The Name Wrapped Around My Throat: Chapter 6

Author's Note: Any chance you guys believe I've been crying about the Raven King for 2 years? But nah, honestly right after I read the last book I kinda wasn't sure what I was gonna do with this and then I got sidetracked. So I'm sorry about that.

What I've decided is that this story is completely going to ignore the events of the last book. Like I might grab some character insight from there, but none of the events from the last book happened or are going to happen as far as this story is concerned. So erase that from your minds! At least while you're reading this. It's good to be back!

True to her word, when the sun came up, Blue got up to help Ronan with his makeup.

Blue had hoped it would be a quick cover up, but after several unsuccessful attempts to blend the day's makeup with the makeup from the day before, she and Ronan both agreed a blank slate would be for the best.

They also agreed that Ronan needed to pick up some better quality supplies at some point because what they were using was shameful. Also, Blue's family members wanted their stuff back.

It was because of those things that Blue was running late for school.

"Okay, it's done. Now, leave so I can only be a little late for school," Blue said once she'd looked over Ronan's neck a final time.

"Chill out, Maggot," Ronan said as he stood up and walked over to the mirror in Blue's room to examine his neck.

"I'm perfectly chill. It just takes time to bike to school," Blue said as she pulled clothes out of her closet. Peacock feather skirt with a trash bag inspired top, paired with mustard colored tights? Perfect.

"I have a car," Ronan said in a disinterested way as he carefully adjusted his school tie. Aglionby uniforms were not made to accommodate his situation.

"Are you offering to drive me?" Blue asked with a raised brow.

Ronan didn't answer, only stared at her until she shrugged.

"Cool. I'm going to go shower then," Blue announced as she picked up her outfit for the day. "Don't leave without me."

"Don't give me ideas," Ronan grunted.

Within twenty minutes Blue and Ronan were getting ready to leave her room together. Blue pulled her messenger bag over her shoulder before sparing a glance over her shoulder at Ronan, who donned a wrinkled school uniform and held something green in one hand that she hadn't noticed before.

"What's that?" Blue asked a second before she recognized the fabric. It was definitely the thin jacket Adam had worn all through the cold season.

Ronan seemed to notice Blue's look of recollection and scowled, clenching the jacket tighter in his hand.

"Did you steal Adam's jacket?" Blue asked, unable to decide if she was more amused or surprised.

"I didn't steal it," Ronan hissed defensively. "I just borrowed it."

Upon Blue's laughter Ronan uttered a brigade of curses as well as, "I needed it to cover my neck!" and "It wasn't like that!" and "Fuck you, Sargent!"

After Blue's laughter had quieted and Ronan had used every colorful swear word in his very extensive vocabulary, Blue finally smiled at him.

"Okay, as much as I love everything about this, we do have to go to school," Blue reminded him.

"It'll be a miracle if I don't leave without you," Ronan said, the tips of his ears red with either anger or embarrassment.

Blue thought it might be nice if she gave Ronan some form of reassurance, but frankly within the last day and a half she'd given him all the reassuring words she had. So instead she bumped his shoulder and pushed the hand with Adam's jacket into his chest before opening her door and hoping he'd follow her out.

She heard him scoff before he moved to easily fall into step beside her.

As she walked with Ronan down the stairs she realized that she should probably try to be more discreet, as she'd heard that most mothers didn't let their teenaged daughters have sleepovers with boys, but she couldn't bring herself to bother. Ronan was too big to hide and his car was out front.

Also, her family was physic.

So instead of hiding him, Blue led Ronan into the kitchen to grab breakfast.

"I see the snake is still here," Calla muttered before eating a piece of sausage out of a pan on the stove.

"I don't remember saying you could have a sleepover, Blue," Maura said before eating food out of her own pan.

"Well, you technically didn't say I couldn't," Blue pointed out as she grabbed a Gogurt from the fridge before handing Ronan a fork and motioning him toward the pans on the stove.

"You've got me there," Maura relented before pointing her fork at Ronan. "But know we're watching you."

Blue thought Ronan may have been more intimidated by the action if he wasn't busy battling Calla's fork for a sausage link. Still in between 'fuck' and 'damn it' he managed to give Maura a thumbs up.

"Why are you here, again?" Calla asked, finally relenting and allowing Ronan to grab a sausage link from the pan.

Instead of answering, Ronan shoved the sizzling link into his mouth. Blue thought it had to be burning him, but he stared Calla straight in the eye as he chewed it slowly.

What a power move.

"We have a school project," Blue said for him before slurping down her Gogurt.

"You don't go to the same school, Blue," Maura said in between bites from the food in her own pan.

"I know," Blue said as she ducked back into the refrigerator to grab a second Gogurt. "But I thought that was the lie kids usually went with when they snuck someone in. Is it not?"

"No, I think that's on the list of approved lies," Maura agreed. "I suppose we'll save the truth for another day. I don't want you being late to school and sneaking boys in all in the same day."

"Technically she snuck the boy in last night," Calla pointed out.

"All the same," Maura said before turning off her portion of the stove top.

"All right, I guess we're gonna go then," Blue said as she motioned toward the door.

"Okay, I love you. Make good choices," Maura said as she gave Blue a half hug, holding the hot skillet away from her.

"More like, make better choices," Calla added, throwing a loving smirk in Blue's direction.

"Love you guys, too." Blue said before exiting the kitchen.

Ronan stole a final sausage link before throwing his fork in the sink and following her out.

Once they were outside Blue heard Ronan take one of his famous smoking breaths.

"That was fucking exhausting," Ronan said as he unlocked the car and slid into the driver's seat, placing Adam's jacket in the back.

Blue followed suit, exhaling a scoff as she sat down. "You realize how difficult that would have been to explain if I came from a different family, right? If anything, that was too easy."

In lieu of saying, 'Gee, Blue, you're right! Your family is super chill and awesome.' Ronan turned on the car and then turned up the radio louder than its already ear splitting volume.

Instead of making a fight of it Blue rolled down her window and enjoyed the wind blowing through her hair.

The drive was quick because Ronan didn't know how to drive any other way. Within a few minutes they were a block away from Blue's school and Blue was yelling over the music to tell Ronan to drop her off so she could walk the rest of the way.

"Why? You embarrassed to be seen with me?" Ronan asked as he continued his quick pace.

"Yeah, actually a little. I'd rather not show up to school in a Raven Boy's car," Blue said, opting for the honest route. Maybe Ronan could appreciate that.

"Sorry, Sargent. I think your reputation is about to be ruined."

In the time it'd taken to finish their short exchange, they'd made it to Blue's school, and even if he waited to let her out, there were already kids gaping at her through the open passenger window.

"Awesome." Blue didn't suppress her sarcastic eye roll.

Rather than try to hide what was happening, Ronan dropped her off right by the front doors. She took a deep breath as she prepared for her walk of shame.

Hi, my name's Blue, and I hate Raven Boys. Also, I hang out with them every day. But, hey, it's not what you think! We search for dead Welsh kings. And in our off time, this guy dreams stuff into existence. So I'm totally not a hypocrite for anything I've said about them in the past.

Fucking fantastic.

Blue got out of the car and walked toward the front door, ignoring the looks sent her way and the one guy from her math class who literally shouted, "Hey Sargent, is that your boyfriend?"

"Later, Maggot!" Ronan yelled from the car, sounding far too happy for how not happy Blue was.

She turned around just long enough to hold up a middle finger on both of her hands. The car was speeding off before she had even fully turned around.