She nods, forcing a watery smile. “Goodnight.”
9
GABRIELA
At school,the entire campus is buzzing with the news that the search for the missing students has been called off. The reports say they’re presumed dead, but questions still linger.
I try not to think about it, but it feels like everyone I pass is staring at me today. My suspicions are confirmed when I’m walking Beppe between classes, and I scan the quad, noticing two guys leaning against one of the trees. They’re both watching me, and it takes me a minute, but I recognize them as Nate’s friends. I saw them together a few times before he approached me, and they were also at the vigil.
An eerie feeling crawls down my spine as I consider that they knew about Nate’s plans that night.
Julian follows my gaze, frowning when he sees them. Apparently, it’s part of his job description to cast murderous glares at any male who stares my direction. It seems to work because the two guys leave their post and retreat across campus.
Beppe barks, alerting me that we only have a few minutes to get to class, so I scoop him up and secure him in his tote bag.
When I get to the studio, I stop at our assigned cubbies outside to grab some tools from mine. But when I open it, I find a Ghostface plushy waiting for me, along with a note.
For your collection.
-E
I stare at the gift with a stupid smile on my face, but it fades when I remember how last night ended.
Eros asked who I’ve been using him as a placeholder for, and I tried to deny it. But the truth is much messier than that, and I’m starting to realize being casual isn’t as easy as I’d hoped. Especially when he does stuff like this, because it doesn’t feel casual.
It’s confusing, particularly when he tried to warn me away from him to begin with, but now it seems like he wants all of me. I think we’re both crossing lines we never meant to, and I feel guilty for it.
There’s too much to unpack there, so for now, I send him a thank you text. In return, he sends me a shark GIF, and I’m a little bummed that’s his only response. There was no wake-up text from him today, or anything else. But he did come here to give me the plushy, so I guess he hasn’t written me off completely.
It does make me wonder, though. Abella suspected he could be Mafia, but it seems unlikely theCosa Nostrawould send one of their own to study biology. In this case, IVI seems more plausible to me than anything, since some Society members attend school here. But truthfully, I don’t want to know who or what he is. Things are already too messy, and that will only complicate them further.
I close my cubby and head into the studio. Julian checks the room, and once it’s clear, he steps out into the hall to wait for me.
After a brief with Professor Harlow, we’re given the rest of the class to work. I’m eager to get started on finalizing mymaterial selections, but before I even get a chance, a shadow falls over my table.
I blink up at my classmate Bethany, who’s hovering over me with a strained smile. She’s never spoken to me unless it’s required, and even then, it’s only been to lob harsh insults at my work during peer critiques. I know a few things about her—namely that she’s popular on campus, she thinks she’s better than everyone else, and she’s dating one of Nate’s friends.
“Hey, you left your measurements on the cutting table last week.” She slides a piece of paper toward me. “I wanted to make sure you got them back.”
I glance down to find an address I don’t recognize, along with a time to meet up tomorrow.
“We know you were with Nate that night.” Bethany lowers her voice, losing all pretense of friendliness. “This is your one chance to explain yourself. If you don’t, you’ll regret it.”
Before I can even say anything, she heads back to her table. There’s no name on the note, but after what happened on break, there isn’t a need for one.
If the members of Imperium think I’m going to meet them in private, they’re out of their minds. I crumple the paper and throw it in the trash, trying to push it from my thoughts as I get to work. But it stays with me for the rest of the afternoon, and when I get home, I go straight to my room and start googling.
Hopefully Abella will have an update from Romeo soon about what he’s found on Imperium. In the meantime, I need to figure out who to watch out for.
I know some of Nate’s friends were interviewed by the local news after the students went missing. Those are the clips I’m searching for, but a different headline pops up from this morning.
Anonymous Tip Sparks Drug Sting, Leading to Arrests of Two Laurelhaven Students.
I read through the piece, which doesn’t provide much information. It states that the arrests took place at a Belltown nightclub, and the men are noted to be sons of prominent university alumni. There’s no mention of what substances they had in their possession, but I wonder if it’s related to whatever Nate dumped in my drink that night. I spend some time watching interviews and reading through a few articles before it all starts to blur together.
With a sigh, I close my computer and flop down on the bed, letting Beppe do zoomies around my head while I text Eros.
BiteSizedGabi: Are you coming over tonight?
