Page 28 of Cruel Legacy

Theona’s just like the other girls. She’ll use me until she gets an A, and I won’t get any boyfriend perks. This is why I don’t talk to the girls around here. What did Finn say? Someone slept their way into a legacy dorm? Sounds about right. I sit back in my chair, waiting for her pitch.

She’s studying the paper and catches me completely off guard when she says, “That was awesome,” before pulling the workbook back towards her. I watch as she tries to work the next problem in her head the way I did. She makes it through the first half of the equation before she uses her paper and calculator again.

When she finishes, she pushes the book back over so I can do the next one. A light breeze of air drifts over my hand when she asks, “How long did it take for you to learn to do that?”

It sounds like a genuine question, so I answer it. “I was doing algebra at seven or eight.”

“And you didn’t test out of this math?”

“My dad thinks it’s important that I actually attend classes.” Shit, why did I tell her that?

“Fuck that. IfIwas a math genius, I’d be up there teaching, and not back here learning shit I already know.”

My neck feels itchy so I reach up to scratch it. “Um. I’m not a math genius.”

She snorts and says, “I bet that’s what all math geniuses say. Hey…” She puts her hand on my arm. My gaze snaps to hers. “No hogging the workbook. It’s my turn.”

My eyes drop to where we’re touching. Not a fake touch. She has a real solid hold on me. But it’s her words that affect me. She wants me to let her do her own work. I set the book between us and stifle a groan when she starts talking to herself while working through the next problem.

This is why people think I’m weird. Because I love math, science, and all things learning related, and she’s right. Iama math genius. Or rather, I have genius level intellect. But the requirement to be able to survive, and make alliances in our world means I have to play the part of a normal college student. I have tosocialize.

“Agh. Tricky bastard. You’re not gonna stump me.”

I watch her as she works the problem. Her head’s tilted forward, her leg bouncing under the table, and then she giggles. She’s having fun. I see all that, and my dick does something it hasn’t done in class since I was in tenth grade. It gets hard for no goddamn reason.

Time passes quickly, and before I know it, the instructor is dismissing us. Theona slides my workbook back toward me with a dejected sigh. “I thought we’d get them all done before the end of class, but that final problem was playing hard to get.”

I nod, even though I’m only half paying attention.

“Thanks for letting me borrow your workbook.” She says, as she climbs to her feet. I’m still sitting, watching as she hurries out of the room.

Finn stops at my desk to wait for me. “You okay?” I hear the concern and anger in his voice. He knows what I’ve gone through with girls and classwork.

“We had to partner up.” I don’t know why I said that. He knows this. He’s in the class, but I didn’t check to see if he was doing the work too.

“Shit. I’m sorry, man.”

I climb to my feet and grab my stuff, walking away from him on autopilot. He’s sorry, but there’s nothing to be sorry about. It’s not his fault the teacher made it a joint assignment. Our friends are already at The Circle when we arrive.

“What took you so long?” Pax asks as we get closer. He takes one look at my face and knows something’s off. Nobody else would be able to tell, but Pax knows me, he knows my tells. “What happened?”

I’m still trying to work that answer out for myself. I tell him, “Theona sat next to me in class.”

“What?” He bellows loud enough to draw attention.

Finn knows how to mute or hide his anger behind a jovial smile and flirtation. It’s what makes him so dangerous. He pulls you in, then eviscerates you. But Pax is a bomb detonating in the middle of a crowd without remorse.

I motion my head towards the edge of The Circle to put some space between us and the people listening to our conversation before explaining what happened. “We had to team up on a class assignment.”

“I’ll take care of it.” He pulls out his phone. “The professors know the only people you’re supposed to get paired with are members of the fraternity.”

Finn chimes in, “I’ll be sure to give the teacher a personal reminder next class, and use the new neighbor as a visual aide.”

I know they’re saying these things trying to help, but I don’t need it. I never need it. They’ve just gotten into the habit of speaking for me, since I choose to keep to myself. As volatile as Pax is, he’s still the safer choice when it comes to dealing with these types of issues. Finn’s reminders get bloody and mine get illegal. But in this case, the outrage is uncalled for. I don’t care that we had to work together. She didn’t do anything out of line except… “She made my dick hard.”

That stops Finn’s tirade. He turns to stare at me, mouth gaping open. I’ve made him speechless. Can’t remember the last time that happened. Pax, however, still has control of his tongue. “What did you just say?”

I look over at him and repeat, “She called me a math genius and made my dick hard.”

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