Page 80 of The Cruelty of Thorns

Revenge.

CHAPTER 32

MYRA

Making peace

A STORM HAD moved in overnight, turning the skies gray and dampening the overall mood of the day. I opted for comfort over style, donning jeans and a sweater under my coat and grabbing my umbrella before heading off for my first class.

Kristin had been uncharacteristically quiet when I got back to the room last night and even this morning had only offered a clipped “good morning,” before ducking off to the bathroom. Just as well. I wasn’t up for any more of her prying and unsolicited advice. My evening with Julianus had been close to perfect and I didn’t need her ruining it for me.

My good mood lasted until literature class. That’s when Ron made his first appearance in class since the attack. When I saw him enter, I pretended to be engrossed in double-checking the term paper that was due today. He slid into his seat without a word to me and pulled out his books, then leaned over to the guy on the other side of him to ask what we were doing today. He didn’t even acknowledge me, and I couldn’t decide if I was grateful or hurt.

The hour passed in awkward avoidance, until I was packing up to leave. I stood up and reached for my backpack when Ron looked over and met my eyes. I thought he was going to say something, then he seemed to change his mind and took off up the aisle ahead of me.

Asshole. I watched him leave the room, immediately sorry for the thought. That wasn’t like me. When I got out to the hallway, I saw him walking alone toward what I knew was his history class, and part of me felt a pang of loss. The fact that I still didn’t know what I had done to alienate him bothered me more than I cared to admit, and part of me wanted to run after him and confront him about it, but I knew I wouldn’t. Maybe I was afraid of what he might say.

Instead, I opted to keep my promise to Julianus and ventured out in the pouring rain toward the cafeteria to grab some lunch. No more skipping meals. I didn’t want another embarrassing fainting episode like last night.

As suspected, Kristin was already holding court at a table when I arrived. I shook out my umbrella and placed it in the rack by the door before getting in line for food, wishing I could find a table by myself to eat my lunch in peace. Unfortunately, Carly had already spotted me and waved me over. Lisa was with them, along with Renee and another girl I didn’t know.

“I hear Ron went back to class today,” Lisa said as I sat down.

I glanced up at Kristin, who shrugged, and busied myself with opening and spreading the packet of dressing on my salad before responding. “Yeah, he was in Mr. Edmonds’ class.”

“Did he say anything to you?” she pressed.

“No.”

“That must’ve been awkward.”

“Little bit,” I agreed, wishing she would change the subject. No one said anything for a minute, then Renee spoke up.

“Here’s something that will take your mind off it.”

I glanced up at her expectantly, but it was Kristin who blurted out, “There was another murder last night.”

Of course she had to be the one to deliver the news. She stared at me as though daring me to refute it. “Yeah? Where this time?”

“They found the body in her bedroom,” Renee replied. “Police even saw a suspect in the house.”

“Did they catch him?”

“No. He ran out the back and jumped the fence and disappeared.”

“Was it the same guy?”

Renee shrugged. “They think so, though there was no rose this time. They figure they must’ve interrupted him before he had a chance to leave it.”

“You say they found her in her room? How did they know to look there?”

“Anonymous tip,” Kristin said. “Cops are trying to find the tipster since it gave them their first break in the case.”

I took a bite of my salad. “Seems kind of fishy to me.”

“What do you mean?” Lisa asked.

“Well, the first time this guy kills someone in their home and there’s an anonymous tip? Like how did this person know unless they were there?”

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