Singing Robin (Part 2)

Chapter Nine Whispers

    "I have to say Leonard might be a fucking asshole, but he looks good as hell in that gear." Willow agrees, and I whip my head to her and blink repeatedly in surprise. 'Leonard is on the swim team?! I only said that because I saw a poster for it when I walked in.' Willow smiles to herself knowing I didn't know. The German Alliance girls look horrified by Willow's language, and she rolls her eyes in reply. 'Willow is dropping more curse words than usual to spite them.'

    "Yeah." I choke out with a nod, 'how many sports does Leonard even play?'

    "I hear Vico used to be on the team," Mary says with a smile at me, knowing that during this whole meeting, we prevented the Russian Alliance from getting a word in edgewise. 'In Trixie's words, they lost and need to take a loser lap until one of their Branches has a Day. Sadly, one is coming up too fast. April Fool's Day is celebrated as Fool's Paradise. The Branch controlling the day is Albanian, so there is zero chance Jess will be muted for much longer.'

    "Do we have to go to Fool's paradise?" Willow asks, reading the brochure someone handed her. I shake my head and nod.

    "I have to go. My Branch has missed too many events this school year. But The Crew might have skip-days you—" I trail off when Willow pins me with an annoyed look. 'I still can't believe they chose her as their Mary. Not that she is Unclaimable, but if I were them, I would be worried about dying in my sleep. I honestly don't know much about the German Alliance's Creeds. But I think, from how well my Heirs and the German Heirs get along, that there might be some crossover... but still, I hope, for Willow's sake, my Creeds are worse so she is spared from true depravity. The Puritan German Claims aren't helping my hopes, though.'

    "I dare Lawrence to try to make me." Willow snaps under her breath, but she gets several scandalized looks due to how close the German Alliance is to our chairs. 'I don't know much about the German Alliance Creeds, but I do know Lawrence, or Crow, is like the man several women in the German Alliance are fangirls over. He is supposed to be this charmer, but my best friend is less than impressed.'

    "He wouldn't, but that seems more like Scar's or Hunter's MO," I whisper to her, and then I blink repeatedly when, for a second, Willow looks genuinely terrified before she smooths it out and forces a laugh. 'That I will inquire about, maybe try to set my Vipers on them.'

    "I have class." I announce to the room and nudge Willow, 'She does not have class so soon, but I worry she may try to stab one of the German Alliance girls when they give her more lectures on the 'proper etiquette of a German Alliance Claim.' The Italian Alliance is one the most powerful out of all three, but we are not pushed into strict gender roles like the German Alliance is. I can see that Willow strongly resents the 'helpful' advice the girls from her Branch keep giving her. I smile as we reach the door without a hitch until we make it through the lobby on the east side, and a formidable man steps into our path.

    "I got her." Scar informs me, and I blink at him.

    "We are going to class. You are welcome to join us," I tell him. He tilts his head, looks me up and down, and smirks.

    "I didn't ask you. I told you." Scar informs me with a lopsided grin that, to a fool, would disarm the threat every bit of his words held. I smile back at him, wrap my hand around Willow's forearm, and pull her closer to myself. Then, mime reaches into the air to catch something outside my reach.

    "What are you doing?" Scar asks, getting visibly annoyed.

    "I apologize, I'm struggling to find a FUCK to give." I snap, mimicking Victor's arrogant tone to the T, Scar's brows furrow and his lips twist into a snarl as fury reddens his neck.