Page 148 of Tis the Season to be Bullied

I had a chance to stand up to the Serpents, to reveal what arrogant, criminal assholes they were…and I backed out like the coward I am.

The dean made it clear what I was up against. I’m trying to convince myself that I’m being smart about this—that I won’t show my hand until I’m sure that my cards are good enough to win. But all I keep thinking is how many times I’ve chickened out.

Halfway down the hallway, I stop.

Proof. The dean was pretty insistent I have proof. For the bullying, yeah, I have several eye-witness accounts. But I alreadyknow no one—not even Romi—will testify. They have too much to lose, and nothing to win. I’m a nobody. Who’d stick their neck out for the new girl when that would make those three vengeful pricks notice them…target them.

So instead of going back to my room and studying, I turn and head back the way I just came.

I know this isn’t just about proof. I’ve always been too damn curious for my own good. That’s why I hightail it back to the library instead of withdrawing into the safety of my dorm room.

On the way there, I realize I’m being followed again. I spot my stalker in the reflection of a glass door. It’s not Mason this time, it’s his friend, Silas.

Oh my God, have they started stalking me inshifts?

Fuck them. If they want to waste time keeping tabs on me, let them.

Ms. Carling looks pleased that I’ve returned. I didn’t get to finish speaking to her yesterday—Eliza totally threw me off my game when she told me to back off. She seems to think Mason is her boyfriend, but I don’t think he’s on the same page. He doesn’t seem to have an issue getting a hand job from another girl. But why would Eliza lie to me?

It’s not like I want to be her friend or anything, but I have a feeling I’d rather be in Eliza’s good graces than on her bad side. Should I tell her what happened yesterday in the courtyard, that I had no choice? Or would I just be digging my own grave?

I shove the thoughts away. They’re not in the least constructive, anyway.

“Sorry about leaving yesterday,” I tell the librarian.

“Don’t worry about it.” Ms. Carling turns around, hunting through a pile of books on her table. “It gave me enough time to find that book we were talking about.” She pulls out a thick volume that looks like an encyclopedia. “This has a really goodsection on Cinderhart’s history. It’s a bit sparse, but it’ll give you a good foundational knowledge for your history project.”

“This is perfect!” My arms almost give way when I take the thick volume from her. I’m groaning internally, seeing my youth evaporating as I pore through these musty pages. Why the hell doesn’t this town have a Wikipedia entry?

“Do you save old newspapers here? Or have them, like, on microfiche or something?”Back in the city, I used to love going through old newspapers on the library’s microfilm archives. It started as some school project for my history class, and I loved it so much I’d go back once a month.

Ms. Carling shakes her head. “I’m afraid not dear. You could try the public library in Cinderhart Square. They have an extensive archive section.”

“Oh, okay. Thanks.”

“Or you could check online.”

“Your newspaper is online?”

That earns me a condescending glance over her half-moon spectacles. “You can browse The Littlerock Gazette’s website in the computer room upstairs.” She hunts around behind her desk and hands me a key with a toy keyboard as a keyring.

“You keep it locked?”

She rolls her eyes. “We have to. Someone keeps hacking our firewall to watch—” she clears her throat “—pornography.”

I almost laugh. Ialmostask her how they know...because a student that good would cover their tracks, unless they wanted to be found out, but I’m too excited. The sooner I can figure out what happened in the woods the day I met the Serpents, the sooner I can get a good night’s rest again.

HowdidKnox know it keeps me up at night? Or was he just taking an educated guess? Unless…maybe it keeps him up to.

Silas is waiting for me outside the library, leaning against a nearby wall. How he knew I was coming out this exit, I don’t know. We lock eyes for a second before I turn and walk away.

There’s no point in running. After all, it’s not like there’s anywhere for me to go. Despite the Academy’s massive grounds, past the university buildings it’s just forest and mountains. The only way out of here is Academy Road.

Once I’m inside the computer room, I can lock him out. But I wouldn’t put it past him to get another key from the librarian...so I’ll wait until later tonight before sneaking back there.

I’ll go right after dinner when everyone’s back in their rooms. Hopefully, by then, the Serpents have grown tired of watching me.

I eat my sandwich in my room as I page through the book Ms. Carling gave me. She’s right—it’s not exactly an extensive history of Cinderhart, but it covers the basics.

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