Page 147 of Seeds of Malice

The light turns green. She continues driving toward campus and asks, "So, who's your first class with?"

I pull up my schedule on my phone. "Professor Dyer."

"Ooh. You're going to have fun with him."

"Why?"

She smirks. "Professor Dyer is gorgeous."

"Well, I'm with your brother," I remind her, thinking it's strange she said that when she just told me she didn't want him to get hurt.

She laughs. "Duh. Of course you are, but it's still better to look at somebody hot during class than have a dweeby professor. Professor Dyer keeps it interesting."

I relax. "So I'm not going to be bored in his class?"

"Nope! Eye candy every day," Avery exclaims.

I laugh. "You're funny, Avery."

"That's me. Funny, funny," she chirps and then pulls into the school parking lot. She chooses a spot and then points at my bag. "You haven't put your stuff in it yet."

"Oh, sorry," I say, flustered. Then I quickly take the little contents I have in my book bag and put them in the new Louis Vuitton. I add, "This is really nice, Avery. I really don't deserve this."

She scoffs. "Don't deserve this? Ivy, you need to change your thinking. We deserve the best." She beams again.

I laugh. I like this new Avery. She puts her hand on my thigh again and leans toward my face. Her light floral scent flares in my nostrils. Tingles pop up along my skin under her fingers, confusing me. I force myself not to remove her hand.

It's just Avery's positive energy.

That scent is intoxicating.

She lowers her voice. "There's something I should tell you though...about campus."

"Oh?" I question, wishing the tingles would stop.

She nods. "Yeah." Her thumbnail grazes my skin, and I stiffen. Butterflies softly flutter in my stomach.

What the heck is happening to me?

I clear my throat. "What do I need to know about school?"

"Well, Dax, Bobby, Marcey, Cindy, and I... Well, we kind of own the place."

The mention of Marcey and Cindy makes my gut churn.

Avery leans back. "Hey, what's that look for? I was trying to tell you that you're in good hands. We'll all make sure you get into the good groups and meet all the right people. And if you have any professors that are crappy or just boring, we can help you get into the right classes."

I release a breath. "That's nice of you."

"Then, why the long face?" she asks, tilting her head with concern.

I shake my head, forcing a smile. "No reason."

She stares at me and snaps her fingers. "You're worried about Cindy and Marcey?"

I hold my breath, feeling ridiculous and caught like a kid with her hand in the cookie jar. Plus, they're her friends.

Avery pats my leg. "You don't need to worry about them. I already talked to them last night. They're going to be nice. They want to be friends too."

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