Page 5 of Frosted Hearts

"It's cute you think that you call the shots. I am already giving you a lot more freedom than your father originally requested when he hired us to watch you. He wanted you to share a room with me, and for us to basically be attached at the hip while you took online classes. My team talked him down and convinced him that wasn't needed unless circumstances changed. I am giving you freedom and treating you like an adult. If you want to act like a child about this situation, then we can change this arrangement and take your father's option. Which would you prefer?" My tone is deadly serious as I watch her and see the moment reality sinks in. It's slight, but the rounding of the shoulders with defeat and acceptance is there. She understands that she is getting the better deal here, and if she continues to push, I will take that option away.

"He's right, Miss Granger," Dean James adds. "We want to ensure you are able to continue pursuing your education. But if you don't accept this option, I don't see you graduating on time next year. You can only attend online classes for a month at most. There's no telling how long this situation will go on for. Don't take the risk. You have worked hard with a double major to graduate in four years. Focus on that."

His words get through to her and she collapses in her seat, shaking her head. "I have seven months left of school. I don't want to mess it up when I've gotten this far," her voice is soft. Her head hangs down as she fidgets with her hands in her lap. "This is messing everything up," she sighs, taking a deep breath before she raises her head, her expression guarded once more. "We will do this your way, Mr. Steel," she acquiesces. "If there is an issue, then we will need to rethink the rules. Now, I have a class to get to and I don't want to be late for my test. Thank you, Dean James." She rises from her seat and begins to walk toward the door where she pauses and turns back to look at me. "Are you coming, Shadow?"

Oh, how true that nickname is about to be. She wants to be snarky about this then game on, Princess. I do love a good joke. "I'll be right behind you, Princess. Thank you, Dean James. If any issues arise, I will let you know." I rise from my chair at the same time he chuckles.

"Try to go easy on her. She's young and stubborn and thinks that she can take on the world. You were her age too once," he reminds me.

"When I was her age, I was overseas getting shot at daily. It's two very different things. I'll keep her safe. You have my word." With those parting words, I walk out the door, easily catching up to Illeana in the hallway. She definitely wasn't waiting for me to follow her as she quickly makes her way down the hallway to the stairs at the far end. Day one begins, and a million more to go.Hoorah.

"Could that meeting have gone any worse?" I mutter to myself, speed walking down the hall. It was a complete waste of time. I always thought that Dean James could be reasonable, but it seems even he won't stand against my father. Apparently, no one in this world has the balls to do so.

I hate being backed into a corner, and that's exactly what this is. There was no discussion with my father and now both the Dean and this Steel guy walked right over me. I'm furious. I haven't spent the last three and half years on this campus keeping my head down for nothing. Even when my roommate and best friend Morgan Capitan tried to get me to party on weekends, I refused, so no one would know I was here at school. My father's overprotectiveness has blown all of that. I wouldn't change my choices but it still makes me mad.

"Miss Granger, wait up!" I hear Steel's familiar voice call out from behind me.

Damnit!I hoped to slip out before he caught me. I knew he'd catch up to me, but I was hoping it wouldn't be until the classroom.

Spinning on my heel, I turn to glare at him with one hand on my popped-out hip. "It's Illeana," I snarl, "I don't use my father's last name on campus." Looking around the halls quickly, I make sure there isn’t anyone around who would have heard him. It would be my luck that he would blow my cover after all this time with his mistake.

"Apologies, Illeana," he states before smiling. "We got off on the wrong foot and I'm sorry for that. Friends?" he holds out his hand in a peace offering.

I look between him and his hand, debating what to do. Logically, I know keeping things friendly will make this easier, but right now I'm mad and don't want to be friends. It's not an easy choice to make.

"Or not," he pulls his hand back. "No worries, I understand. How about we get you to class? Mind giving me a rundown of what this test is on? I’m not exactly a literature person." He reaches up to scratch the back of his neck, the move pulling his black long-sleeve shirt up just enough to reveal a small sliver of his toned stomach.

