Page 27 of Wicked Ends
He was getting his hopes up. What a waste of time. She wasn’t going to be texting him, and if I had anything to do with it, she wouldn’t be talking to him either.
My own phone vibrated in my pocket. I watched them talk, something dark and heavy stirring inside me.
I answered through my helmet, and my older brother’s voice boomed in my ear.
“Marcus, I told you we needed to talk. Where the fuck are you?”
“On campus,” I said in a clipped tone.
“Well, leave. I’m waiting at The Clutch. You can’t put this off forever. Come. Now.”
“I’m not a fucking Hound, Cole, you can’t just whistle and I’ll come.”
“Marcus, I’m not fucking around. Get here now — it’s important.”
Something in my brother’s voice told me he was serious.Fucker.There went my chance to follow my birthday girl home and find out her address.
Next time, Professor, next time.
I snapped my visor down, revved my bike, and put my foot down.
I’ll see you soon.
Arianna
Unsurprisingly,I had yet another sleepless night at the Night Owl. I was plagued with terrible dreams of men knocking at my door, police coming to arrest me, and worst of all, the shadowy figures of my past. I eventually gave up trying to sleep and sat at the window, headphones on, and listened to the old Walkman I’d picked up on my travels. My crappy phone didn’t have any music apps. You could call or text and that was it.
I agonized over Marcus and what had happened. How could I have been so reckless? My act of liberation and spontaneity had cost me my chance at a fresh start here.
The morning rolled around slowly, and I downed a vat of coffee to get my brain to work. I was jumpy, anxious, and certain that as soon as I got to school, the authorities would descend on me and drag me off to jail… or at the very least, the dean would be waiting to fire me, without pay, for my awfulness.
I pulled into the lot half an hour before class, and it was deceptively quiet. My hands shook—from the caffeine or the adrenaline, I had no idea.
I made my way into the building, flashing my new ID card for security. No one stopped me. I walked down the hall toward the staff lounge. I hesitated outside and tried to get a grip.
Come on, Ari. It wasn’t a crime… just a huge mistake. Grow a pair and get on with it.
It was better to know now if my reputation was about to blow up than wait to find out. I raised my chin and pushed the door open. It was still pretty quiet at this time. A few teachers were at the coffee machine, and Wade, the English Lit professor I’d met yesterday, was at the watercooler, and waved to me.
“I promise I’m only passing through on my way to Humanities. You guys have the best coffee. Also, I see we didn’t scare you off yesterday,” he joked when he reached my side.
I nodded tightly. “Nope. I’m still here.”For now.
“I’m glad. We’ve been needing some new blood around here, especially in the music department… and a young talent is just what the doctor ordered.”
I raised an eyebrow at him in question.
“If you think all of us aren’t in fierce competition behind closed doors, I’m sorry to say, you’re wrong. We are a dog-eat-dog group.” Wade grinned and rocked back on his heels. He had struck me as the kind of person who liked to hear himself talk. Today confirmed it.
“Ah, yes, I suppose I’ll watch my back,” I joked lamely, wishing he would clear a path to the coffee machine. The shakes were wearing off, and I was in danger of falling asleep on my feet.
“Don’t worry, I can watch it for you,” Wade said.
I paused and turned to look at him.
He smirked. “Since we’re not rivals, of course… different departments.”
“Ah, yes, I see. Thanks for that,” I muttered. “Excuse me a second.”
