“That’s why I’m suggesting you avoid it. Keep your head down for the year, if you don’t want to move to the main campus.”
Two days ago, I killed someone. And now my roommate is telling me about a co-ed fraternity that might try to recruit me. Theo won’t talk to me. A boy wants to seduce me. My roommate is paranoid.
Yep. Things are going well.
“Okay,” I finally say, mainly because I can’t even comprehend how I’ve dug myself into a hole this deep in only a few days. “I’ll keep my head down.”
She nods, exhaling. “Okay. So we make an appearance at the bonfire, then we leave. Avoid catching Marcus’s eye. He’s the one who gives out invites to new students for the brunch…”
“And your brother? Sebastian?”
“Avoid them, too. You know what? Avoid everyone.”
I make a face, and she pauses.
“I, um, seem to have caught Sebastian’s eye.”
She shakes her head. “Great. Come on, let’s get inside. We need to change for this fire.”
My stomach swoops, and I try to digest everything I’ve learned.
How deep does this go? All the way to the administration? It must, if they have the ability to filter who gets placed on this campus, in the residence halls. There’s only one building here for classes, and I’d bet that no one on the main campus even has to come over this way.
Secrets.
I’m intrigued, but I’ve got enough to worry about.
My phone buzzes, and I nearly jump out of my skin.
“My mother,” I tell Ruby, stopping in the hallway.
She nods and continues on, giving me privacy.
“Hello?”
“Lucy. I just wanted to check in with you.” Mom’s voice is weird. Off.
“Oh, um, okay. How’s everything there?”
“Good, good. Jameson had a question for you, so I’m just going to…”
My stomach twists, and my body goes cold. Jameson DeSantis is Wilder’s dad—and Amelie’s future father-in-law. He’s probably been heading up that murder investigation from the civilian side, if he doesn’t have any detectives in his pocket.
“Hello, Lucy,” Jameson DeSantis says. “Your parents inform me that you left for school. Seems rather abrupt.”
I bite my tongue to keep from making a stupid remark. “I didn’t talk about it.”
“And why is that?”
“Well, it’s not really fair that I get to experience things my sister isn’t allowed to, so to not hurt her feelings or make matters worse, I’ve kept it quiet.” I pause. “Is that why you called? To ask about my attempt for a degree?”
“That wasn’t my question.”
I wait. I’ve already blurted out too much.
“No, I wanted to ask you where you went after you left the engagement party. My security footage showed you leaving through the front gate close to nine.”
“Theo picked me up,” I say. “He met me at the top of the street and drove me home, then stayed with me.”