She doesn’t say anything to that, but the printer sitting a few feet away kicks on. She hands me the paper and wishes me a good day, but she disappears into a back room before I have a chance to wish her the same. I sigh, tired to the bones of everyone acting strange around me. What would I have to do for one damn normal day?
CHAPTER 51
SABLE
Looking at the time,I realize my options for the day aren’t great. Two of my classes are gone and two remain, but I don’t have books or pencils or anything I might need for them. I look through my phone, thinking about what I can do to get supplies or books, when I find my digital wallet is filled with cards, one from each of them. A smile curves my lips. Of course those idiots made sure I would be okay. Who else would have?
The old Sable might have thought twice about this, but this Sable knows what she’s worth. I head to the bookstore, get every single thing I need, and then sing eeny, meeny, miny, moe and choose a boy at random to buy it for me. The next class is just a few minutes away, but I know the way to the medical department well, so I make it there just in time. What I don’t know is the room numbers, so it takes me a minute to find the right class. I’ve never been down this particular hall, and the lecture is already beginning as I step inside and find a seat in the back without drawing too much attention. It takes me a moment to realize I recognize the voice at the podium.
Cillian is student teaching this class.
My heart climbs into my throat as I remember the day I witnessed Soren’s rape, and the reason I saw what happenedstands there talking about the functions of the human body.Was he involved?I ask myself for the first time. I was so upset when it happened that I never even considered why he would lead me right past the crime in action. It occurs to me then that I’ve never asked Lex if he sent for me that day.
Eyes glued on Cillian, I watch as he points at the diagram up on the wall. He isn’t my official professor, but he likely grades too, so dealing with him is going to be an ongoing situation. I pull out my books. People around me occasionally look my way, but I brush it off. I’ve dealt with paparazzi flashing bulbs at me, so this is nothing. The more they look, the more I just want to be a good student, but before I can convince myself of the role, Cillian pauses his planned lesson.
“Uh, Miss Briarwick, you’re not on my attendance list.”
“I signed up today,” I say meekly, but the silence amplifies my words, and I feel the burn of the whole class staring.
“That’s fine. Stay after class so we can have a chat and add you to my roster.” The words sound completely normal for anyone listening, but dread creeps under my skin.
Why does he need to talk to me to add me to his roster? I signed up for this, so if his roster is not up to date, he can get that done any other time without me. I want to be independent, but I know this wouldn’t be happening if Lex were with me. Not many people are brave enough to question him. The lecture is nearly three hours long, so I have plenty of time to dread what’s to come when class finally comes to a close, and people start to leave.
Because God hates me, a line of people stands at the front of the class waiting to talk to Cillian. A couple of them are griping about graded assignments, and I can tell this is going to take a while. Maybe if he’s distracted, I’ll be able to sneak out. The doorisright there. Surreptitiously, I stand, with every intention of slipping out unseen.
“Miss Briarwick, please stay,” he says, putting an end to that plan.
“I have another class across the castle,” I try to say, but he just holds up a finger and continues his current conversation.
I’m nearly sweating by the time they’re all gone, thinking about sending a text to one or all of the guys so they know where I am, when Cillian finally turns to me. “Sable, let’s talk.”
He pulls out the class list and writes my name. I’m not sure why I needed to wait for that. Does he want me to compliment his handwriting?
“You’ve already missed a few days of classes,” Captain Obvious tells me.
I swallow the sarcastic retorts that climb up my throat and instead keep things friendly.
“Are there any assignments I owe?”
He gives me a sharp look. “No, not yet.”
My skin prickles with nerves, and I wonder what exactly it is he wants from me. That budding sense of suspicion from earlier only grows.
“Is there a problem then?”
He shoots me a sharp look. “Your place at this university is secured regardless of your grades. But this class? It’s an exception. You do well in it, or you don’t attend it at all. We don’t slow down for newcomers.”
“I have every intention of doing well in this class.” I’m unable to keep the offense from my tone.
“People have intentions all the time that don’t pan out. Like me, when I left my room locked and assumed no one else would open the door.” He stares me down with dark and angry eyes.
“Is that supposed to mean something?” I ask, not sure what exactly I’ve done to piss him off so much. Did Lex’s little show last semester really offend him so badly?
“You and your little boyfriends haven’t wound up anywhere you don’t belong lately, have you?” he asks.
“No,” I answer immediately, and the key around my neck suddenly becomes much heavier.There’s no way he knows about my secret room,I assure myself. But frankly, breaking into his room does sound like them. “I’m not sure why you think that, but of course not.”
“And there’s no specific reason you’re taking this class today?” The paranoia drips off him.
