“I think so,” I confess, unable to recall a reason for me to be mad at him at all.
Satisfied and accomplished, he winks, taking a step back, and I already hate the distance as he edges toward his room, but before I can change my mind, I spin to my own door. Thankfully, when I twist the door handle, it opens before me. I rush inside, swinging it shut behind me before using the wood to prop me up.
My eyelids fall closed as I take a deep breath.
“Well, you look thoroughly fucked,” Ocean hollers, making me giggle as I grasp at my torn shirt and pry my eyes open.
“Stop,” I warn, cutting the distance toward my bed, flopping down on the mattress. Ocean ignores me as she wags her eyebrows with a smirk spread across her face. “You're an idiot,” I insist, making her beam brighter.
“And you're a lot less tense and snarly. Post-sex glow looks good on you,” she fires back, her amusement evident, and I plaster my hands over my face, hiding my embarrassment.
“Someone please save me from the insanity of this woman,” I call out, making her laugh louder.
“You love it. Now, do you want to get changed?”she asks, and I pry my hands from my face as I cock a brow at her.
“Into what? Another uniform?” I retort, still aware of the torn shirt barely covering my chest, despite my best efforts to salvage some modicum of modesty, and she rolls her eyes.
“I can lend you some of my clothes.”
I give her a pointed look. “You already did that this week, remember?” A shudder burns down my spine at the memory of why I had to wear her clothes and what happened when I did, but she quickly pulls me from my thoughts as she proceeds.
“Then we're going to head into The Vale right now to sort it out,” she states, swinging her legs over the side of her bed as she turns to face me head on.
“We are?” I repeat, uncertainty starting to war inside of me as she stands with a nod.
“For sure.”
“I don't have any money,” I admit, watching as her brows furrow together.
“None?” she repeats for clarification, and I shake my head. “Did you check your card in your introduction paperwork?” she pushes, and I frown.
“I don't remember a card,” I confess, climbing off my bed just as quickly as I got on it. Opening the top drawer of my nightstand, I rummagethrough the few measly belongings stacked on top before pulling out the paperwork in question.
I spy the sheet of rules on top.
Rule one: No tardiness.
Rule two: Beds must be made and rooms must be tidy at all times.
Rule three: Always be presentable.
Rule four: Take pride in your institute.
Rule five: Respect everyone in The Vale.
Rule six: Know your place in the hierarchy of the institutes.
Rule seven: Do not use your magical abilities on another student or staff, whether intended for harm or otherwise.
Rule eight: Strive to excel.
Rule nine: Do not steal.
Rule ten: Do not enter the institutes you are not assigned to.
My eyes glance over each one, counting how many I've broken as I go.
Rule one: No tardiness.
