Page 69 of Hidden

"We're going to Grounds after," she says. "Come when you're done."

"Yeah," I say. "I will."

***

The residence office smells like carpet and old coffee. The woman behind the desk listens to me and I notice she isn’t writing anything down I hope she’s mentally taking notes. I wonder how many students come to her to moan about something.

When I finish, she pulls up the building's security log without being asked.

I tell her about the beeping. I tell her I've noticed the door not feeling quite right a few times. I don't tell her about the flowers or the bracelet or the fact that I woke up this morning wearing something I specifically took off before I went to sleep. I don't know how to say that without it sounding like something I made up.

She tells me they'll run a full diagnostic on the building's access system this week, and they'll have a security presence outside the building in the evenings, someone checking the perimeter, for the next seven days while they assess.

Someone watching the building. That’ll be nice, he won’t be able to get past them can he.

I thank her for listening to me leave the office and get ready for my day. The morning air is cold, so I pull my jacket tighter and head to Grounds.

***

Grounds is busy enough that I hear it before I push through the door. It’s Saturday morning, why are so many students awake this early?

I spot my girls at our corner table. Then I spot the table directly beside them. Miles is sitting with his back to me, wearing a dark jacket, and one hand around a coffee cup. He’s saying something to Mason that makes Mason lean back in his chair and laugh. Declan is beside him, with Trixie tucked into his side. Lileah is sitting across from them, with her hair down. She’s stunning, how she doesn’t have a line of guys after her is crazy. Her legs are to die for.

I walk to our table, sit down and accept the coffee Juno slides across without being asked. I make the decision that I’m going to have a normal Saturday morning if it kills me. I just want to put all the stalker stuff behind me, at least for today.

"You okay?" Juno asks.

"Perfect," I say, and pick up the coffee.

It's Lileah who breaks the border between the tables.

"Oh my God." Lileah points at Maya's earrings. "Are those from the jewelry store on Fletcher Street?”

Maya touches them automatically. "Yes, I love it there. They can do with bringing the prices down a little, though,” Maya jokes. I say nothing as I’ve never been there and don’t plan on it either.

"I've walked past it a hundred times and never gone in.”

"You have to go. It's overwhelming in the best way, there's a woman there who sells everything from the fifties, and she'll tell you the entire history of every piece if you let her."

"I want that," Lileah says immediately. "I want all of that."

“You’re acting like you never get any jewelry, or anything from anyone.” Mason snaps at her, making Miles laugh.

“Something new won’t hurt…”

“I got you earrings, and a necklace yesterday.” Miles points at her, and I look at the set he got her. I have to say for a guy, he has nice taste.

"Saturday mornings. She's only there on Saturdays," Maya tells her.

“I can’t go today, we can go next Saturday, do you think she’ll be there?” Lileah asks.

"Probably."

Lileah turns to Trixie. "We're going."

Trixie nods her head and then starts signing to Declan who smiles at whatever she’s said.

"You should all come," Lileah says to the table at large, which now includes everyone whether they intended it or not. She's already pulling her chair around. "I'm Lileah, by the way. Since we're apparently doing this."