Page 168 of Withered

Tyler mutters something under his breath. “You know Jake as well as I do. That girl must’ve lost her mind to say something like that.”

I simply nod. This has to be one of her schemes to split up with Jake. “Thanks, Tyler.”

After class, I follow Tyler out, but Professor Caleb beats me to it as he calls me “Rose.”

I leave Tyler to see Professor Caleb. “Yeah?”

I’m not sure why he called me out, so I mentally recall if I have any assignments due. But no, I submitted them all. Everyone has left, and I’m alone with him. When I look towards the door, Tyler nods at me. I give him a nod of thanks.

He starts, “This has nothing to do with the curriculum.” I breathed a sigh of relief. “You don’t mind if I use a personal tone, right?”

I nod, unsure what to do. “Not at all.” I give him a tight smile, unaware of the whole conversation ahead.

He adds, “I know I’m not in a position to tell you this, but please consider it.” Uneasiness settles at the pit of my stomach, and he continues, “I think it’s better if you keep some distance from Jake.”

I stare at him, thinking I misheard him. But when he doesn’t say anything, a dry laugh spills out. “Why would you say that?”

Professor Caleb rakes his hair in a way Jake does, but it doesn’t make me feel anything. The only emotions I feel toward him are annoyance and irritation.

“I must sound crazy, but he isn’t who you think he is,” he finishes.

I laughed out loud, and Professor Caleb watches me in confusion. “I’m sorry, it’s just that everyone is warning me about him when you guys don’t even know him.”

“Everyone? Who else?” He asks.

“Olivia warned me, too,” I say.

My mind begins to play games on me; did Olivia tell him to tell me this? They were at the event together, after all. Professor Caleb does not appear to be someone who would listen to Olivia, and he also does not appear to be someone with whom Olivia would go on a date.

I grit my teeth and bawl my hands into fists. They don’t know Jake the way I know him. Also, as he said, he has no position; we’re not friends or anything; why mingle in my business?

“I’m going to go now.” I simply state this, not bothering to ask for his permission.

“Rose?” He calls, and I turn around to face him. “Just be careful.”

I nod and exit the classroom, which seemed to be suffocating me.

I walk quickly, my rage bubbling within me. I almost forgot Tyler was waiting for me outside until he calls me out.

“Yo, what happened?” Tyler asks, catching up to me.

“Uhm, sorry. He just ruined my mood.” I tell Tyler as we walk down the hall.

It was the last class of the day, and Professor Caleb made me wait for ten minutes, so the hallway is almost empty. Everyone must be out in the parking lot.

“What did he say?” Tyler asks.

“Nothing to worry about.” I lie. We go our separate ways as the boys have soccer practice today.

Jake arrives home late. “How’s practice going?” I ask him in my room after dinner.

Jake is stretched over my lap, and I’m seated with my back against the headboard. His hair strands are sticking out as I run my hand through them; they are still damp, showing that he has just gotten out of the shower. I couldn’t help but recall the humiliating incident where I slipped on my bathroom floor and was discovered naked by Jake. “Coach is sucking our lives out of us.”

“I, uh, I got you something.” Jake stutters and leaps from my lap. He sits up and pulls out a necklace. “Here.”

He hands me the necklace, which is the most elegant one I’ve ever seen. Simple but elegant.

“What is this?” I ask, looking at the pearl stone, which is joined to the silver chain in a twisted rope pattern.

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