Page 66 of What Happened on Roslyn Street?
“You’ve been with him a lot lately.”
“We’re friends,” I say. “What about Jun? Does he always walk you to class?”
“Sometimes. It’s the buddy system. That’s what the professors say to use, right?”
“Right. It’s the same with me and Caldwell.”
“I still have my heart set on Professor Cruz.”
We dissolve into giggles, hidden behind our hands, and I swear I feel his eyes on us.
Right.Vampire.He can hear every stupid thing we say.
“Sh!” I nudge her with my elbow. “If you’re so interested in him, maybe you should pay attention to his class.”
That keeps her quiet for the rest of the lecture—or perhaps it’s Professor Cruz’s sharp glare that does it. The silence is only gifted to me until things wrap up, and then she’s back at my side, following me out of class.
“Am I going to see you at dinner tonight?” she asks, batting her lashes.
“Um… I don’t know…”
“You’re with Margaux every night! I wanted to join, but she and Jun don’t like each other. I don’t know. It makes it complicated.”
There’s an inexplicable pressure behind her words. Amelia was one of the first people to warm up to me at theschool, but that doesn’t mean I’m required to maintain a friendship with her.
I don’t havetimefor that, anyway—but of course, she wouldn’t understand.
“Margaux is an old friend,” I say. “But I can try to detangle myself from her for a night. Just for you.”
I don’t particularly want to. Margaux keeps me safe… and more than that, we have a lot to talk about.
“Please! We miss you at our end of the table.” Amelia giggles. “And don’t let her fill your head with lies about Jun, okay? He’s a sweetheart!”
“I believe you.”
Margaux hasn’t told me about her issues with Jun, and he hasn’t done anything to make me doubt him—although hewasa little cold today. The drama with Margaux must go both ways if he’s icing me out.
Behind Amelia, my savior appears—Caldwell, here to rescue me from this mildly awkward interaction. In another circumstance, I would be happy to be Amelia’s friend, but the guilt and pressure turn me off.
I’ve never been so relieved to see him. He approaches tentatively, watching us with a curious expression.
“Am I interrupting?” he asks.
Despite the calm timbre of his voice, his appearance makes Amelia jump.
She looks between us, shaking her head, visibly flustered. “No! We’re just making dinner plans, but… I won’t stop you.” She smiles at me—specifically atme, hardly giving Caldwell a moment of her time. “It was great to see you again, Tobey!”
I return the smile with some hesitance. “I’ll see you at dinner… soon.”
But I don’t make promises about it happening tonight. I have a feeling itwill be a busy night.
Caldwell offers his hand, and I take it, not stopping to think about how it looks to Amelia. I denied our relationship, and she hardly believed me. Now, she definitely won’t.
He pulls me away, and I let out a sigh of relief.
“Did your visions tell you I needed saving? I ask.
“What?” He laughs.
