you up there with me, but what about not campaigning to be one of the Olympus ball goddesses? You don't have anything to prove to these people."

If only. But I'd made an agreement about the goddesses with Aria, and I wanted to do the project.

"I know I have nothing to prove. I…I'll be okay. Thanks, though. I really appreciate your friendship and your concern."

She gave me a soft smile. "If you're sure. But just consider it. I'll help out on your project; you know I will. We'll pool our resources, and that should help to ease some of your workload."

"Thanks. That sounds good."

"Okay." Shifting her heavy binder in her arms, she laughed. "Maybe not tonight, though. We've covered a lot today, and I don't think my brain can take any more. I need an early night, and so do you. I can see you haven't been sleeping properly."

"You're right." Rising to my feet, I followed her out of the classroom, and we made our way in the direction of the Epicurus common room and the dorms.

We parted ways when I reached my dorm, and I threw myself onto my bed, burying my face in my pillow with a groan.

The bed dipped. "That bad, huh? I know just what you need. How about a little late-night trip to the tower? I have it on good authority that a certain person might be there."

I twisted around until I could see Aria. "I was going to have an early night, but…"

"But nothing. Grace? Mira? Are you two in?"

"Nope. We'll amuse ourselves while you two are up in the tower," Samira said, and Gracelyn laughed.

"I'm sure we can find something to do."

"It's a deal." Aria climbed off my bed. "I'll get all the shit together. Quinn, if you want to nap or anything, I'll wake you when it's time to go."

"Mmm. Okay," I murmured, my eyes already closed. The bed was soft beneath me, and in no time at all, I was falling into blissful oblivion.