F*ck You: Knox Academy - Term One

by Jaye Cox

  “Okay, sure, yeah...I can do that.”

  “Ooooh, Vag—I mean, Elsie, do you have a crush on our girl Marcia?” Onyx drawls, changing his nickname for her when I glare at him.

  “Your girl?” She raises an eyebrow at him.

  “Our girl. As in, we’ve all ridden that bike. More than once. Sometimes in tandem,” Onyx winks, as if the lewd metaphor wasn’t obvious enough.

  Elsie’s face falls.

  “Onyx you dick. What did you say that for?” I snap at him.

  “Because it’s true.”

  “Doesn’t mean it needs saying.”

  “Absolutely bro, she’s right,” Kalen pipes up. Never thought I'd see the day that he took sides with an outsider compared to his family, but I do know that he and Elsie have been getting a lot closer. “Like, it’s true that you had herpes that one time, but we don’t tell everyone...oops.” I laugh.

  “That was a cold sore you asshole.”

  “Herpes is herpes dude. Apologise to Elsie.”

  “Sorry Vag...Elsie. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”

  “Can we get food?” I ask as my stomach gives an almighty rumble. It breaks the tension and the silence.

  “Absolutely! Follow me!” Kalen declares. He leads us around the perimeter of the bonfire and over to the food stalls. There’s so many choices I don’t know what to have, but Kalen takes care of that by ordering a bit of everything, so we tuck into loaded jacket potatoes, hot dogs, and pulled pork rolls – which are all delicious – but dessert is so much better! There’s candyfloss and toffee apples, warm popcorn, chocolate drizzled fruit kebabs.

  “I’m going to pop,” I groan when we’re done. Everyone agrees.

  “Come, let’s get a spot by the bonfire, they’ll be lighting the Guy soon and then the fireworks start,” Kalen tells me. He’s so excited, it’s hard not to be infected by his enthusiasm.

  “Did anyone get sparklers?” Slate asks.

  “Yep and a lighter,” Onyx replies, taking out the lighter and sparking it up.

  We find a good spot at the front by the fire, mostly thanks to Elsie and Kalen elbowing people out of the way. I may not ‘get’ the whole bonfire thing, but I am enjoying myself.

  I stand close to the flames, with Elsie on one side of me and Kalen on the other. To my surprise, Slate stands behind Elsie and lightly holds the back of her coat to stop her from getting any closer to the bonfire. I mean, there’s a railing for safety, but it looks pretty flimsy and Elsie is gazing at the fire, hypnotised. Onyx stands behind me and wraps his arms around my torso, snuggling up against my neck. This is new, I think to myself, but I like it a lot.

  I watch the flames dance and understand why Elsie is so enthralled. It’s mesmerising. I love the sounds of the flames hissing and sparking, the occasional pop or crack of a branch making me jump. The smell is amazing too, though I know I’m going to have to wash everything I’m wearing, and my hair, to get the smell out. What smells so nice now, won’t be as appealing in the morning.

  The Guy is thrown onto the bonfire to a round of applause. I wonder if it’s just my imagination, but the guy looks vaguely familiar.

  “Does that look like…?” I begin to whisper to Elsie.

  “Headmaster Knox? Yep!” she whispers back.

  “Kalen,” we say at the same time, laughing.

  “As much as I love to hear two women moaning my name at the same time, I’m not appreciating the laughter, ladies.” He grins at us.

  “You did this,” I say pointing to the Guy. The crowd is parting and a second, female Guy is being brought forward and lifted. She too is thrown unceremoniously onto the blaze.

  “Laura?” I ask, spying one of the dresses I had seen her in at dinner this term.

  “Guilty,” Kalen says with no remorse whatsoever.

  “She’ll do her nut when she realises her favourite dress is gone,” Slate points out.

  “That’s what I’m counting on.” Kalen gives me a wicked grin and winks. Oh poor Kalen, he’s very much mistaken if he thinks Laura will even notice the dress missing. And if she does, she’ll probably just demand that Monty buy her two more to make up for it.

