Page 82 of What Happened on Roslyn Street?
“All I’m saying is,” Margaux says, far too loud for the hour, “you have no reason to be here! I know for a fact that your dormitory is on the other side of campus. You came a long way just tostalk me!”
I’ve rarely seen Margaux so worked up. She’s less upset about the actual murders on campus than her supposed stalker.
I lean against the doorway, rolling my eyes.
“Only someone as self-obsessed as you would accuse me of stalking,” Jun says, sharper than I’ve ever heard him. “Amelia needs an escort to her car. I’m waiting for her. Do you have a problem with that?”
“Yes!”
“It has nothing to do with you, princess. I never do anything with you on my mind.Ever.”
Amelia and Jun are sneaking out after curfew, too. Interesting. I look up and down the hall, waiting for Amelia to show herself, but it’s only the bickering pair.
Margaux’s jaw drops in offense, and she takes a step closer, still not registering my presence.
“You wish that were true,” she hisses.
“No.” He smirks. “You wish it weren’t. You’re full of wishful thinking, but you’re not even a blip on my radar right now. Maybe if you pulled your head out of your ass, you would realize we all have bigger things to worry about than you.”
“Margaux!” I call loudly, hoping to avoid what will come next.
I’ve seen Margaux argue before, and Jun’s words are enough to elicit a loud shriek—if history repeats itself. I would rather avoid the headache.
“We have to go,” I say.
“You go,” Margaux says without looking at me. Herdiscussionwith Jun takes up all her attention. “I’ll meet you in the courtyard.”
I roll my eyes, stepping out of the room and double-checking that the door is locked. Her abandonment would be offensive, but we both know Caldwellis waiting for me.
“Fine. Maybe Jun is right; your priorities are skewed.” I swiftly make my way downstairs.
There is no saying how the argument between Margaux and Jun will end, and I’m not sure I want to know. I had always assumed it was one-sided, a display of Margaux’s competitive nature, but I’ve never seen Jun as anything but polite…
Clearly, I was wrong. He’s just as bad as she is.
Shaking off the thoughts, I step into the courtyard. Caldwell is nowhere to be seen, but I know he’ll be lingering nearby. He’s never late. I begin sweeping the courtyard, waltzing through with quiet steps to avoid security.
If only I could trust security to do their job. Maybe we would have fewer unsolved deaths on campus.
The only weapon I have is the stake in my bag. It’s better than nothing. It will protect me from one of the horrors, even if I don’t know the weakness of the others.
I jam my hand into the flap of my bag, holding onto the piece of wood.
For a moment, I pause, using my other hand to text Caldwell.
Where are you?
For once, he doesn’t text back instantly. I frown at my phone before stowing it away and continuing.
The air is damp from earlier rain. The cool of the evening twists through me, sending a shiver down my spine.
I’m sinking. It’s been easier lately, with the help of my friends, but each step I take is filled with dread. I shouldn’t be alone. Where are they?
Anxiety visits again, sending my heart racing and my stomach dropping.
Caldwell isn’t answering. It’s late. He isn’t here. What if he was the next to?—
No, I can’t think about that.