It takes everything in me to ignore the move and focus on what he says. Checking the clock behind him, I see we have thirty minutes until class starts. Perfect.Enough time to get there and study. "I'm taking a test on the similarities and differences between Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein', Bram Stoker's 'Dracula', and Oscar Wilde's 'The Picture of Dorian Gray.' Have you read any of those or did you skip those stories in school?" I snark, turning back around and opening the door to head downstairs. I don't have to ask if he's coming. The man is stuck following me around, for who knows how long.

"Uh...," he hesitates while following me. "I probably had to read them in high school at some point. Think I can get by with the movies? I've seen those plenty of times."

"Ugh," I sigh, hitting my forehead with my palm. "Why does everyone think the movies are better? They left so many things out, it just isn't the same at all."

"Are you saying books are superior?" he questions as he holds open the door outside for me when we reach the bottom of the stairs. "Cause I'd have to disagree. Getting to see the storyline play out in front of you is much better. You can see the emotions of the characters and understand what's going on when watching a movie."

Pulling my hat out of the pocket of my coat, I place it on my head and pull it down tightly to cover my ears. Grabbing my scarf around my neck, I wrap it tightly in an effort to stave off the cold that hits me the second the door opens. My peacoat is definitely not enough if this weather keeps going. I may need to break out the heated jacket I got myself last Christmas to make the walk around campus this winter. "You would say that," I snark, moving past him and ignoring any signs of politeness. Sure, movies are great. I enjoy watching them, but there is just something about getting lost in a great book that just makes it superior, in my opinion. It's part of why I chose to dual major in literature and business. I've always dreamed of working in the book world. Whether that's as an editor or owning my own bookstore, I haven't decided. Both sound like great ideas to me.

"What was that?" he asks, falling in step beside me. "It sounds like you have an argument. Care to share, Princess?"

When I turn to stare at him, he has the audacity to wink. Seriously? Wink!God, this man is aggravating.At some point, he must have slipped on his black beanie, which only adds to his appeal, and pisses me off more. There is no way I can be stuck with him like this. "Yeah, couldn't they have sent someone to watch me who was actually smart?" It was a low blow, I know that, but I can't help it. He's been pissing me off since the second he opened his mouth in the Dean's office. Never mind the fact helooks like sex on a stick, even bundled up for the cold Westhill winter.

"Just because I don't read fancy books doesn't mean I'm not smart, Illeana. Now, how about we get to class? It's cold as hell out here, and my balls are freezing," he states, pointing in the direction of the English hall. It's on the far side of the quad, in the same building as the cultural classes.

The school tried to group the different programs on campus to make it a tad bit easier to navigate. In the center is what we call the quad, or a large open grass area where students like to hang out and study or sun tan when the weather is nice enough.

To the north is the administrative building, and behind it are the halls for math and business.

To the east are the science and nursing halls, with a huge sports complex just past them. Westhill, although mostly known for our hockey team, doesn't do half bad with the football and baseball teams. Our basketball team, though, is a wash. We don't talk about them.

To the south is a large library, which is my favorite place to hole up and study in. I find peace amongst the books. Behind the library are all the dorms for the school.

To the west, where we are heading, is the Cultural and English hall. Behind them is where the music and dance programs are located. During freshman year, I took an Intro to Dance class and learned really quickly that dance would never be for me. Now, I just watch their performances when I can.

"Okay, Big Boy, let's get your balls warmed up," I retort, resuming our brisk walk to class.

In silence, Steel and I hurry across the quad, our verbal sparring on hold until we get out of the cold. He's not wrong, though. It's freezing out today. If I didn't have this test, I probably would have played hooky and hid under my warm covers for the day. My grades are high enough that missingone day wouldn't put me behind, even if I missed a pop quiz. I'm nowhere near valedictorian status, but I will graduate with honors of some kind.Stupid test!

With us hurrying, we make it to the English hall less than ten minutes. Considering how big the campus is, I consider that a success. Being the not so gentleman Steel is, he tries to open the door for me, but it doesn't budge. Guess he didn't get the memo to swipe his student badge. Almost every building requires you to swipe in for security. See safe. "You need to swipe your badge, Big Boy," I wink, pushing past him as I pull my ID out of my bag and press it to the small security lock above the door handle. If he wants to use nicknames, I can play this game.

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