I swallow hard, trying to keep up with Ellis as we speed walk across campus toward the science building. They’re probably normal-length strides, but I’m short. “I think if I completely ignore what happened with Ayan last night, I’ll let him make some sort of apology, then I could smile and save face.”
Ellis stops short. “Are youkidding meright now, Scout? You’re not taking him back.”
Lips pursed, I nod. “Right. That would be bad.”
“It would be pathetic. Tragic.” She shakes her head, short brown hair waving. “And you’re not tragic.”
“Correct. He and I are done. Completely.”
I don’t know what I was thinking. It’s not like I care about Ayan. In fact, he drives me crazy. His constant need for attention and admiration when he’s done nothing to deserve it. The way he turns everything into a competition. Fortunately, he’ll be gone next year.
The terrifying thing is that I could still get appointed to him. There’s a new committee at Northview University that determines which fraternity brother each sorority sister will be assigned to for life: the Pairing Oversight Tribunal. They now determine which senior man I could be bound to. Toserveloyally as my Viscount.
If I don’t accept the appointment, they’d kill me. My family. My friends.
I don’t care which man it is, as long as he understands one thing: I’m leaving this town to attend my top choice medical school. If I get in. He can stay here or come along if he chooses.
Our society’s pairings aren’t traditional marriages where the couple is strictly monogamous. Typically, the Viscountsshare their wives with each other. Then get their rocks off wherever they choose. Some keep long-term mistresses.
I’ll be too busy with my career to pay attention. Love isn’t something that I’ve ever thought much of. But being in Greek life at Northview University has its benefits. Money, fame…and theinat most schools I would choose to attend to study medicine.
“Look at him. He’s faking remorse. I hate his face,” Ellis says as we find our regular seats in Cell Biology lab. Unfortunately, they’re directly in front of Ayan. “Even G looks smug.”
Next to my ex-boyfriend (Yes, he’s your ex, Scout.) sits Ayan’s friend, only known as ‘G’. He continually hits on me awkwardly whenever Ayan isn’t around. I’ve always rejected him because he was Ayan’s friend. But today?
I raise my hand and give him a coy wave and a wink.
He laughs and snaps his gaze to Ayan, whose brown eyes darken before narrowing at me.
“He left you another apology gift,” Ellis says, shoving the red lollipop at me. We’d never discussed the treat, but I assumed it had something to do with us becoming doctors and handing out suckers to patients. He regularly started leaving them on my desk in different classes whenever he said something stupid. Or if I got a little too suspicious of his extracurricular activities. Seeing it now? I get a bellyache.
I pick it up and throw it in the trash can at the end of the aisle.
“I’ve always hated those suckers,” I say, and Ellis nods with pride.
five
On Friday evenings,I typically visit my parents’ house with a bag of dirty clothes. TheOmegalaundry room is gross. And I’m sure there’s black mold inside the rims of the machines. From the iron-and-mildew stench in the basement, you’d think that someone was murdered down there.
Fridays are also my standing dinner dates with my mom. She usually finishes her neurology clinic early, so we eat together and catch up.
When I pull into the driveway, my older brother’s neon green pickup gleams under the streetlights. Darkness blankets the sky already as I get out of my car.
For a second, I glance over my shoulder, half expecting someone to be watching the house from the street. The thought is ridiculous…but lately, ridiculous things have been happening at Northview University.
The chilly January wind cuts across my face as I race through the front door towardhome.
“It’s me!”
Mom yells, “I’m in the kitchen!”
After I hang up my coat, Dad grabs me in a tight bear hug. “My Padawan. Missed you.”
“Missed you, too, Dad.”
My oldest brother, Landon, leans over the kitchen island, huffing in pizza rolls like he hasn’t eaten in an hour.
“Why aren’t you at your hockey game?” I ask.