  The fireworks start and I’m sucked into the hype with everyone else, oohing and aahing at the pretty colours, jumping at the loud bangs, and pleading with Onyx to light the sparklers already. The magic of the entire evening has taken me back to my childhood, to happier memories before Laura changed and things got bad. We never went to any shows as grand as this, but I do remember staying up late one time to watch fireworks when I was small. My brother wrapped me in his coat and my dad held me in his arms.

  “You okay?” Onyx murmurs in my ear. His warm breath tickles my cheek and I nuzzle into him a little.

  “Perfect,” I tell him. And I mean it, this evening has been perfect. Or as close to perfect as it could be without Sawyer with us.

  I turn my head away from the aerial display and capture Onyx’s lips in a sweet thank you kiss. I know I have them all to thank for tonight, but right now his attention is on me, and I want to show him how grateful I am. When I pull back, he’s grinning softly at me, his whole face transformed.

  “What?”

  “Nothing.” He smiles.

  “No, tell me,” I insist.

  “Just…you’ve not kissed me like that before. And I liked it.”

  “Me too.” I return his smile and then the moment’s lost by Kalen demanding we all draw dicks with our sparklers. We laugh and join him.

  Unsurprisingly, Kalen’s is the biggest.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Is it wrong to change my mind? I came here with a chip on my shoulder and a point to prove. I still hate my incubator and want her to pay, but everything else just no longer matters to me. I still miss home, but with each day that passes, Knox Academy feels more like home. The guys and Elsie are fast becoming my second family.

  They all slowly chipped away at my walls and let themselves in. I feel like I belong, no longer hiding behind my brother and Smalls. No longer the little sister, contrary to what Kalen says.

  The day of the showcase rolls around and the school thrums with excitement. I’ve noticed that when one person here succeeds, the entire school celebrates, but it also marks the start of parents’ weekend. Everyone, except the Knox brothers and I, is buzzing for that. I guess it’s just the same old for them, whereas for me it’s a reminder that I still can’t see my family back home.

  I peek around the big red curtains where the crowd has gathered. Hundreds of students and parents sit eagerly awaiting every performance from the musicians, actors, performers and demonstrators.

  Elsie has been pacing around like a crazy person in her ridiculous outfit.

  “Are you okay?” Slate asks, pressing a kiss to my cheek.

  “I have pit stains. I didn’t know there would be so many people.”

  “I would tell you to picture them all naked, but I know Kalen would enjoy that too much.”

  We both laugh.

  “What if I’m shit?”

  “I would have told you. Now just kiss me good luck; my solo opens the night.”

  Our kiss is short and sweet. Nerves pool in the pit of my stomach. What if I ruin this for him? I can’t do that. I won’t.

  Everyone takes their places out of sight. I stand off the side of the stage as the MC talks about all the talent of the evening and introduces Slate. The crowd goes insane, and I don’t blame them; not only is he fit (Kalen would be proud of my use of the language), but he’s damn talented too.

  Slate walks out onto the stage and the stage crew runs out a stool and adjusts the mic for him.

  “How’re you doing, you alright?” he says into the mic. When the audience goes nuts, he visibly relaxes. “For the very few of you who don’t know me, I’m Slate Knox, a third-year music major. First up, I have my solo dedicated to a very special person. She knows who she is. Enjoy.”

  He takes his seat and strums his guitar. I always presumed
his solo was ‘Dancing On My Own’. I’ve never heard him play much else besides our song.

  I instantly know the song, it’s one of my favourites; ‘Creep’ by Radiohead. His voice is husky and raw in all the right places for this song, but high enough to pull off an amazing chorus. He puts his entire being into the song. I feel it deep in my soul and instantly know I’m at home here, safe for the first time in a long time.

  My eyes never stray from his face, and when his eyes open he looks to the side, singing the lyrics about being a creep and a weirdo right to me. I smile at him.

  I have never had anyone sing a song to me before unless you count one of my brother’s drunk mates singing ‘Nuts on Your Chin’ by Eazy-E to me. Which really doesn’t hold the same appeal.

  When the MC takes the stage and Slate starts walking towards me, I realise that the song is over.

