I groan. “Dev, you’vegotto learn the definition of fun.”
“And you’ve got to learn the definitions of overs and innings.”
I groan louder. Why does Will have to like boring things?
“Hey, have you finished yourBeowulfpaper yet?”
I turn, but Dev’s actually bent over Sage’s desk. Real smooth conversation starter.
“Finished it two days ago,” she says.
“Cool,” he replies. “Yeah. I finished it last night. So you have the night free, then? You know, people are watching the newest season ofDoctor Whodown in the common room if you want to check it out. It’s a pretty awesome show.”
“Thanks, but I should work. I have some articles I need to read for Dr. Reese.”
Dev deflates. Ugh, Sage is not going to make this easy on him.
“How about you, Ellie? All done?” Sage asks brightly, and Iwonder if she’s trying to deflect Dev’s attention.
“Um, I’m getting there.”
Dev’s eyes widen. “It’s due tomorrow.”
“I know. I’ll finish it.”
“Can I see it?” he asks, pointing to my laptop.
Hesitantly, I pull it up, then climb up to my bed. I’m exhausted. Between classes, reading, papers, and studying up on Will’s interests, sleep has fallen off the priority list.
“This isn’t bad.” Dev can’t hide the surprise in his voice.
“Yeah?”
“You need a stronger introduction. And you should beef up your section on Tolkien’s criticism. But, overall, it’s strong. Solid B at least.”
I squint down at the laptop to make sure he’s reading the right document. Huh. I did devote extra time to it at the library since Will was with his father all day and couldn’t text me. I guess it’s a little easier to focus when I’m not waiting for the next chime on my phone.
My phone lights up. Speaking of which! I give Dev and Sage an apologetic look. Dev shrugs and walks back over to Sage’s desk.
“Hello?”
“Elle! I was hoping to catch you. Am I interrupting?”
“No, not at all.” I climb down from bed, step out of the room, and walk down the hall to a comfy chair overlooking the grounds. I curl into it, my exhaustion forgotten.
“How’s Brighton?”
“Eh, it’d probably be great if I weren’t here with Father,” hesays. “Tell me about your day. It had to be better than mine.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that. Just standard school stuff. Breakfast, classes, studying, more classes, more studying. I didn’t know I was signing up for so much work when I decided to come here.”
“Do you really have to study that much? It can’t be that important.”
I squeeze my eyes shut, thinking about my newest study topics with Dev. “Some of it is.”
I hear him shift and imagine him stretching and leaning back in a chair. He sighs again. “I wish we could do something together. Or go away someplace. Let’s pretend—what would you want to do?”
“If we went away someplace together?”
