32. Viviana
Viviana
I t’s getting close to the end of the semester and I’m struggling this year.
I usually don’t have an issue studying or focusing on my classwork, but this year it’s straight torture.
Since those photos got posted I’ve been anxious and scared.
I feel like I’m constantly looking over my shoulder.
Nox got them down within a few hours, but they were there for the world to see for that time.
Who knows what kind of people are looking for me?
And now they might have photos of not only me, but Zane too.
As well as Sloan’s name from posts naming him as my boyfriend.
I hadn’t cared when Carol was taking photos of me.
I kind of figured she was going to use them in some kind of sad attempt to get Sloane to see that I was ‘cheating’ on him or something.
You know, like the bitchy girls who send photos to the guys they like in all the books I’ve been reading.
I never considered that in the real world people like to do their exposing publicly on social media.
Cain speaking brings my attention back to the front of the classroom.
“Exams are coming up fast. I have a TA this year so he will be running study groups for anyone interested. Please raise your hand if you wish to join.” About half the class raise their hands as the TA takes note of who has them up.
“Theodore will send a text to those raising their hands with meeting times and places.”
He dismisses us and I head out of the classroom.
I find my usual seat empty in the little common area and settle in to read over my notes from the class.
I might actually have to ask Cain to go over my study guide this year.
After a while, someone sits down in one of the seats next to me.
I try to ignore the eyes I can feel on myself and mentally go over where all of my weapons are located.
“You didn’t raise your hand for the study group,” a voice says casually.
I look up to see Theodore watching me. His eyes are too perceptive, like he’s looking for a weakness. And it makes my skin crawl. I have no idea why Cain would ever choose this guy. Did he even have interviews, or did he just randomly pick someone to be his teaching assistant?
I settle back in my seat, keeping my eyes on him. I want to appear calm even though this man makes me feel anything but. “I do better self-studying.”
He hums under his breath, his eyes trailing down to my notebook opened on today’s notes. “I could take a peek at your notes if you want.”
I tilt my notebook up higher so he can’t read them. “No thanks. I’m good.”
“Maybe I could give you my number and we could study one on one over lunch or something?” he asks, tilting his head to the side.
Though his words could be considered flirty, his tone and facial expression don’t line up with that.
He seems calculating and cold, and in this moment I wonder if this is how Cain felt sitting across from serial killers during his time in the FBI.
I’m going to need Nox to look into this guy.
Maybe ask Enzo to do some surveillance. Because something about him just doesn’t feel right.
I give him a flat smile. “No thanks.”
Before he has a chance to reply, my phone starts to buzz. I pick it up instantly. “What’s going on? Are you okay?” Nox asks.
I continue staring at Theodore. I’m not going to be the one who looks away first. “Yeah. What’s up?”
A breath leaves Nox. “I was checking up on you since I know you’re between classes and saw that guy talking to you.
You look really tense so I was afraid you might need help.
If you want me to text one of the guys and send them your way, say something about coffee.
If you’re fine say something about lunch. ”
I think about it for a moment. I’m not scared of this guy, but I do want out of this situation without looking like I’m running from him. “Yeah. We could grab some coffee tomorrow before classes if you want.”
“Got it. Texting them now,” Nox explains.
“Okay. I’ll see you then.” I hang up the phone over Nox’s protests.
“Boyfriend?” Creepy McCreeperson questions.
I tilt my head to the side. “Not exactly. He’s just mine.”
His lips just barely curve upwards, but he doesn’t reply as we continue to just stare at each other. A few moments later, a person settles onto the arm of the seat I’m in and a mouth brushes against my ear. “Want me to kill him for you?” Zane whispers.
A grin tugs up my lips. I can always count on Zane being ready to spill blood for me. The idea is pretty appealing too, though I don’t really have proof this guy has done anything wrong. He could just come off as creepy.
“Hey guys. What’s going on?” Sloane asks as he casually strolls over to us.
I want to jump on both of them. I knew they would come if I needed them, but I still appreciate it all the same. I stand from my seat and gather my things, giving Theodore a tense smile. “I’ve got to go. See you Wednesday.”
He waves with two fingers. “If you change your mind, you know where to find me.”
The words sound like an invitation, but the way he says them makes me think it’s a challenge. I curse myself for allowing him to get under my skin like that and walk away with Sloane and Zane. “Who was that guy?” Zane asks.
I glance backwards to make sure he isn’t following us or within earshot. “That’s our Criminology teaching assistant.”
“So, the guy you hate.” Sloane grins at me over his shoulder.
If he wasn’t so damn hot when he did that I’m sure someone would have punched him in the face for it by now. “Yes. He just rubs me the wrong way.”
“When the fuck was he rubbing you? That’s it, I’m killing him,” Zane snaps.
Sloane and I both grab ahold of Zane before he can turn around and go after the guy. “It was a figure of speech. He hasn’t done anything wrong. He just gives me the creeps.”
Zane shrugs. “That’s reason enough for me.”
I grin at him. “That’s one of the many reasons that I love you.”
I wouldn’t be opposed to Theodore Jeffery Johnson the third going missing without a trace, but I would feel guilty for offing someone just for giving me bad vibes.
Sloane wraps his arm around my shoulders and leads us to the sociology section of Huron hall.
“Thanks for the rescue, guys. Did you have to leave class for this?” I wince, just now remembering that they don’t have breaks between classes at the same time as me.
Sloane’s arm pulls me in even closer. “Nah. My class was having a quiz, and I was already finished.”
Zane reaches out and takes the hand closest to him. “I left class, but the professor was just going over some color theory and value stuff that we learned in like freshman year. I think she decided that some people in the class needed a refresher.”
I relax at that. I’m not used to asking people for help.
Well except Enzo, but I’m pretty sure he would have just handed me a knife and held the guy down for me to disembowel.
He’s not a warm, fuzzy, emotional-support kind of guy.
I really need to sit down and have a talk with him about everything.
He’s a professor of mine now, and I’m glad he’s getting to do something he always wanted to. I just wish I had gotten a warning.
I have no idea where he’s even staying. I’d expected him to come and try to crash on the couch or something. I lean into Sloane’s side. “Did you guys want to study for exams with me?”
“Yes please!” Zane pouts at me.
I grin back at him knowingly “Need help with that sociology class?” He nods. “If only you had taken it last year we could have been in the same class.” I pout at him, before giving him a teasing smile.
Zane frowns. “I actually thought about it because Nox was a TA for that, but there was a painting class at the same time that I wanted to take.”
I squeeze his hand. “At least we’ll have advanced writing together next semester.”
“Don’t rub it in. Neither of you even need English classes for your degree. And with me being a senior and taking all my electives in the first three years, I don’t have any classes I can take with Viv,” Sloane huffs.
I look up at him with a raised brow. “Don’t you think we spend enough time together doing schoolwork?”
He frowns down at me. “I guess so. Now that I think about it, I do get more study time in a week than we would spend in one class together.”
As a senior, Sloane is so much more mature than Zane and me.
He demonstrates that well now by sticking his tongue out at Zane and literally saying, “Na-na-na boo-boo.” So clearly, we’re all doing so well at this whole adult thing.
I’ve got a whole year of it under my belt so far and I’m kicking independences ass.