  Slate exits the stage on the opposite side, the way everyone has to after they perform. I want to run to him, but Elsie is up next. I really don’t understand her abstract piece on the pressure of teenage girls today, but I still clap and whistle like crazy when she’s done.

  All my friends are super talented, it makes me feel somewhat insignificant compared to them.

  I get caught up in watching a few other performances. A hip-hop dance number that was fantastic is the cue that I have to go and get ready.

  Slate, being the privileged Knox son he is, has his own dressing room backstage. When I get there he isn’t there, but Sawyer is.

  “What are you doing here?” I ask.

  “I wanted to wish you luck. We all did. But I have teacher privileges and can sneak backstage.”

  “Thank you.”

  “I wish I wasn’t your teacher, so badly right now. You make me crazy.”

  “You’ll find you were probably crazy to begin with.”

  His smile is infectious. Cautiously, I step into his arms.

  “You’re right. I probably was,” he says, lifting my chin.

  “Just know, I’m always here for you. Even if it’s just to have a whinge about my brothers. Now go break a leg or whatever.”

  I swear he’s about to lean in for a kiss when a knock on the door startles us.

  “Two-minute warning.”

  “Shit, I have to find Slate.”

  “He said to meet him onstage. He was too chicken to face you.”

  Too chicken? I don’t know what on earth for. I press a kiss to Sawyer's cheek and go take my place.

  “Next up, we have again the amazing and talented Slate Knox, doing a duet this time with Amelie Rossi. This piece will count towards his end of year grades.”

  Slate looks amazing in his tux, minus the jacket. He makes my worries fade away. I tune out the crowd and focus on him. Every step the way we rehearsed it, yet this time it feels different. The sexual chemistry is off the charts between us now and I think everyone agrees with the whistles they’re giving us.

  When the final line comes up and he pulls me into him, our mouths are so close – they’re just supposed to give the illusion that we are about to kiss – but he doesn’t stop; his lips touch mine and everything fades to black as the curtains are drawn and the crowd goes crazy.

  “Wow,” I say, pulling away. He rests his head against mine.

  “That was incredible.” He places my hand on his chest above his heart and it’s pounding. Maybe I’ll switch to music because that was so fun. But I would miss spending time with Sawyer alone if I gave up our lessons. Maybe he would still offer to tutor me in self-defence.

  “OMG,” my incubator says, trying to sound young. “You were so good, Amelie, I didn’t know you could sing.”

  “There is a lot you don’t know about me,” I snipe.

  “That is what is so good about this, you have a chance to get to know each other again. I’m sure there is a lot you don’t know about your mother,” Monty pipes up, trying to keep the peace.

  And whose fault is that? Not mine. I didn’t abandon my family.

  “You are so right, Monty. We have already spoken with the other boys, and we’re all going to dinner tonight at Pierre’s. We are meeting out front in an hour.”

  “Dress nicely please, Slate. Amelie, we had a dress sent to your room.”

  “Um, thanks.”

  “Amelie and I are going to go and get ready. Thank you both for coming to see us perform.” Slate takes me by the hand before they can respond and drags me from the building.

  “What’s with the niceties back there?”

  “You need to learn when to play your cards with my father.”

  “I’m starting to see that. I’ll meet you here in forty minutes.”

  ***

  The dress they sent me wasn’t as fancy as I imagined. Just a plain black cocktail dress that sits at my neckline, it pulls tight across my breasts.

  Not sure she will approve of the boots I have paired with it, but if she knew me well enough, she would have sent me some heels to go with the dress. Knowing I only own boots and chucks back home. We never had a need for heels. The only heels I own are the ones I wear to school and the white hooker-heels Kalen supplied with my Halloween outfit. Neither suitable.

  It does look cute though. I add some jewellery and dark smokey eyes.

  Giving myself a once over, I throw my keys into a clutch of Elsie’s I still have and race out the door.

  Sawyer, Onyx, Slate and Kalen are all waiting where I only expected Slate to be. A hard lump forms in my throat. They look spectacular. I take in Kalen first in his usual style, pants and a white shirt tucked in, braces, which he does justice, and a pair of boots. I’m relieved I’m not the only one wearing boots.

