Page 61 of Shadows of Nightshade
I lay, crumbled in a vulnerable heap, as laughter broke out across the room.
My hands grew cold as my skin crawled. Right now would be the perfect time for the floor to swallow me up and make me disappear.
Bryce was standing beside my empty chair, and his flawless, square features drew closer as he leaned toward me. “Are you okay?”
My heart hammered as I stared up at him.
Could he be showing genuine concern? I never could have guessed. But then my attention was called to the minuscule twitch at the corner of his mouth, and I knew.
He was a faker. I’d insulted him.
Good.
“Am I that boring?” Bryce held his hand, the perfect picture of a gentleman. It was an impressive act, though he lacked sincerity. Sure enough, the room began to sound with jealous twittering.
I stared between his hand and his face. What was he plotting now? Obviously, I couldn’t accept his help; I’d be targeted by his fans. I’d learned the hard way what an intense experience that could be, and Bryce just wasn’t worth the trouble. But peoplewould think I was a brat if I rebuffed him, and that also might set them off. I was trapped.
He was good. Too good.
I should bite him. Since I was in a lose-lose situation, I might as well go for the jugular and bring him down with me.
“Or do you need me to take you to the medical center?” He launched his final attack before I could decide.
“No!” I stared at him as my anxiety spiked and my battle strategy was lost. That was the last thing I wanted.
No medical center. No hospital.
“Miss Brosnan?” His expression had changed, and his forehead wrinkled in concern. He clearly had not expected my reaction. “What are—”
I’d made a huge mistake.
“I-I’m all right.” I brushed away his hand and stumbled to my feet. I couldn’t even look at him. “S-sorry.”
Suddenly, winning was no longer important.
My skin was crawling, and my vision was going hazy. I wanted to run away, and I wasn’t sure I could hold out until class ended.
Bryce stepped closer, his arm brushing against mine, and it somehow became even worse. He was saying something, but I couldn’t make it out, so this time, when I looked at him, it was out of necessity. “Go wait for me in Professor Hamway’s office.”
My ears buzzed as my stomach dropped.
But, why?
At the same time, though, I wasn’t sure what was worse: the scrutiny-filled stares of my peers, or being alone with Bryce Dubois.
“Please,” he said, not asking. He was giving me a direct order.
I was barely able to hold back my swelling panic as I gathered my bags and fled.
I pulledat my hair and cowered in one of Professor Hamway’s uncomfortable, faux-leather chairs. I’d messed up, and now, in the aftermath, there was nothing left for me to do except wallow.
What irony that Bryce and my first private conversation would take place because of my weakness—sleeping in class. It was a shameful thing and an ultimate insult to educators worldwide.
What would he do? I had no idea of the standard procedure for this sort of offense. Getting into trouble at school had been Finn’s job. Howdidprofessors punish college students? If the situation were reversed, and Bryce were my student, I would expel him.
Hopefully, he was more forgiving than me.
My unknown future worried me, however. It was high time to research.
