Page 9 of Ink & Ambition

My heart is breaking for the man standing on the stage. The same man who threw another person out of a doorway onto the street. Who flaunted his library study room in my face. How could they possibly be the same person?

“She said we were going for a ride,” he continues, and every single student is on the edge of their seat. “That was until she drove to Lake Grinold and pulled up right to the edge. I remember her telling us that she was sorry and I didn’t understand it at the time but of course, I do now. She was sorry for being selfish. Sorry for taking her depression, her fears, her own fucking needs out on us.”

I look over at Professor Walker. Surely cursing during a speech is inappropriate. I expect her to be scribbling away but she’s still staring directly at Alex, her jaw slightly open in shock.

“She drove into the lake. If it wasn’t for the courage of a couple passersby walking along the lake path, my brother and I would be dead. Thankfully, they pulled us out in time.” Alex looks down as he finishes his speech. By the look of the audience, they would allow him to continue forever if they could.

“So, what do I fear the most? I fear my mother. But… can you truly fear something that’s already gone? Someone that can’t physically hurt you anymore? I guess you can’t. So, then, I guess what I really fear is, one day…becoming her.”

Alex looks over at Professor Walker who gives him a slight nod before he heads back to his seat. There is a silence in the room that is so loud I want to cover my ears to hide from it.

Professor Walker clears her throat and everyone turns their attention towards her. “Alright, class. That’s all the time we havefor today. We’ll start fresh next Monday with,” she looks down at her list. “Jason, Maya, and Margot. See you next week.”

I should be on the floor with how low I am slouched in my seat.It’s fine, he doesn’t know your name.But for how stiff his shoulders get, I’m not sure that’s the truth. As the students start filing out of the room, Alex glances up and down the aisles, clearly looking for someone, until he spots me and his eyes widen just a fraction as his gaze catches mine.

It takes almost a physical level of strength to pull myself from his gaze, grab my things and bolt from the room. I’m at the door when I hear his voice, clear as day a few steps behind me.

“Sunshine?” His voice sounds tense and against my will, I stop in my tracks.

He speaks again but I have yet to turn around to meet his eyes. “I thought this was a class of freshmen.”

“And one junior who put off her electives,” I reply, still facing forward. He comes around to stand in front of me, his jaw ticking intensely. Due to the sloped nature of the room, he’s a step above me and as I’m looking up at him his eyes seem to darken when they capture mine. Something about the intensity of his stare causes me to shrink a little bit more in front of him, not that he needs any help gaining height on me.

Just as I think he’s going to say something else, something to break this overwhelming tension, he draws in a sharp breath, turns on his heels and leaves me completely alone in the room. As he stalks toward the door, I can’t help but think what the hell was that all about? And how did he know my name?

Chapter Five

Margot

Sydneyneverfailstoserve an incredible meal and tonight is no different. I’ve never eaten so well in my life and I’m alway sure to tell her that.

“Dinner’s on!” Sydney calls from the kitchen and Danika and I race toward the kitchen island to grab our usual stools. Dani makes it first since she chose to leap over the couch while I walk around it like a normal person.

Taking in the delicious smell of peppers, onions, and sausage, I salivate over the spread set out before us. “This looks amazing, Syd. Thanks for cooking.”

“Of course,” she replies, waving me off as she always does.

“Super amazing,” Danika agrees, her mouth already full of half-chewed sausage. Sometimes I seriously wonder how Dani and I have been best friends our entire lives when we are so different in so many ways. But, I guess they say opposites attract and Dani and I couldn’t be more opposite.

I take a bite and savor the incredible taste, finish chewing and then ask my daily question to the group. “So, how was school, darlings?”

“Well, Mom,” Dani teases, “I started my biochem course today and I actually really enjoy it. There’s something deeply interesting about DNA replication repair recombination.”

I can’t tell if she’s being serious or sarcastic. While a party girl at night, Danika does really take her studies seriously and has dreamed about being a doctor ever since she was old enough to use a pretend stethoscope. It could also have to do with her grandma dying of breast cancer when she was a teenager, but she’ll never admit that.

“I’m glad you’re enjoying it!” I cheer, regardless if she meant it or not. Nodding toward Sydney, I take another delicious bite of her meal.

Sydney and I met during our freshman orientation and bonded over the fact that we both wanted to go out for the school paper. Even though Sydney is an exercise science major, she’s always loved writing too and had planned to use the paper as a campus job for a little extra income, same as me. We clicked right away. When I introduced her to Danika, it was a friendship made in heaven. Since then, the three of us have been basically inseparable.

“That Music in Media elective I signed up for was actually super interesting, too.” Sydney says before taking a bite of her own meal.

“Oh right, do you think that’ll help you with your entertainment column for the paper?”

Sydney shrugs. “Here’s hoping.” She cleans off her mouth with her napkin. “What about you, Margot? How was that public speaking class?”

I want to tell them about seeing Alex in the class but for some reason I can’t bring myself to tell them about his speech. There was something deeply personal about it. It clearly upset him when he realized someone he actually recognized was in the class instead of a group of nameless freshmen.

So, instead of going into detail about the ordeal, I find myself shrugging. “It was fine. I didn’t actually do my speech, but I’m one of the first to start next week.”

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