Chapter Text
NINA -
“Can you believe that we're almost all the way through college?” asked Nina, plopping down on the couch in the living room. Matthias’s arms were quick to circle her, and she snuggled into his chest.
“Check your math again, Zenik,” Kaz replied, averting his eyes. Poor boy was jealous. Twenty-one years looking like that and he still couldn’t seem to find himself a girlfriend. Though he hadn’t really tried, Nina supposed. “We’re only just starting our third year.”
“Right, so that’s …” Nina held up her finger, counting off the two years she had been in college for, and then looking at the two other fingers that represented the remaining amount of years she had. “All right, but I was close, wasn’t I?”
“Good thing you’re not majoring in math,” Inej said, grinning to show Nina that it was just a joke. Although, Nina didn’t think her math skills were something to joke about. She wasn't even sure how she’d graduated from highschool.
“Fine, whatever. But only two more years. That isn’t so bad, is it?”
“Oh, be quiet,” hushed Jesper. “You’re the only one who actually likes school here.”
“Hey!” Wylan cried. “Don’t say you forgot about me.”
“Baby, I’m so sorry,” Jesper crooned, wrapping Wylan in a hug. Wylan pouted, but leaned into the embrace. “I could never forget you.”
“Too much,” Nina said, pretending to gag—but she was the one snuggled into Matthias like he was her favourite blanket. She supposed she couldn’t judge.
She looked at the space between Kaz and Inej. They were sitting cross-legged (only in Inej’s case) on the floor, with at least five feet of space between them. Nina could almost feel the tension radiating from the two of them. They’d been like this since tenth grade, when they met. Looking at each other when the other was turned away, biting their lips in frustration when they thought no one else could see. Honestly, what was the problem? Make out and make up. That had always worked for Nina. Maybe it wasn’t that simple for Kaz and Inej. Maybe they would be lusting after each other until their death beds.
She rolled over to look at Matthias. His eyes were lidded heavily, as though he was tired. He would be starting his fourth and final year. He was the one who was almost through with college, and he didn’t look particularly excited about all that.
Nina’s phone chimed on the table beside her with a new message. She reached her arm out as far as it would go and flipped her phone over.
NIKOLAI
party at 7. tell kaz he can come if he’s polite
Nina winced. Kaz was known for bringing a bit of a moody attitude to any gathering—no, who was she kidding—a bit? More like a bucketload. Several buckets.
NINA (ME)
i’ll keep the dog on a leash
NIKOLAI
perfect, see you
“Who are you texting?” Matthias asked sleepily, trying to look at her phone.
“My other boyfriend,” Nina said automatically.
“Wait—”
“Just joking.” Nina shifted so she could look at Matthias. “You know I only have eyes for you, big guy.”
“ Now who’s being too much?” Jesper asked.
“I think we’re even,” Nina countered sweetly. “Kaz, Nikolai says there's a party later. You can come if you can be socially acceptable.”
Kaz rolled his eyes. Nina liked to think that he secretly was pleased that he’d been invited. He’d never show it, but maybe on the inside, he was. “Why does he keep having parties? It's ridiculous for someone to host that many gatherings. What’s the point, except for trashing his house and spending too much on alcohol?”
“Always the life of the party, aren't you Kaz?” Nina smirked. Bugging Kaz was almost as fun as messing with Matthias.
“Whatever, Nina. At least I don’t try to flirt with every guy I see. Emphasis on try .”
Nina gasped in mock offence. “Well, at least I’ve got a boyfriend. You’d be better off trying to hook up with one of those sewer rats. Aren’t they more your type?”
Jesper snickered, leaning forwards to whisper in Nina’s ear so only she could hear. “I wouldn’t talk about Inej like that if I were you.”
Nina’s eyes widened and she nearly fell off the couch, laughing. Matthias’s arms held her in place, like a seatbelt. Kaz scowled and, as always, turned to look at Inej. She giggled a little, but not nearly as much as Nina was. Maybe she was offended. If Nina had been called a sewer rat, she wouldn’t have been too happy, either. Inej was anything but a sewer rat.
“So we’re going to Nikolai’s?” Inej asked. “What time?”
“Yeah, at seven. We’re all invited.” Nina turned to look at Matthias, who looked as though he was about to pass out. She’d … kept him up for a bit longer than intended, that previous night, and he wasn’t used to it. “Are you awake enough to come? I don’t want you falling asleep the moment we get there.”
Matthias groaned, swiping a hand over his beautiful face. “Why don’t you ask your other boyfriend?”
“No way,” Jesper fake-whispered. “He made a joke?”
