Page 15 of A Lesson in Deceit
I flicked my eyes up at Corrin, who was looking at her own phone. A text from River came through again.
RIVER
Call me tomorrow, gorgeous. Love you.
I said I love you back, sending a few red hearts to him and flipped my phone face down for safe measure. It would be just like River to randomly send a picture of his cock just to spite me.
“Ready to get out of here? We can head to the bookstore, grab what we need for the semester.” Corrin reached for my cup, pushing her seat back.
“Sure, sounds good.”
We both walked out, following the directory outside the coffee shop, towards the bookstore. I could see it in the distance, a tall, rectangular building that had more windows than most of the buildings on this campus.
Corrin opened the door for me, but I paused before walking through. There was another directory next to the bookstore and my eyes focused on the first place noted on the rust-colored sign.
HUMAN/MAGIC LIAISON
I looked over the sign towards the north side of campus. The English, Math and Elemental Magic academic advisors were on the west side so the options to naturally be close to my father’s office were dwindling. I could always just ask to see it, snoop around, but there would likely be someone watching me, hovering. I couldn’t have that.
“Riley, you good?” Corrin kicked my calf with her black high top covered foot.
I shook my head, plastering a smile on my face. “Yeah, sorry. I’m just a little tired and unsurprisingly exhausted.” I pulled out my phone, checking the time. “And it’s just midafternoon. Fucking great.”
Corrin laughed, reached into her fanny pack, pulling out a folded-up piece of paper. She looked up, searching each of the signs to try to find where she needed to go. I looked over her shoulder, taking her arms and turning her in the direction of the herbs department.
I tapped on my phone, pulling up my email and clicking on the last email from the university that had my finalized class schedule. I scrolled over to see the locations, sighing in relief when I saw that one of them was on the north side. The MentalMagic Department was over there as well, so that made sense since that was my psychology class.
I scrolled up to double-check the rest of my classes when I heard a small gasp. “You’re taking general psychology? Me too!” She squealed, pulling me toward one of the bookcases.
“Marianne,I have to go. I have to call my mom.” The sun had long gone down and Corrin had taken up video chatting with her partner until she fell asleep with her laptop open.
“I can’t believe you're rooming with a witch, that is so cool. I’m stuck with a boring human.” I shook my head even though she couldn’t see me.
“Let’s not forgetyouare also just a boring human,” I taunted.
“Don’t get smart. That school has already made you incredibly sassy.”
I pressed my head further into my pillow. “You sound like River.”
“The mind reader better be taking care of you since I’m not there. I have friends in high places if he isn’t.”
Their relationship had gotten better over time. River really had to prove himself to Marianne, even more so than my parents. He treated it like a challenge, and he was dead set on winning her over. She was always going to be skeptical, but she didn’t let out a loud, obnoxious groan every time I would tell her I was going out with him anymore.
I pulled my phone away from my ear and checked the time. “We get it. You are very feisty. I need to call my mom; I will text you tomorrow.”
She begrudgingly let me go and I went to click on my mom’s number when a text came through.
GRAYSON
Nakakainis ka naman. Napaka killjoy mo talaga. Bakit mo naman kami iniwang dalawa lang ni River?
I blinked, trying to understand what this was. I texted question marks back, fully prepared to use the internet to translate what he was saying.
GRAYSON
Basically, you’re a killjoy for deciding not to hang out tonight, therefore, leaving us to our own devices.
Is River standing over your shoulder making you type this?