  The twins are both dressed in black slacks and form fitting white button ups. Both wearing their fancy Nikes.

  Sawyer is wearing a full suit. Dress shoes and all. Whoa.

  “You look utterly fuckable,” Kalen says when I approach.

  “I will take that as a compliment, let’s not keep the parents waiting.”

  Slate and I link arms, this is our night after all.

  Our parents are where they said they would be, my mother wearing a more form fitting dress than is appropriate for dinner, but whatever. She looks straight down to my boots. Her jaw tightens, but to my surprise she doesn’t say anything.

  The limo is pretentious and over the top. She gushes on about some of the performers and we all seem to tune out, nodding when appropriate.

  Slate is sitting really close, he hasn’t been this forward yet, normally it’s Kalen who tries to cross the line in front of people. Yet, it’s definitely Slate drawing circles on my leg with his finger.

  Once at the restaurant, the driver lets us out. Other families must have had the same idea: the restaurant itself looks fancy as hell and it’s really busy. A tall, skinny guy greets us at the door.

  “Please follow me, your table is ready.” We all follow.

  Taking my seat, Baxter catches my eye at a corner table with an older man. He winks in my direction and continues on with his meal.

  The waiter comes and takes our drinks order, and Monty orders a bottle of fancy champagne. A new waiter comes and wants to take our entree order. This place must be fancy because there are no prices next to the food. Everyone rattles off what they want, and I have no idea what half this shit is. I have Sawyer on my left, and thankfully he leans in and says, “Order anything that ends in broth. It’s the safest way to order.”

  I pick the first one and he then proceeds to ask for mains and I just see chicken and order that. Can’t mess that up. For dessert, Monty orders for the table.

  “I’m just so excited,” Laura pipes up. “You were both amazing tonight.” Her praise gets my guard up. What’s her angle here?

  “Did you really doubt they would be anything less than amazing?” Sawyer asks. Although his tone is polite, I can detect a hint of challenge in his tone.

  “I have never heard either of you sing. So I was pleasantly surprised and how you pulled it off to
look like you had amazing chemistry! That fake kiss was pretty genius.”

  Slate coughs. “Yes, I was a bit hesitant when Amelie suggested it.” I kick Slate’s leg under the table.

  Everyone seems to be genuinely having a good time by the time the mains are finished. I’m not sure how I felt about the broth, it just tasted like a stock cube in water. And I won’t get started about the chicken that looked like it had been chewed and regurgitated on my plate.

  “I’m actually really happy that we’re all together tonight…” Laura begins.

  “Erm, honey, what are you doing?” Monty interrupts.

  “I thought, as we’re all here, at the best restaurant in town…”

  “No,” he shakes his head emphatically.

  “No?”

  “Tonight is Amelie and Slate’s night. Leave it be. We have Sunday.”

  “Fine.” She pouts and sulks.

  “Why don’t you kids go out and have some fun tonight?” Monty says, turning to address the rest of us. “You can take the limo. I will call a car for Laura and I.”

  “And how do I get home?” Sawyer asks with a raised eyebrow and an amused glance.

  “Go out with them, you need to remember you’re still young. You deserve to let off some steam, you work so hard.”

  Sawyer looks sceptical.

  “Come on, bro, loosen your tie for one night.”

  Sawyer thinks it over, torn between coming and going. “Okay, someone has to keep an eye on Amelie, the guys will corrupt her in one night.”

  “I’m already corrupt, but it would be nice to get to know my new step-brother while he isn’t my teacher.” I smile sweetly.

  Kalen coughs and Slate pats his back. “Call it bondage – I mean bonding.” Kalen thinks he is so funny. Monty thinks it is an amazing idea that we all bond. Maybe not if he knew the truth.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  After we say our goodbyes and pile in the limo, Kalen says he has an awesome place we can go, so he opens the privacy window popping his head through and instructs the driver on where to go.

  In no time the limo stops and the driver opens the door, saying he will be here when we finish to take us home. Kalen is the first to jump and run to the door, clearly with too much energy for his own good.