accelerando ; ivory series
Feb 1, 2024 1:33:49 GMT -5
Post by maverick hale 🌧️ d5 [nyte] on Feb 1, 2024 1:33:49 GMT -5
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"You should come out with me tonight, Ivory." Music Theory Major #4 says, chin resting in her upturned palm. I tell her that puppy dog pout is going to get stuck if she keeps it up. And when she laughs like it's a joke, I smile along. She's so easy to appease it's not too much trouble that she considers herself my friend.
"Can't, I've got practice." I mumble in between mouthfuls of tuna fish sandwich. It doesn't taste like anything, more like grinding up paste between my teeth. Can't remember the last time I enjoyed a meal. I wouldn't have bothered stopping by if Professor Rajan hadn't made meals 'mandatory' since my last 'incident'. Even if his bleeding heart lends to a weak bite, I'm not taking any chances at an empty threat tanking my grade.
"Oh, I don't know how you stand that awful woman." #4 babbles, pushing around a pile of mushy peas on her plate until they're little more than paste. My jaw tightens around the sudden tension in my tongue. I swallow my bite against a flood of nausea.
Fluorescent lights wash the both of us into ghosts, I don't miss the way her eyes linger on the bruises on the back of my hands. They look worse than they feel.
"Professor Simons is the greatest mind this academy has to offer." Is all I ever say when the topic comes up. #4's shoulders hunch, like she was expecting something different this time. A stupid kind of hopeful.
She picks at the chips in her nail polish, all cornflower blue this week. Soft colors suit her, everything about her is bathed in early spring. It's no wonder Choir Major #15 won't stop asking me for her number.
"Lotus and her lot are gonna be there." She tries.
"Who?"
She rolls her eyes, "Y'know, they’re in the fall production. Including Ruby."
"Oh, so the party's going to be extra annoying." I look at her, unblinking.
The staring contest stretches on for a while longer, until her gaze boils like burning caramel and she stands abruptly. "Fine. Ivory. Whatever." She picks up her tray, and holds out her hand for mine. The tuna sandwich sits unfinished, which I feel a little guilty about.
But I let her take it nonetheless.
"I've been trying very hard, you know." She's really upset about something. Which isn't my problem, but that furrow between her brows means she intends to make it so.
"That's uh. Really cool. Good for you." I try.
Which is not the right thing to say.
"Everyone knows something is wrong with you." She snaps, face sweet even when she's sneering, "I felt bad that you were all alone. Thought you'd come around if I kept trying."
My eyes dart toward the clock. If this takes any longer, I'm going to be late to practice.
That's not an option.
"I really need to get going." The world tilts on an axis when I stand, I just manage to catch myself on the edge of the table. Old aches bubble to the surface, but I rehearsed through the night so they've muddled into an uneasy haze. I'm at my best on the brink, so I can't feel when I've pushed past my limit.
Simons called me clever when I told her that. First time I'd ever made her proud.
"Ivory!"
I flinch at the sound of my name in #4's mouth.
"It's like you don't even care!"
It's hard to focus, because the clock's ticking keeps drowning her out.
"Practice. We'll talk later, I promise."
She grabs my wrist, dropping it when a sharp hiss seeps from between my teeth. The pain lingers and - fuck - I knew I should have put a brace on the damn thing.
"Don't bother." She sounds like she means it.
So I don't.
Music Theory Major #4 never speaks to me again.