Page 27 of Speak

I stayed in the shadows as she ran past me. I watched the man get up, taking off his sweater and groan as he looked down at the mess he and Raven had created on his pleated light-grey trousers. I allowed him to tie his sweater around his hips before I took a few steps back and let my footsteps thud against the soft carpet to make him aware of my presence. I’d need to distract him in order for Raven to get away. The look on his face was one of bewilderment, enchantment and absolutely no regrets.

Good.

Touching her is an absolute honor and if he thought otherwise, I’d simply report him to both the dean and the authorities.

“Oh, hello. I’m Doctor Damon Archer. I’m the new student counselor here.” I greeted, holding out my hand.

He cleared his throat, looking entirely too guilty and flustered and took my hand, our callouses rubbed against each other. Eventhough well put together, when he let go of my hand, he ran it through his hair. I bit back the laugh that wanted to burst out of my chest. “Yes, hello, you must be Dr. Brown's replacement. I’m Professor Maverick Harrington.”

Oh Raven,I grin,what have you done?“Oh, I didn’t see you in the dorms when I was bombarded with all brand-new faces.”

“No, I live off campus, about twenty minutes away.”

“Ah.” I turn to face the books and realize I’m in the psychology and philosophy section which works so well for me. I grab any book, skim the title and pages, almost giddy at the irony I’ve pulled the first edition ofGood and Evil. I almost think of stealing it and leaving it on Raven’s bed. “Lucky you.”

“Yes, well, I've class starting soon and I - well, it was good meeting you. I’m sure we’ll see each other at the faculty functions.”

God, faculty functions. That sounds mind numbingly terrible.

Before he turns his back to me I give a curt nod then grace him with a smile that tells him I’m completely ignorant that he had a little rendezvous with a student before eight o'clock in the morning on the floor of the restricted section of the library. But then, for some reason, I want to instill a little fear in him. I also want to know what he knows about her. “Was that… Raven Monroe I saw dashing out of here?”

His steps freeze and he slowly turns back to me. “I believe it was.”

I quirk my eyebrows. At least he’s not a liar. “Incredible.”

His green eyes blaze. “What is?”

“Nothing, I just didn’t expect she’d come back here. Strange, isn’t it?”

He lifts a broad shoulder and lets it fall. “Stranger things have happened, I suppose. Given her surname is on this building and her family, along with the Andersons, the Prescott’s, Smiths, Moore’s, and the Cartwright’s seem to own this town… it’s not as strange.”

Ah. He’s done his research. I wonder what caused him to be so interested. I suppose it’s the little minx that just dry-humped him on the floor of this musty library section. I shrug. “I suppose you’re right.”

He nods again and makes a weird motion with his hands telling me he has to go and I turn back to the bookshelf, this time toleaf through another smelly old book. He leaves and before I take another step, I hear the faux-bookshelf open and close again.

I round the corner, staying out of sight, and watch as Raven, looking divinely just fucked with her hair disheveled, make her way to the shelf she was loitering around just before her run-in with Maverick, looks around, grabs a book, shoves it into her book bag and then leaves the way she came.

I wonder if this is the moment I should make my presence at Rayne-Moore known but decide against it.

Soon, Raven. Soon.

Once I’m back in the faculty building, I catch Rita right before she steps out and I make sure to stop her by getting in her way. “Excuse me, Doctor.”

Clutching a clipboard to her chest, she steps out of my way, her nose scrunching up when I make the same step she does and I initial an awkward dance between us until we both stop and laugh. She takes in my athletic gear and pushes her glasses up the bridge of her nose. It would be cute… if I didn’t find every woman that wasn’t Raven abhorrent, utterly boring, and vapid. “I take it your office is up to par and you’re finding your way around campus?”

“Good morning, Rita, yes. I’ve been enjoying the scenery during my runs. Listen, there was something I was wanting to ask about and since you’re the only one I really trust here…”

“Oh?”

“Yes, it seems I caught the tail-end of a conversation a few students were having. Raven Monroe is on campus is she not?”

Her eyes widen just a bit. “Uh, yes, yes she is.”

I lower my voice and step closer to her, and don’t miss when she takes a not-so-obvious-but-obvious-to-me whiff of me and her eyes flutter for a brief second. I lean just a tad bit closer and tuck a runaway strand of her blonde hair behind her ear. “I was at the…institutionwhen they brought her in. I think, it would be good for her if she continued seeing a therapist, one that already knows her history, wouldn’t you?” I begin to nod my head slowly until she mirrors me and then step away, which causes her to step forward.

I almost laugh at how easy she is.

“I- uhm, well, she doesn’t speak, Doctor Archer.” She lowers her voice as if she’s telling me a big secret. “From what I hear, she has selective mutism.”

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