Chapter 43

[ 1,081 words ]

Some people walk into your life like a storm. Others become the reason you survive one.

~ Rebel Beast

Aria didn’t like the look in their eyes. She felt like a rabbit that had just realized three foxes were blocking every possible escape route.

“What are you talking about?” She laughed awkwardly. “Why would anything be happening between the professor and me? I literally met the man yesterday p>

Her gaze darted between the girls, hoping that answer was enough to kill whatever ridiculous theory they had cooked up.

It wasn’t. The looks on their faces only became more knowing.

“So you’re trying to tell me those longing gazes were for nothing?” Trisha pressed.

“Longing gazes?” Aria let out a disbelieving laugh. “Trisha, do you even hear yourself?” She threw both hands into the air. “That sounds ridiculous p>

Brittney butted in.

“I think the phrase Trisha is looking for is sexual tension p>

She gave Aria a flat look.

“Girl, both of you were practically eye-fucking each other p>

Aria opened her mouth, but othing came out. Before she could recover, Alek joined in.

“And I saw the way your hand drifted toward him p>

Aria’s face heated immediately.

“You saw that p>

Damn, she was doomed. Had she become so undisciplined that she was behaving like some she-wolf in heat?

“I think everyone noticed that,” Alek informed her. “The man literally announced no touching to the entire residence and you still looked ready to test the theory. It seems you do enjoy courting death p>

Aria groaned. This was slowly becoming her worst nightmare.

Sadly, Brittney wasn’t done.

“I was so tempted to grab the bat and swing it at both of you p>

“What?!” Aria’s eyes widened at the confession.

“I was watching like, just kiss already and get it over with!” Brittney groaned, her fingers clawing the air to show her frustration.

“BRITTNEY!” Aria’s face turned bright red. “He’s a professor at this institution, for crying out loud p>

“So p>

“So p>

Aria stared at her in disbelief. How was she missing the point this badly?

“He’s a professor,” Aria repeated slowly, as if speaking to a child.

Brittney merely shrugged. “Last time I checked, there wasn’t a rule saying we couldn’t date the professors p>

“Brittney!” Aria called out through gritted teeth this time.

“What?” The girl looked completely unrepentant. “They do it at Lunaris Academy. Not to mention, we’re basically inmates on death row in this place. The least the academy could do is provide some fun p>

She clicked her tongue. “At least one of us is winning p>

“Winning p>

“Yes.” Brittney pointed at her. “You have a sexy professor who’s into you, and I fully intend to live vicariously through you p>

“Okay,” Aria said, getting to her feet this time because it felt like she needed to get something straight into their heads.

“Fine,” she confessed. “I admit Professor Maverick is a bit hot p>

“A bit hot?” Trisha scoffed in disbelief. “Girl, that man isn’t Maverick. He’s Mave-wreck. I bet if he asked half the girls in this academy to jump off a cliff, there’d be a traffic jam at the edge p>

At this point, Aria knew there was no changing her roommates’ minds. All she could do was explain herself and hope they stopped looking at her as though she was one accidental glance away from becoming Mrs. Nightshade.

She took a deep breath.

“What I’m trying to say is that I did not come to this academy to date or fall head over heels in love with some professor. Whatever happened out there was probably a momentary lapse in judgment and it won’t happen again p>

“Mmm-hmm.” Brittney’s tone made it painfully obvious she didn’t believe a single word.

Aria sighed. This was getting her nowhere.

This time, her voice softened.

“I get that we’ve all been surrounded by tragedy and that you guys are trying to squeeze whatever entertainment you can out of this situation, but that’s all this is. We’re trying to survive here. I made a promise to my sister and I intend to keep it. I know Professor Maverick falls nowhere in my future p>

“Don’t be so sure of that,” Alek cut in.

Aria turned toward her. Alek shrugged.

“He could protect you, you know. I think having someone like him on your side would be a pretty powerful advantage in this place p>

“Well, I don’t intend to put my trust in him p>

The answer came immediately.

Perhaps a little too quickly.

“I’ve seen enough men around my mother to last a lifetime. The only thing I’ve learned so far is that relying on men is usually a mistake. So no, I’d rather figure out my own survival than give some guy the opportunity to turn my life upside down p>

The room grew quiet.

Maybe it was the force behind her words, or the grave look in her eyes. Whatever it was, Alek, Brittney, and Trisha could all tell there was a story there. For once, none of them pushed.

“Fine. It’s your choice,” Trisha said.

Brittney raised both hands in surrender.

“Just saying, if you decide to have a little fun along the way, he’s not a bad choice. I mean, this is only day two. We don’t even know if we’re making it to day three p>

She paused before adding, “It wouldn’t kill you to enjoy yourself a little p>

“Unfortunately, that fun could potentially ruin my life. So no, I’d rather focus on why I’m here.” Aria folded her arms. “And we’re not dying. We’re getting out of this place alive p>

There was enough fear in this place already. She refused to contribute to it.

“Umm… guys.” Alek’s voice interrupted the moment. She was standing by the window now, staring outside.

“If you’re all done arguing, I think you might want to see this p>

“What is it?” Aria asked urgently, heading toward the window at the same time as Trisha and Brittney.

The four girls crowded around it immediately, jostling for space as they peered outside.

At first, Aria had no idea what Alek wanted them to see. Then she spotted the red-haired beast approaching the residence.

Even from their position on the upper floor, they could feel the shift in atmosphere. The patrol team straightened instantly and every pair of eyes turned toward him.

“Why does he look oddly familiar?” Brittney muttered, her brows furrowing just like everyone else’s.

“Oh shit Aria breathed as recognition struck her like lightning.

The four girls spoke at the same time.

“Rhydian Drakhar p>

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