Page 19 of Cursed Wolfsbane

I pause before looking at him and blinking in shock a few times. Did he really just say that? I know I don’t hang out with many people, but still. “Yeah, Nick, I do,” I deadpan. “Thanks for asking.”

He raises an eyebrow in disbelief. “Who?”

“Rory and Ronan for starters.” A genuine smile crosses my face. I’m so lucky Rory chose me the first day of classes. She and Ronan are the best friends a girl could ever ask for.

“Oh, yeah, I meant like actually cool friends,” Nick replies.

I twist to glance at Rory over my right shoulder. She’s staring at me with her mouth parted in surprise. I’m guessing she’s heard the entire train wreck of a conversation. This is why I don’t talk to new people. It literally never goes well.

When our gazes connect, her expression turns from shock to anger. Rory’s not upset Nick insulted her. She’s pissed that he insulted her brother and best friend. Before Rory can kick his ass, I try to redirect the conversation. “Is there a reason you’re asking mildly insulting questions, dude?”

“Yeah!” Nick chirps enthusiastically. “I wanted to invite you to a party I’m having this weekend at my family’s barn. It’s gonna be totally epic. You should come, and you can make some friends, instead of keeping to yourself like you have all semester.”

“Nah, I’m good. Thanks, though,” I answer immediately. I’m sure Nick is well-meaning, but he’s been an ass. I’d rather not subject myself to more people like him if I can help it.

“What? This is the party of the semester, and you’re turning an invite down?” he asks incredulously.

“Yep. I’d much rather hang out with my family and not cool friends than be at a party with you and your friends,” I tell him bluntly. He opens his mouth to respond, but I cut him off. “I’m handling problems one through ten. You solve problems eleven through twenty. We’ll swap answers when you’re done.”

Turning away from him, I get to work on my problems. I pop in an earbud to ward off any further conversation and put on “Give Me Something” by Seafret. The next thirty minutes pass in uneasy silence, but it’s better than the previous conversation. I finish before Nick and spend most of the class period doodling house designs on my paper. When he’s done, we swap answers.

“All right, class, that’s all for today.” Xander’s leaning against his desk as he speaks. “We’ll have our final on Wednesday morning. Don’t forget that it counts for forty percent of your grade.”

The class collectively groans. Xander’s final counts for the most of any of my classes. Here’s hoping I don’t bomb it.

I move to get up, but a hand clamps down on my thigh. I flinch at the sudden touch I wasn’t expecting. It takes me a second to realize it’s just Nick. “Wait! Don’t you think we should exchange phone numbers? I can help you study for the exam, and I’m sure I can convince you to come to my party.”

My skin’s crawling from his touch, but I’m frozen and unsure what to do. Instinctively, my eyes look for the one person in the room that makes me feel safe. The breath wooshes out of my chest when my gaze connects with Xander. The feeling of safety doesn’t last long as I register the boiling rage in his eyes.

Oh fuck.

Someone’s going to die today if I don’t remove Nick’s hand from my leg. Spurred on by the absolute fury on Xander’s face, I roughly shove the hand off my leg. Hopping up, I step on my chair and leap back to the safety of my row.

“Nope. I’m not giving you my number. Have a nice life, Nick,” I rush out, hoping to get him to leave the classroom before any death or dismemberment happens. I don’t want Xander to get in trouble.

Nick glares at me. “You don’t have to be a bitch about it. I was just trying to be nice. I can see why you stick to your loser friends.” He stomps out of the classroom after his last parting shot. Well, he doesn’t seem very thankful that I saved him from at least a light maiming, if not worse.

With Nick gone, I close my eyes in relief and sag against the front of my desk. Crisis averted.

“Miss Wylder.” Xander’s sharp voice cuts through the slowly emptying classroom. “I need a word with you.”

I spoke too soon. Crisis not adverted, just transformed.

Xander sounds absolutely livid at me.

What for? I don’t know.

Nick was the one being a jerk taco, not me.

Sighing deeply, I nod at him and start packing up my stuff. I shove it into my bag and yank out my earbud with more force than necessary, annoyed at Xander. It doesn’t seem to matter what I do, the man will always find a reason to be frustrated with me. It’s exhausting and just about the last thing I want to deal with after the Nick debacle.

I also don’t appreciate him calling me out in front of the whole class twice today. It’d be cool if he would refrain from telling everyone he has a problem with me.

“You need me to talk to him, girly?” Rory rubs my arm gently to comfort me.

I smile gratefully at her, my chest filled with warmth at her concern. “Thanks, Ror, but I need to handle this myself. I’ll see you in Bastian’s class.”

“Okay. Text me if you need anything. See you soon, babe!” With one last gentle squeeze to my arm, Rory grabs Ronan’s hand and makes her way out of the classroom. Instead of her usual bubbly skip, Rory walks slowly to the door while glaring at Xander the whole time. He doesn’t notice, gaze fixed firmly on me.

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