Page 58 of The Howl
By the time I pulled through Girderon’s gates, I’d successfully missed the first session. I took my time finding a parking spot, since mine was taken, then went inside. The halls were quiet, a nice change. In no hurry to join the second session, I paused by the pool to watch the mermaids play around with a boat.
While I knew they didn’t spend all day in the water, I was still envious that they had at least one class they seemed to enjoy.
“A bit late today, aren’t you?” Adira said from behind me.
“Mom wants to talk to you,” I said, continuing to watch the mermaids splash. “She wasn’t too happy when she said it, either. I’m not surprised, really. She never did like being confined in any way.” I finally turned to look at Adira.
“Don’t wait too long, Adira. You don’t want to push her like you enjoy pushing me. I better get to class.”
She didn’t say anything as I walked away. As much as I wanted to take that as a victory, I knew better. With Adira, it was hard to tell what was a win and what was a play right into her hands.
Outside the room, I glanced down at my clothes. While skipping school altogether like Mom had suggested would have been much more appealing than facing everyone dressed like this again, I knew Fenris was right about not running from Adira’s manipulations. Running never did anyone any good. Taking a steadying breath, I opened the door and stopped short at the sight of Ashlyn’s empty desk.
“She gave me a note for you,” Yanet said from her spot. “You want me to tuck it into your back pocket so you can read it later?”
The last thing I wanted was the dwarf anywhere near my rear end. I didn’t trust the gleam in her eyes.
“No, thank you. I’ll just read it now.”
I held out my hand, and Yanet set the folded piece of paper in my palm, doing her best to make it as sensually-awkward as possible. Ignoring her suggestive looks, I took the note to my seat and opened it.
I’msorry for my behavior yesterday and want you to know you did the right thing to bring up my uncle. I doubt anything else would have gotten through to me. Don’t take my absence personally. I’m not mad, just being smart. We both know it’s best if I avoid you for a day or two.
Still your friend,
Ashlyn
I staredat the piece of paper, fighting the urge to cry. She was sorry? She had nothing to be sorry for. I should have left the room instead of saying what I had. It hurt her deeply. Some friend I was.
“You okay?” Yanet asked.
“I’m fine,” I said automatically. After all, the social nicety that demanded people ask the question also demanded there was only one acceptable answer.
“Because if you need me to distract you, I’m—”
I turned on her.
“I said I’m fine.”
She held up her hands, the callouses on her fingers standing out so sharply that I could see the glitter of diamond dust stuck in the ridges of her thumbprint on her right hand.
“Sorry,” she said.
I swallowed hard and focused on the note as I refolded it. The intricate pattern of the pressed paper fibers helped distract me from my need to apologize to Yanet. Apologizing would only make her growing fascination worse. I thought of my dad and how he’d pleaded with my mom to stay with him and hardened my heart as I got up to walk out of class. I’d been mean enough to Ashlyn yesterday. I refused to repeat it with someone else today.
Walking back the way I’d come, I hid in the poolside bathroom until the bell rang. As I was leaving, I ran into the same group of druids as they entered.
“You’re not taking over our spot, are you?” the one with the thick hair asked with a joking smile.
I shook my head and hurried away before joking turned into flirting. The hall leading from the pool was unusually crowded, slowing my escape. And in a strange turn of events, people didn’t seem to notice me as I carefully wove my way through them. The reason for their inattention soon became clear, though.
In the middle of the hall, two boys glared at each other.
Like the rest of the students, I slowed to watch Eras, an incubus a little older than me, push the other boy.
“Dammit, Tarius. I’m not exaggerating or messing around. My meal was primed, and I meanprimed. Then someone came in and stole it right from under my nose. I want to know who it was. Now.”
“It wasn’t me,” Tarius said. “I wasn’t anywhere near the Heights.”
