Page 158 of Vexatious Queen

“He needs to fix this to make it more insightful.”

Zigzag kept his eyes on Ivy.

“Yeah, that’s it. I’m just not going deep enough with the problem.”

“I don’t believe either of you, but whatever. I don’t even care,” Ivy said, dropping down into the seat beside Zigzag and putting her latest report on the table. “I’m almost failing this class. We need to ace this project so that I can graduate.”

Tears welled in Ivy’s eyes as her bottom lip trembled.

“I suck. This is the third class that I’m bombing, and I thought I was doing well. Shows you what I know.”

I had no idea that Ivy was struggling in her classes. We didn’t spend as much time together as we once did, but it felt like this was something I should’ve known about.

Zigzag put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her into his side.

“Hey, it’s going to be okay. I’ll help you study if you need.”

“Are you kidding me?”

We all jerked and turned around as Sabastian stomped in from the door closest to us at the back of the classroom.

“I come here early to surprise you after class, and I find you snuggled up to him?”

“Don’t talk to her like that,” Zigzag said, standing and stepping around the desk. “Can’t you see she’s upset?”

This wasn’t good.

“Hey, what is going on back there?” Sharpe shouted from the front of the classroom, but no one paid him any attention.

“Sabastian, it’s not what it looks like. Zigzag is telling the truth. He was just consoling me,” Ivy said, standing.

“Seriously, are you blind? Of course, he is. He wants you to lean on him and lure you back in. It’s all a ploy.”

Each word was laced with anger.

“Are you serious? I’m not the one with a scam artist for a father who takes advantage of vulnerable kids. Pretty sure if anyone is running a ploy here, it’s you, and your screwed up family,” Zigzag yelled, pointing at Sabastian.

Mr. Sharpe pushed past the students blocking his way as he tried to reach the back of the room.

“Guys, this is not the place for this discussion,” I said, getting out of my seat. “This is a private family matter.”

Sabastian’s glare turned toward me.

“Please, give me a break. The only reason why you care what is proper is because you’re worried more dirt from your family will be announced.”

“Pretty sure my family’s dirt is public knowledge by now,” I said.

“Sabastian, please listen to me,” Ivy said, moving toward him.

“No, I believed you when you said the kiss was a one-time thing and he initiated it. But then he’s been up in my face ever since. Then you tell me that you were in his room the other night and now this. So, forgive me if I don’t believe your oh so sweet innocent act,” Sabastian snarled, and stepped back from Ivy.

“That is enough,” Mr. Sharpe said, but no one was listening.

Zigzag stomped toward Sabastian.

“I told you not to talk to her like that,” he ordered.

I grabbed Ivy and pulled her back as the two of them got nose to nose.