Page 25 of Huge Games

The trouble is that I can't imagine what my future looks like.

My family is shattered.

My mom is resentful, and my dad is absent.

My friends are all partnered up and living their best lives.

My sister is blissfully married with a gorgeous baby.

And I'm just stuck. An outsider. Rejected.

My phone vibrates, and I grab it and check my messages. It's Dornan. He says he'll do it. One down, two to go. Now, I just have to wait to see whether Elias and Travis will step up to the plate.

8

CELINE

"When I return your test papers, I want you to look at where you've gone wrong. For some of you, this might be your first failure. Take note of your errors, apply yourself, and you'll be back on track. For others, this test may be another in a line of below pass marks. If that's you, I'm afraid you'll find it difficult to pick up your grade at this point in the semester."

I stare at the red mark of failure and swallow against the lump in my throat. This isn't my first bad grade in this class. I've been struggling to find time to do the required work and focus enough to take in what little I have been doing.

I glance around the room at the other students. Some are happy. Others, like me, have furrowed foreheads and grim mouths. Elias is at the back, packing away his things and smiling. Did he seriously pass this? It was tough. Our eyes meet—it's the first time I've seen him since our night together—and he raises his eyebrows expectantly. He wants to know if I passed. I shake my head, and his smile fades into a concerned grimace.

I turn back to force my notepad and pen into mystuffed bag. When I follow the crowd from the room, Elias is waiting for me in the hall.

"Hey."

I move with the stream of exiting students, inadvertently forced to stand close to him. His scent is different today. Something woody with an orange undertone that floods my senses. When he touches my arm, I'm overwhelmed with memories of him naked and fierce, looming over me and thrusting powerfully. "You didn't pass?" God, his voice is just so rough and deep.

Shaking my head, I stare down the hallway, embarrassed to meet his gaze. He's going to make fun of me. I know he is, but I can't avoid answering. "I'm flunking," I say. "It isn't just this test."

"Why didn't you say something? We could study together."

I blink, surprised. Where are his usual snarky comments? This isn't like Elias at all. "I didn't think to….you know...because we're not…"

I want to finish the sentence by saying 'close' or 'friends,' but that sounds ridiculous in light of what we did a few nights ago.

And in the past.

Not close enough to share class notes, but close enough to share bodily fluids.

My life is ridiculous right now.

"You're happy to ask me out on a fake date and do stuff with me, but not to tell me you need help with a class?" His confused expression makes me flush hot with embarrassment.

"No one wants to own up to flunking."

Elias tips his head to the ceiling and blows out a long breath. "You know, this makes no sense. I can help you. All you have to do is ask."

"Yeah, well, asking for help isn't exactly easy. Especially when people don't reply." I pretend to look down at my watch rather than face him.

"I wanted to talk to you about that."

"You know what, Elias? Don't worry about it. Forget I asked. It's fine. And I don't need help studying. I'll manage on my own."

I turn away before he can reply and speed-walk through the building until the doors to the exit are in view. He doesn't follow, but I don't expect him to.

When Gabriella and Ellie turn up at my dorm with a bottle of wine and a massive bar of chocolate, my instinct is to tell them I'm fine and they can go home to their men. All I want is to be left in peace so I can curl up on my bed and stare at the wall. But their faces are so overly bright, and they seem so pleased with themselves that I can't find it in me to reject their efforts to help me through a dark time.

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