Page 37 of Lessons in Sin

Noah: My classes finished early. Coffee anyone?

Lily: No.

Noah: No? You’re saying no to coffee?

Lily: Don’t sound so surprised.

Lily: I’m lying dumb dumb.

Noah: Phew, thought I was going to have to call the doctor.

Lily: :)

I click the call button, a sob wracking my body as they answer.

‘Can you guys come here instead?’

*

Lily strokes my hair as I finish telling them everything. I trust them with my life and right now I need someone to be there for me, even if the person I really want is probably sitting in his office, hating me from afar.

‘Jesus.’ Noah breathes as Lily sends me a pitying look. ‘Do you have any idea who would know?’

‘No! It doesn’t make any sense.’ A fresh batch of tears leak from my eyes. I don’t think I have enough tears left for full droplets anymore and so they leak pitifully from my eyes like a slow river stream.

‘Can I see the message again?’ Noah says, his hand held out for the phone. He stares at the message for longer. ’Is there anyone you’ve made an enemy of while here?’

’I don’t think so, why?’

‘Whoever wrote it called you a slut, seems personal.’

Lily’s brows furrow. ‘And they didn’t call him anything - fricken sexists - but that kinda implies it could be someone that’s jealous?’

‘Doesn’t really narrow it down though, does it? Half of the university is lusting after him. It could be anyone in his fan club.’ I grumble.

I try to think back to the gaggle of girls that surround him after each class, trying to pick out a mean stare, or a pointed glance directed by one of them towards me but there’s nothing there.

It all seems like harmless crushes on their part.

‘If only one of us was a tech whizz, maybe we could have found a way to track the phone back to someone.’

And that’s when it hits me.

Grabbing my phone off Noah, I call Ruby immediately.

She’s currently at home having finished her classes few days before so she should pick up and like I suspected after the second ring her lyrical voice floats through the phone.

’Finally! I want early Christmas dee—‘

I cut her off, too desperate to be polite. ‘Ruby, I need your help.’

’Sure, what with?’

‘Is there any way you can track an unknown number?’

’Text or call?’

‘Text.’

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