Page 51 of Alive and Kicking
He holds out a hand and I shake it. “You too.”
He lets go and pauses for a second. “And just to clarify, I wouldn’t actually kill someone for caffeine.”
Nox scoffs, “You threatened to stab me because I finished off the coffee and haven’t had a chance to replace it yet. I’m pretty sure you were serious about it too.”
Viv smiles over at me, rolling her eyes at Nox’s words, before plucking a coffee cup from the holder she’s got in her hands. “Here. Take the coffee and chill out. We should have spiked it with valium or something.”
Dr. Price takes it and scowls at her. “If I wasn’t already so busy with exams coming up, I would assign your class an insanely long essay just for that comment.”
Viv shrugs. “I would ace it anyway.”
He rolls his eyes and waves a hand. “I’m off to do more grading.” He stops at the door and nods his head at me. “It was nice meeting you.”
I nod, but don’t say anything. I figured it would be awkward for Viv to be living with a professor but she seems friendly and casual with him. Probably helps that she knows almost literally everything about him. Either way it feels awkward for me to be around a professor outside of school. I couldn’timagine interacting with my environmental science teacher over breakfast in the morning.
Viv takes the last two coffees out of her carrier and hands one to me. “Lets get this thing started.” She looks over to Zane. “When we order pizza could you bring it up for us?”
“Sure,” he says with a smile, and gives me a wave as I follow after Viv up the stairs Dr. Price just disappeared up.
Viviana
It’s getting close to the end of the semester and I’m struggling this year. I usually don’t have an issue studying or focusing on my classwork, but this year it’s straight torture. Since those photos got posted I’ve been anxious and scared. I feel like I’m constantly looking over my shoulder. Nox got them down within a few hours, but they were there for the world to see for that time. Who knows what kind of people are looking for me? And now they might have photos of not only me, but Zane too. As well as Sloan’s name from posts naming him as my boyfriend.
I hadn’t cared when Carol was taking photos of me. I kind of figured she was going to use them in some kind of sad attempt to get Sloane to see that I was ‘cheating’ on him or something. You know, like the bitchy girls who send photos to the guys they like in all the books I’ve been reading. I never considered that in the real world people like to do their exposing publicly on social media.
Cain speaking brings my attention back to the front of the classroom. “Exams are coming up fast. I have a TA this year so he will be running study groups for anyone interested. Please raise your hand if you wish to join.” About half the class raise their hands as the TA takes note of who has them up. “Theodorewill send a text to those raising their hands with meeting times and places.”
He dismisses us and I head out of the classroom. I find my usual seat empty in the little common area and settle in to read over my notes from the class. I might actually have to ask Cain to go over my study guide this year. After a while, someone sits down in one of the seats next to me. I try to ignore the eyes I can feel on myself and mentally go over where all of my weapons are located.
“You didn’t raise your hand for the study group,” a voice says casually.
I look up to see Theodore watching me. His eyes are too perceptive, like he’s looking for a weakness. And it makes my skin crawl. I have no idea why Cain would ever choose this guy. Did he even have interviews, or did he just randomly pick someone to be his teaching assistant?
I settle back in my seat, keeping my eyes on him. I want to appear calm even though this man makes me feel anything but. “I do better self-studying.”
He hums under his breath, his eyes trailing down to my notebook opened on today’s notes. “I could take a peek at your notes if you want.”
I tilt my notebook up higher so he can’t read them. “No thanks. I’m good.”
“Maybe I could give you my number and we could study one on one over lunch or something?” he asks, tilting his head to the side.
Though his words could be considered flirty, his tone and facial expression don’t line up with that. He seems calculating and cold, and in this moment I wonder if this is how Cain felt sitting across from serial killers during his time in the FBI. I’m going to need Nox to look into this guy. Maybe ask Enzo to dosome surveillance. Because something about him just doesn’t feel right.
I give him a flat smile. “No thanks.”
Before he has a chance to reply, my phone starts to buzz. I pick it up instantly. “What’s going on? Are you okay?” Nox asks.
I continue staring at Theodore. I’m not going to be the one who looks away first. “Yeah. What’s up?”
A breath leaves Nox. “I was checking up on you since I know you’re between classes and saw that guy talking to you. You look really tense so I was afraid you might need help. If you want me to text one of the guys and send them your way, say something about coffee. If you’re fine say something about lunch.”
I think about it for a moment. I’m not scared of this guy, but I do want out of this situation without looking like I’m running from him. “Yeah. We could grab some coffee tomorrow before classes if you want.”
“Got it. Texting them now,” Nox explains.
“Okay. I’ll see you then.” I hang up the phone over Nox’s protests.
“Boyfriend?” Creepy McCreeperson questions.
