Page 25 of Mermaid's Song (Dark Sea Academy 1)

I shake off my thoughts and pull off my shirt.

Knock, knock!

“Are you still in there? Do I need to come in?”

“I’m almost dressed!” I grab a shirt and pull it on before he decides to barge in. Then I look in the mirror. The shirt is a perfect fit, as though it had been tailored to me. How is that possible?

The door opens, and Bash comes in. “I don’t have all day.”

I spin around. “It’s a good thing I’m dressed!”

He looks me over. “That you are.” Neither his expression nor his tone tell me if that’s a good thing or bad.

“If you have to leave so badly, just go. I’ll show myself around.”

“And risk Middlebrooks’s wrath?” He shakes his head. “Not happening.”

I glance at his tattoo. “You don’t look like the kind of guy who cares about getting into trouble.”

He purses his lips. “One more wrong move, and I’m outta here.”

“Meaning?”

“Expelled.”

“You’ve gotten into that much trouble?” I ask.

“Why do you think I’m showing you around? It’s a punishment.”

Disappointment washes through me, though I shouldn’t be surprised. I look away. “I won’t tell her you left. I’m sure I can figure this place out on my own.”

“Can’t risk it. Come on, princess.”

“Fine. Do I need those papers she gave me?”

“I doubt it.”

“Okay, then.” I take the room key, stick it in my shirt pocket, then follow him out.

Bash points to a set of double-doors. “Those lead to the bathrooms, not that you’ll need them. Everyone else pees and showers there.”

“I didn’t ask for the suite.”

“You don’t have to explain yourself to me, princess.”

“Quit calling me that!”

“Why?”

“Because I have a name.”

“Whatever.” He then shows me the community kitchen. “Not that you’ll need that, either.”

He continues the tour, making sure to point out all the things I personally won’t need because I took the suite from some deserving fourth-year students. Then we finally leave the living area, and he leads me to the part of the building where the classrooms are.

“There are more outside.” He nods toward a set of double doors. “Gym, choir and band, and some of the magical classes. Basically, anything that could get noisy. Want to see them?”

I shake my head. “Wouldn’t want to eat up more of your precious time.”

“It’s my job. If you want to see them, I’ll show you.”

“Like I said, I can figure it out on my own.”

Bash shrugs and glances at a clock on the wall. “Better get to the dining hall. It’s almost time for dinner.” He glances behind me. “Oh, and here comes your roommate.”

My stomach drops to the floor. It’s the moment of truth. I’m about to find out of Halen is still a best friend or has become an enemy.

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