“Or was it a joke?” Wylan speculated.
“Guys, I think he’s asleep …” Nina whispered, cupping his jaw with a hand. “And yes, for the record, I think it was a joke.”
INEJ -
“This wasn’t what I signed up for,” grumbled Kaz from somewhere slightly behind Inej. It was like he was a guard dog; always hovering behind her, evil-eyeing anyone who dared to get close, holding her drinks. Well, maybe that wasn’t the best example. Dogs couldn’t hold drinks.
“What did you sign up for?” Inej asked. She studied the plastic cup in Kaz’s hand (water, of course, because he was going to drive the group home); watched droplets spill onto the pale skin of his hand. It had been over a year since he’d forgone the gloves, but Inej still didn’t feel quite used to seeing him without them. “Nina keeping you on a leash? She thinks you’ll cause trouble.”
“She’s Nina. She’s the definition of trouble.”
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d think that was a compliment,” said Nina, sauntering over. She appeared to be more than a little tipsy. “You know what they say, ‘trouble is my middle name’.”
“Your middle name is Deirdre,” Inej said.
“Don’t remind me,” Nina groaned. “That has got to be the worst name ever.”
“I’m guessing you didn’t come over here just to talk about names …?” Kaz prompted, taking a sip from his water.
“No, I came to ruin your little romantic episode.” Inej blushed, and Nina took notice. Of course she did. Wasn’t that what best friends were for? Embarrassing you in front of your crush since tenth grade? “Just kidding—I need to find Matthias. I’ve lost him.”
Kaz rolled his eyes. “Keep track of your boyfriend, Zenik.”
“Will you look for him? Pretty please?” Nina pouted, and Inej laughed. “Inej, babe, you know I love you, but—”
“There’s a ‘but’?” Inej gasped in mock shock.
Nina smirked. “There’s always a ‘but’.”
“I believe you were in the middle of begging me to find your boyfriend?” Kaz asked, sounding bored.
“I do not beg .”
“Yes, Zenik, we all know that’s Matthias’s job,” Kaz said.
“You dirty-minded—”
“Oh, I’m the dirty-minded one? I don’t text jokes regarding male genitalia to my friends at three a.m.”
“Did you just call yourself my friend?”
“Do you want help or not?”
“Of course,” Nina said. “You go ahead. I have things to discuss with Inej here.”
Kaz rolled his eyes again—he did that a lot—and set his water down, walking away.
“Oh, thank the Saints,” Nina said. “I was afraid he would never leave.”
Inej raised an eyebrow, sceptical of her friend. “Is Matthias even really gone? Or were you just trying to get Kaz out of the way?”
“Matthias is gone. Maybe … he’s abandoned me for Alina,” Nina said, sighing like she was heartbroken. Matthias would never break her heart. Honestly, Inej wouldn’t be surprised if he proposed to her soon. Nina might marry at a young age, but she would be happy forever.
“I don’t think she’s really his type.”
“I don’t think he even has a type. I’m his first girlfriend, and if I have any say in the matter, I’ll be his only girlfriend.” Nina crossed her arms triumphantly. She was wearing a tight red dress that went to her mid-thigh and a black leather jacket.
Inej smiled. “So … why did you want to talk to me?” she asked. “It’s not just that Matthias is missing, I can tell.”
Nina grinned, clasping her hands together. “I think … that you should tell Kaz.”
Inej stared at her with a look of shock. “ Tell him?”
“That boy has been drooling over you since the moment you stepped into the car. And you’re not even very dressed up.”
“Thanks for reminding me,” Inej grumbled. But it was true; she was wearing a blue Ketterdam College sweatshirt and black leggings.
“You should tell him,” Nina said again, this time more gently.
Inej looked in the direction where he’d gone. She couldn’t see him anymore. “Maybe. I don’t think today is the right day to do it, though.”
Nina nodded. “Yeah, you’re probably right. I’m going to find my boyfriend now.” She left.
Inej had liked him for so long, but he was completely oblivious to her feelings. She’d thought that maybe, just maybe he might have returned them, after a certain kiss in eleventh grade. But that had been so long ago, and the kiss wasn’t even on the lips—it was on the neck. Could’ve even been an accidental touch. As much as she tried to convince herself that she actually had a chance with him, she knew it wasn’t very likely. And he wouldn’t be the loving boyfriend she had wanted when she was younger. He just wasn’t that type of person. Maybe Nina was right. Maybe Kaz felt the same way about her. Or maybe it was just better to hope her feelings faded away after being left alone for some time.
