Page 58 of Group Studies

“What the fuck is going on, A?” Ashe asked. “Even Derek asked me if you were okay this morning, and that kid hates me.”

I furrowed my eyebrows and focused on the Gentle Giant. “Derek doesn’t hate you.”

“Yeah, he sure as shit does.” Ashe raised his scarred eyebrow. “He’s got a massive thirteen-year-old crush on you he’s no fucking clue what to do about it. Believe me. I was an awkward teen at one point too.”

I let out a tight chuckle, trying to picture Ashe as a kid but only coming up with a shrunken lawn Gnome version. The MA officer touched his ear again. This time, his gaze flicked to me, and my stomach sank. My humor dying before it could fully register.

I swallowed another pickle. Should I run, or go to him like I had the other night? Maybe that would be best.

“Save my pickles?” I asked, rising to my feet.

Halfway up, Ashe grabbed my shoulder and pushed me back down. “No, I’m not fucking saving your pickles. I’ve given you space, but it’s time to fucking talk. Why’s Tanwyn’s scarf wrapped around your neck like a fucking trophy? Why’s your fucking bookbag still missing? And why are you staring at the MA agent like you’ve killed his god damned puppy?”

Ashe’s angry questions went in one ear and out the other as my world tilted. I pressed a shaking hand into my empty pocket and prayed my scales were still hidden amongst Abe’s unmarked supplies in her secret pantry.

“Aphrodite,” Ashe growled.

I pulled my gaze away from the MA officer who still had his fingers pressed to his earpiece. My racing heart jumped at the sound of my full name coming out of Ashe’s lips and I focused on his words.

I lightly rubbed my sore neck. Ram’s bruises had turned a dark purple with hints of green overnight. If I took off the scarf, I’d either have to lie to Ashe or get him involved in my mess.

Before I could think of what to say, Tanwyn strode towards our table blocking my view of the MA agent.

“If she wants to leave, she can leave,” Tanwyn said, glaring at Ashe.

The tattooed mage drew himself to his full height. Still a good five inches shorter than Ashe, he stood with his pointer fingers pressed to the inside of each of his forearms. The tattoos under his fingers glowed a soft orange.

“This is none of your fucking business,” Ashe growled, standing and flexing his chest muscles.

Tanwyn cocked his head to the side. “Like those bruises covering her neck are none of my business?”

Ashe flicked his gaze to the scarf around my neck. The sound of scraping chairs and a wave of movement behind Tanwyn made the blood drain out of my face. Officer Keres, flanked by four MA agents, quickly surrounded my little table.

The orange glow disappeared from Tanwyn’s arms. He put his hands up. Ashe doing the same. I picked up my last two pickle spears and shoved them in my mouth.

Officer Kere’s approached my table calmly, though with one hand hovering over the stick at his belt. “Aphrodite,” he said politely.

In the unusual quiet of the cafeteria, the sound of photos and the beep of videos rang in my ears. I swallowed and stood to step out from behind the table. Cold sweat slid down my spine. I forced my gaze to meet Officer Kere’s dark rimless eyes and held my hands out, wrists together.

Officer Keres smiled slightly. “Shall I assume you’ll follow without trouble?” His gaze flicked between Tanwyn and Ashe.

I studied my wrists. “Ah, no trouble.”

One of the MA agents stepped forward, clamped a hand around my bicep, and began running his hand across my body, searching me.

Ashe growled like a dog, making the agent pause.

Officer Keres’s gaze snapped to the Gentle Giant, giving him a confused frown. Ashe furrowed his eyebrows and backed down.

“We’ll search her when we get to the Director’s office,” he stated, giving Ashe a slight nod.

Surrounded by MA agents, I was forced to walk out of the cafeteria. Every eye in the room was on me, cell phones out with their torches on so they didn’t miss a single detail. I struggled to find them, but I managed to make eye contact with Ashe, Tanwyn, and finally Beryl who stood tight lipped on the far side of the room.

A tear slid down my cheek. If they found my scale, I might never see any of them again.

Officer Keres took over the job of patting me down outside Director Flemmings’ office door. His motions were identical to the one he’d used on Beryl, my skin crawled unhappily. After running a hand up my butt crack, he declared me ‘clear.’ Although he barely pushed me, I still stumbled into the seat in front of Director Flemmings desk.

The Director sat in her big leather chair, her caked-on make-up matched the dark red of her pants suit perfectly. On her left stood Alice and on her right Doctor Roy. I glanced around the room for Professor Garnet but he wasn’t here. Officer Keres hovered at my back.

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