Page 76 of City of Love

“Good. Please call if there’s anything else you think I need to know, all right? You did the right thing by telling me. I know it’s scary, but no one should be allowed to get away with that kind of behavior.” She smiles at me. “I’m proud of you. You were a wonderful student, and you’re a wonderful young woman.”

I smile back at her. It’s a tremulous thing, but it’s real. Because I can’t help feeling proud of myself, either.

We chat aimlessly for a few more minutes, and then I show Mlle Hilliard out. Once she’s gone, I flop down on the couch, suddenly exhausted. The exhaustion wars with giddiness, though, and I find myself even more eager for Noel to get back.

Which is why, when there’s a knock at the door, I almost fling it open immediately. It’s only at the last second that I realize Noel should still be at work, and anyway he wouldn’t need to knock on his own door. It’s probably Mlle Hilliard, coming back for something, so I open the door.

“Mlle—oh,” I say when I see not Mlle Hilliard but Luc, wearing medical scrubs, looking cheerful and carrying some sort of box in one hand. “Luc!” I say, tugging him inside. Then I throw my arms around him, hugging him tightly.

“Hi,” he says, laughing and hugging me back. “You’re…hyper. What’s this for?”

“Not hyper,” I say, laughing too, even as I blink away happy tears. I pull back, stepping away. “Just excited. Relieved. Guess what I did?”

I want to tell him, because I need to tellsomeone.I feel light, giddy—I need to share that. Even if I am still so emotionally overwhelmed that I’m bordering on happy crying.

“You found Noel’s stash of…” He trails off, his face twisting up as he appears to search for the word he wants. “Ah!” He snaps his fingers and then says, “Illicit. You found Noel’s stash of illicit drugs?” he says, looking amused now.

“I—what?” I say, the smile sliding off my face. “Hisstash?”

But Luc just laughs again, setting his box down by the door. “I’m kidding. Noel’s not interested in drugs. Losing control would be torture for him. Anyway, go on—tell me. What did you do? Why are you smiling, so proud of yourself?”

I smile again, savoring the anticipation…until I can’t take it anymore. “I reported Marcus!” I say. The words just sort of explode from me. “I reported him to my French teacher. I told her everything, and I showed her the pictures he sent—”

“Wait, wait,” Luc says, holding up one hand. “This is your stalker boy, correct?”

I nod.

“All right,” he says. “Go on.”

“I told Mlle Hilliard about him, and I showed her the pictures, and she said she was going to send him home. Home!” I say, dancing in place a little. “I did it, Luc! I was scared, but I did it.”

I sit on the couch, out of breath, and Luc sits next to me. “He told me no one but him was ever going to want me,” I say. “But Noel helped me realize that wasn’t true, and I just…” I shake my head. “I finally worked up the nerve to report him. And Noel is going to be so proud of me.” My smile widens at this thought, because it’s true; he’s going to be almost as happy about it as I am. “You and I got lucky, Luc,” I say, still thinking of Noel. “We’re lucky to have him in our lives. But anyway,” I add, suddenly embarrassed by my outburst. “Why are you here? Noel is at work.”

Luc nods. “I just came to drop off Noel’s tool box,” he says, pointing to the box he put by the door.

I nod, too. “I’ll tell him.”

He smiles at me, a cheerful, dimpled thing. Then he stands up. “Thank you, beautiful girl.”

I give him a wave, which he returns as he walks out, closing the door behind him. Once he’s gone and I’ve locked the door, I sprawl on the vastly uncomfortable couch, and when I fall asleep there’s a smile on my face.

***

I startle awake to the sound of a lock clicking, followed by the sound of the door opening. I jolt upright before remembering that I’m on Noel’s couch. When I realize he’s the one coming through the door—thank goodness, because I couldnotfight off an intruder—I hop up, crossing the room in two short strides and throwing my arms around him.

I collide with maybe a bit too much force, because he lets out a surprised “oomph” before returning the hug, his arms hesitant at first.

“I missed you,” I say into his neck. It’s silly, maybe, to have missed him when he was only gone for a few hours, but it’s a relief to be able to say it and not sound weird. Plus I’m still riding the high of having reported Marcus to Mlle Hilliard.

He sighs, his arms tightening around me. “I missed you too, sweetheart.”

Something about his voice has me hesitating, though. “Noel?” I say, pulling back so I can look at him. “Is everything okay?”

“Everything will be fine,” he says evasively, smoothing my hair with one hand while the other rests at my waist.

If he thinks he can get away with an answer like that, he’s sorely mistaken.

“I didn’t ask if everythingwillbe fine,” I say, tilting my head, trying to get him to meet my eye. “What’s going on? Spit it out; I have something to tell you!” I add, trying to lighten his mood.

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