Inej started to walk away from her post by Kaz’s water, but bumped into someone. A deep breath stopped her skin from crawling, and she looked up. It was Nikolai. Just Nikolai.
“How are you doing? Liking the party?” he asked, smiling wide.
Inej smiled back, and it was genuine. “Yeah, it’s fun.” Maybe not the most truthful thing she’d said tonight, but Nikolai was a nice guy. She didn’t want to risk getting on his bad side. “Is Zoya here?”
“No, she went to bed early. Something about keeping her sleep schedule on track. I never thought I’d hear all those words in one sentence.”
“Oh,” Inej said.
“Hey, there’s a guy transferring from Ravka that I thought you should meet,” Nikolai said. “I’ll get him, just a sec.” He jogged off back into the crowd. A cheer erupted, but it died down almost right away. Inej smiled. Nikolai was very popular. And they were all close with him, after an eventful year in eleventh grade. Very eventful.
Nikolai came back with a guy about his height. He was Shu, by the looks of it, with black hair in a topknot and wide shoulders. He had a friendly, quiet sort of smile.
“Hello, I’m Tolya Yul-Bataar,” he said. “I transferred from Ravka, and Nikolai’s trying to get me to make some actual friends. Says I can’t be hanging out with my sister and her girlfriend all the time.” He held out his hand and Inej shook it.
“I’m Inej Ghafa. I’m a junior,” she responded. She wondered who Tolya’s sister was. She hadn’t seen him around, so she doubted she would recognise this other girl.
“Seems you two will hit it off. I’m going back for drinks,” said Nikolai a little too loudly, patting Tolya on his shoulder. He walked—no, he practically ran away. His drinks must’ve been really good—or he was up to something. Inej thought both were likely to be true.
Tolya took a sip from his red plastic cup. He was still watching Inej, and she felt slightly uncomfortable under his gaze. Underdressed. She wished that Kaz was here; they could escape to another corner.
“I’m going to go—find my friend,” Inej said, jerking her thumb in the vague direction that she supposed Nina and Kaz had gone in. “I’ll talk to you later, though.”
“Can I have your number?” Tolya asked hopefully, pulling out his phone.
“Oh—sure.” It would be impolite to refuse. She took out her phone. “What’s yours? I’ll text you when I get home.”
Tolya recited the digits. “Thank you,” he said when he was done. “It’s surprisingly hard to make friends in these places.”
“Of course,” said Inej, feeling guilty. She wouldn’t consider them friends. She’d give him a second chance, sure, but right now, she didn’t really want to talk to him.
She hurried away, desperate to clear her mind and find Kaz.
NINA -
Nina was drunk. She knew that, as well as anyone else. But by far, Nikolai had had much more to drink.
She’d only come up to his room to use the bathroom. The other ones were all occupied. Zoya was lying in bed, reading and eating from a bag of black licorice. Disgusting. She had no taste in candy—only in men.
Nikolai came barrelling into the room and launched himself onto the bed where Zoya was. She shrieked—which turned into a yell at him.
“What the hell ? Can’t you see that I’m reading?” Zoya tried in vain to shove him off, but he only held onto her tighter.
“Clingy boyfriends. I can relate,” said Nina approvingly. “Although I can’t say he’s ever done that before.”
“Maybe I’ll just have to marry Matthias instead,” groused Zoya.
“Then I’m taking Nina,” slurred Nikolai. “Nina, say, ‘I do’.”
“I don’t, sorry. I know you must be heartbroken, but I have a boyfriend. And you—”
“I have a boyfriend, too?” Nikolai asked, his eyes brightening.
Nina’s lips twisted as she tried not to laugh. The attempt was in vain. “You have a girlfriend; sorry to disappoint.” To Zoya, she asked: “Is he always like this when he’s drunk?”
Zoya nodded, obviously exasperated. “This is why I don’t drink. Nikolai would never let me live anything down.”
“And do you let him live things down?”
“Not a chance. He’s hearing about this the moment he wakes up.”
Nina’s phone ding ed with a message. She pulled it out of her pocket. It was Kaz.
KAZ
I’ve found your boyfriend
NINA (ME)
perf. be there in a sec
KAZ
That had better be a literal second. He’s drunk as hell
NINA (ME)
so am i
KAZ
I don’t feel safe entrusting him to you now. But at least you can type. He can't even talk
“I have to go,” Nina told Zoya. She stood. “My boyfriend has been spotted.”
Zoya nodded. “All right. I’m going to figure out how to get Nikolai …” She paused, trying to find the right word.
“Engaged?” Nina suggested.
Zoya snorted. “Well, that too, but I want him off me first.”