Page 71 of Forbidden Lessons

I barely thought about Kai or my shitty life at all.

There’s another chime from my phone. Panicking, I kick off the blanket and hurry down the hall, squinting at the doors I pass.

One of them is standing open far enough for me to see toilet stalls inside, which is weird, but not something I question as I slip inside one to go pee.

Oh thank fuck.

No better feeling in the world than emptying an overfull bladder. Once the flow gets going, of course.

My phone chimes again, and my eyes jerk back open. Did I pass out?

I giggle at myself. No, I’m notthatdrunk, am I?

Not that I would know. This is the most I’ve ever had to drink in one sitting. Probably better that I’m getting used to alcohol, because it seems unavoidable in this place.

I wipe, flush, and then sit down on the closed toilet lid when the world takes a nice slow spin around me.

God.

I pull out my phone and open my call log. Three missed calls from an unknown number.

Like…what the fuck?

My phone lights up with a phone call. I juggle it, nearly drop it. I stab the answer button, and whisper-shout, “Hello?”

There’s a long pause. “Haven?”

Fuck.

Fuuuck.

It’s Professor Rooke.

“Professor?” Am I slurring? Why does it sound like I’m slurring?

Shit, I’m slurring.

I should hang up.

“Were you asleep?” He cuts off with a sigh. “My God, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be calling you this late on a school night.”

I open my mouth to speak, but he’s too fast.

“Whyareyou awake this late?”

“I’m not! I mean… I wasn’t!” I’m still whisper-shouting because this phone call should not be happening. Not here,especiallynot now. “I was sleeping. You woke me up.”

“Why wasn’t your phone on silent?”

I throw my hand up. “Why did you call me in the first place?”

He’s quiet for a beat. “I got your submission. I just…I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

My submi…Oh, right. “Yeah. Old news.”

“Who sent this to you?”

I open my mouth, and for some reason I’m almost about to tell Professor Rooke. About everything.

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