Page 73 of Unloved

My mouth opens to help before it seals shut as Carmen’s hand lands on my shoulder. “Now, what can I help with?”

“Nothing,” I grit, wanting desperately to rip my skin out from underneath her grip. “I’m fine. Ro helped me.”

Ro’s face goes slightly pale at my sharp admission. Carmen squeezes slightly, brushing her hand through the ends of my hair as she walks behind me around the table, to the front of the class. She says something to Ro beneath her breath, chastising her as Ro nods, cheeks red in humiliation.

Ro’s beautiful, haunted hazel eyes keep darting to mine, butshe doesn’t move. Everyone in the room is silent, watching as my tutor lets Carmen finish before finding a seat near the side of the room.

There’s a beaten-down set to her shoulders that mimics mine, both hunched and afraid, but frozen in this stupid classroom.

I wait for Carmen to say something to Tyler, to chide him for his much larger disruption, but she doesn’t. Only steps up beside him and takes over where she paused.

The session ends minutes later, and the only thing I remember is Ro’s explanation. I want to run, to bolt from this room and let the energy of a sprint take the edge off my hyperactivity—even if I know it won’t. Instead, I stay while Ro helps hand out extra study sheets and packs her bag.

Tyler watches her. Carmen watches me. But I never take my eyes off Ro.

Finally, I stand and toss my bag onto one shoulder, heading toward her to be the last student to leave the room.

“Hey,” I whisper, huddling in close and blocking her slender form with as much of my body as I can. She fiddles nervously with one of the bows in her hair until I grab her hand and pull it away. “You okay?”

“Yeah. I’m fine—”

“Fredderic,” Tyler snaps, sidling up beside us. I try to block him subtly with my shoulder and height, but he manages to catch Ro’s eye easily even as he speaks only to me. “Good to know Ro’s been so helpful to you. You know, we used to have a bet that you couldn’t read.” He laughs at this and shakes his head, like we’re old buddies sharing in his hateful humor. “But my bet was better—I bet you’d fuck her first.”

He doesn’t drop his voice even a notch, so I know Carmen hears his words.

“Ro loves being hands-on with instruction, right, RoRo?” Hesneers, a flare of regret mixing with hatred in his eyes as he looks her over again. “But sleeping with a student? That’s low, even for you.”

“We aren’t—” Her voice is shaky, eyes welling with tears that she does her best to hold back. If we weren’t in the classroom of the one authority figure I know won’t take my side, I’d knock him on his ass.

“Jealousy isn’t a good look on you, Donaldson,” I say before hardening my face to stone. “Leave her alone.”

He pats me on the back and drops his voice to a quiet whisper. “You two might be perfect together. She’s even more of a slut than you, Fredderic.”

Ro shoves off the wall and darts past me to sprint from the room. It’s deathly quiet for a moment before I peek over my shoulder at Carmen, who is carefully watching, even as she pretends to be busy with whatever papers lie in front of her.

“Don’t talk to her again, asshole.” My words are sharp edged and swift, loud enough that our beloved professor can intervene, but as long as I don’t raise my fists, I know she won’t. “I’m serious.”

“Nice threat, but I’m not scared of you.” Tyler shrugs, as though my words have no effect. “She and I are far from over.”

“Wanna fucking bet?” I snap before storming out and breaking into a run, hoping to catch her.

I don’t have to go far. Ro is standing by the restroom entrances, a hidden corner spot, with her head cradled in her hands.

“Rosalie,” I breathe. Her head darts up, curls tumbling as she sucks in a hard breath and forces out a smile despite her reddened, watery eyes.

“Freddy, hey,” she says, wiping her cheeks. “Did you have another question?”

It hurts, her deflection, but the boundary she’s drawing is clear. We’re not friends right now, or anything more—she’s my tutor, my TA, and I’m the student. I can’t comfort her, take her in my arms and hold her like I so desperately want to.

“No, I’m fine. But… I’m worried about you.”

“I’m okay,” she says. “Honestly, don’t worry about me.”

I nod, like it will make her feel better, shuffling my feet before adding, “If there’s something bothering you, you can talk to me about it.”

“I’m good.” Her words are shaky at best, eyes darting around me. “I should go.”

I nod, swallowing the sting of her unusually quick rejection.

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