Page 15 of My Roommate from Hell
“What was that about?” I ask.
“Dean Leeke wants to see us as soon as possible.”
Wait, did he just sayus?
CHAPTER SIX
I heard Zarmenus correctly.
Apparently, Dean Leeke wants to meet with the two of us in her office as soon as possible. Why does the dean even have Zarmenus’s number? It would make sense, given how big of a deal he is. Being the first-ever demon student does give one an undeniable special status.
“Do you mean she wants to see you?”
He shakes his head. “She specifically said the two of us. You’re not getting out of this that easy.”
My brain tells me my worst fear must have come true, that the scholarship actually was a huge mistake and it’s all going to be taken back. Even though the odds of that happening are incredibly slim.
“Do you know why?” I ask.
“No idea, but we shouldn’t keep her waiting. Shall we?”
As we walk toward University Hall where the dean’s office is located, people keep stopping to stare at us or take pictures with their phones. It’s making cold sweat break out on my palms, even though I try to remind myself that Zarmenus is the one they care about, not me. If he wasn’t with me I wouldn’t get a second glance. Zarmenus has seemed mostly oblivious to the double takes we’ve received, though sometimes he pulls a face or throws up a peace sign if he knows he’s being photographed.
I keep asking the same question: Why me?
I get her wanting to see Zarmenus. He is the prince of Hell, after all. He’s probably the most important student Point has ever had. His visit here is truly historic, and how well it goes could very well shape the rest of human history, and will be a key point in human-demon relations going forward.
We’ve now reached University Hall. The redbrick is classic for Point, broken up by large, white-trimmed windows. In the middle is an ivy-covered clock tower, and above the entrance, the wordsUNIVERSITY HALLare etched into the stone. Like a lot of the buildings on campus, it’s absurdly pretty. It’s so picturesque it’s like I’ve stepped into a college-set movie.
“I guess we’ll find out,” he says as he holds open the door for me.
We go through the pristine building, which is bright and airy, its marble floors gleaming. We follow the signs until we reach the dean’s office, which is on the top level. There’s no elevator in this building, so we take a staircase all the way up. Zarmenus walks quickly, and I find myself out of breath by the time we reach the top floor.
“You good?” he asks.
“I should exercise more,” I say. I stand up, putting on a brave face. “I’m good.”
Dean Leeke’s office is at the end of the hallway. Zarmenus knocks on the door, and a few moments later it opens, revealing Dean Leeke. She looks just like the pictures I’ve seen online: mid-forties, with her brown hair worn short. Her skin’s a deep, warm brown, and she’s dressed in a sharp navy-blue pantsuit, one that’s perfectly ironed and clearly tailored. She gives us a smile that’s welcoming, yet professional.
“Come in,” she says, moving aside for us.
Her office is amazing. The room is spacious with tall windows that not only give an incredible view of the campus, but also let in plenty of natural light. Directly in front of me is a large mahogany desk adorned with a few framed pictures of Dean Leeke posing with an unfamiliar woman as well as two kids. Her family, if my assumption is correct, looks blissfully happy.
“Take a seat,” she says, going over to her chair.
Zarmenus and I both sit.
“Thank you for stopping by,” she says. “I hope that the two of you are settling in nicely.”
“We are,” says Zarmenus. “I love it here.”
“Me too,” I say.
As nice as she seems, I still feel a little like I’m in the hot seat, as if I’m in the middle of a job interview or something similar. She might not hold all the keys to my academic and professional future, but this could be an opportunity. I never thought I would interact with her like this; I don’t think many students meet the dean of the entire school. It makes me think my choice to stay sharing a room with Zarmenus was a good one: having the dean of the school know and hopefully like me can only mean good things for my future.
“I’m sure you’re curious why I brought you here,” she says. “And don’t worry, you’re not in trouble.”
“Not yet,” chimes Zarmenus.
