Page 13 of Knot What She Seems
“What’s this?” I frown, eyeing the paper like it’s about to come to life and stab me.
“The assignment.” Harper shoves the paper toward me yet again, expression insistent. This time, I take it, albeit hesitantly. “I copied your handwriting the best I could.” She shrugs. “And I made sure not to get them all right. That would be too suspicious.”
My mouth pops open as I struggle to find the words to say.
Every person I’ve ever met at Darling Academy has wanted to be my friend, but it’s not because they care about me as a person. No, they simply want the prestige of saying they’re “besties” with the princess. Maybe they hope I can secure them an invitation to one of my parents’ lavish balls. Or maybe they think I can help them secure a high-profile alpha match.
Whatever their reasoning, people here pretend to be my friend until they realize I can’t get them what they want. Then, they drop me like yesterday’s trash.
I try to say it doesn’t bother me, but the truth is…I’m a little lonely.
Just a little.
Not that I would ever admit that out loud.
But nobody has ever done anything like this for me. I mean, they’ve offered to buy me meals at restaurants, but nothing personal. None of the other omegas have even noticed the way I end up scratching out answers or using my eraser so many times that it’s worn to the nub in the space of a week.
My roommate isn’t just observant. She’s thoughtful.
This is the perfect gift.
I’m a little bit dazzled and also a little bit terrified to take it.
Harper smiles at the flabbergasted expression on my face. She has to know that she would be in a lot of trouble if she were ever caught helping me cheat, yet she doesn’t seem worried.
“See you at breakfast tomorrow?” She carefully pushes her hair behind her ears.
“Yeah,” I murmur in a daze, staring down at the completed worksheet. She even made my two with a loop when I know for a fact that she draws a straight line on the bottom of hers. “Thank you,” I remember to call out as she leaves.
Harper waves and then slips back through her door. It closes with a nearly silent thump.
Why would she do this for me?
Does she truly want to be my friend, or is she like everyone else, using me for my status?
Shaking my head, because I have far more important things to worry about like fraud and identity theft, I finish getting ready for the night and then duck back into my bedroom. My laptop, sitting open on my desk, flashes with an incoming email. I hurry toward it, unsurprised to see that Caran has finally emailed me with the custom schedule he’s been tweaking for days now.
A ball of tension forms in my throat as I click on the email.
This is the best I can do.
-C
Below it are two schedules—one for Darling Academy and one for Eros.
I look at Darling Academy first. None of my classes have changed, but their times have.
MONDAY:
9:00 AM – Manners and Etiquette with Madam Ellora
3:00 PM – How to Please Your Alpha(s) with Madam Ellora
WEDNESDAY:
2:00 PM – Culinary Arts with Mrs. Lotty
5:00 PM – World History with Mr. Sneaks
