There’s this feeling of my entire body vibrating in this nauseating way, but I force myself to get up, I throw on my warmest hoodie and I walk out of my room.
***
I’m still so nauseous, but it’s making me feel better, sitting in the Junkyard with my friends, listening to Alaric explaining to Raven exactly why he won’t be watching the last season ofThe Clash of the Originals.
Just as I’m about to join in on the conversation, I feel this need to look in the direction of the entrance.
Where I see Bane standing in the archway, looking at me with narrowed eyes.
There’s a split second of silence before his voice carries over the distance between us. “My office, Novak.” He moves to walk away, but when he sees me still frozen in place, he stops to order, “Now.”
Great, this is just what I need right now. But I get up, watching him start moving down the hallway.
It doesn’t make me feel any better, when I catch the way Alaric’s looking at me.
“Bloody hell,” he says with a grimace that tells me he’s sorry for whatever’s about to happen.
I grit my teeth, throw them both a nod and rush out of the Junkyard.
It’s halfway down the hallway leading to the Entrance Hall that I catch up with Bane.
“Um, what is this regarding?” I ask his back.
“Keep walking,” he cuts me off without turning to look at me.
But it’s far from good, how I’m feeling right now, and his attitude is only making it worse, so I need to make this as quick and painless as possible.
“Alright alright,” I start amicably, walking around him to block his way. It makes my eyebrows pull down, when I see the dark circles around his eyes. I dismiss it, asking, “But why do we have to go all the way to Grimm Tower?”
“You’re right, we don’t,” he says coldly. He whips his phone out of his pocket and the next thing I know, he’s reciting my own email to me, a touch of mockery in his voice. “‘I would just like to let you know that I’ve fallen ill and won’t be able to come to class this week.’ Then, just today, you say you’re ‘still not feeling well enough to show up tomorrow.’”
He lowers his phone and drags his eyes down my body. “You don’t exactly look sick tome, Novak.”
“I’m making sure to drink plenty of fluids,” I say innocently.
“Students who aren’t well don’t hang out in the Junkyard.”
I shrug. “Well I’m a lot better now, so…”
He lets out a scoff. “You know, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t insult my intelligence.”
“Fine,” I reply, “I was only sick last week. Right now, I have a bad case of menstrual cramps.”
It startles me, when he leans in to take a whiff of me. “Liar,” he drawls, pinning me in place with a knowing stare.
I feel blood rush to my face. “You know, this is not exactly professional behavior,” I grit out and move to walk away.
He blocks my way. “Do I look like I give a shit?” he snaps. “There’s something going on and I’m not letting you leave until you tell me what it is.” With that, he folds his arms, waiting.
Ah, so this is a matter of ego. “Come on,” I grumble with a scoff, “this can’t be the first time someone’s skipped a class of yours.”
He gets in my face. “You lied about being sick. What makes you think you can be so nonchalant about it, huh?”
I take a step back, throwing him an incredulous look. “Um, the fact thatyou,the professor, couldn’t care less about any of this?”
Something flashes through his eyes. I see a muscle in his jaw twitch before he grits out, “This is a matter of my reputation, Novak. So if you don’t spill it, right this instant, I won’t just be forcing you to come to class tomorrow. You’ll be getting detention.”
“Detention?” I echo with a frustrated laugh. “Ugh, could youbemore hypocritical?” And despite my better judgment, I can’t resist getting in his face, poison in my voice when I say, “Need I remind you I’m not some snot-faced student, and it was you yourself who said I’m a lost cause and you’d only be coming tothese special classes because you have to?” I take a step back to throw daggers at him.“So why don’t you leave me alone and find someone else to fuck with?”