Chapter 8 #2
‘What’s up?’
I point at the note.
She looks at it, her eyes scanning it quickly before she stares up at me. ‘What the fuck is that?’
‘A note,’ I say.
‘Yeah, I can see that. Where’d it come from? Was it under the door?’
I shake my head. ‘I found it in my apron just now.’
‘What?’
‘There ... have been others.’ I dig them out of my bag. ‘One was in my welcome pack. The other I found in my room.’
‘This one’s the third?’ she asks, pointing at the latest one.
I nod.
‘And ... are they right?’
‘I was on the river on Saturday, so I think whoever is writing them is watching me. But I don’t know about the rest. My mom did pass away. That’s why I was brought ... it’s why I came here. Her funeral was the morning of the day we met.’
‘I’m sorry,’ she says.
‘Why?’ I ask.
No one else has said that to me, not even at The Heath .
She glances at me. ‘It’s just a thing people say. Well, they’re supposed to say it. But I really am. I imagine it’s tough to lose a parent.’
‘We weren’t close,’ I mutter, a little uncomfortable.
Lu seems to sense my unease because she picks up the paper and turns it over. ‘Have you shown anyone else?’
‘No. Who would I show?’
She shrugs. ‘I don’t know, your stepbrother?’
I snort. ‘Like he’d care.’
She gives me a look. ‘Do you think it’s him, or his two friends?’
I think about that for a second. It had crossed my mind, but I shake my head. ‘These notes want me to look into my mom’s death. That would mean being in Richmond. The guys want me gone. I don’t think it’s them.’
Lu considers the notes. ‘They’re not really saying anything bad . The first two are a little weird. But this one ...’ She looks at the third note in her hand. ‘It’s pretty creepy. You could take them to campus security, but what are they gonna do? Same with the Richmond PD.’ She taps on the counter. ‘Who do you think it could be?’
‘I don’t know,’ I say honestly. ‘Maybe one of the other guys in KIP? They’ve been messing with me. Maybe one of them is trying to scare me.’
I frown. That idea clicks into place as I say it out loud. ‘I’ll bet that’s it,’ I mutter, thinking of how those three juniors have been. I roll my eyes. ‘It’s just one of them.’
‘Kinda dark, though,’ Lu muses. ‘Using your mom’s passing like that. Was there anything weird about it?’
‘I don’t know that either. It was a car accident. That’s all I was told.’
‘Okay.’ She nods. ‘Leave it with me. I’ll do some asking around and see what I can find. Be careful and let me know if you get any more of those things, or anyone else tries anything, okay?’
‘Yeah.’
She gives me a smile that I think is meant to be reassuring, but she still seems alarmed.
‘It’ll be fine. As you said, it’s probably one of those immature asshats fucking with you. Now, come on. Pull it together. The natives out there can see us talking despite the sign. They’re getting restless and you know how they are when they don’t get their morning caffeine fixes.’
I attempt a grin at her as I tie my apron on. I stuff the notes into my back pocket and start helping. At least this will keep my mind occupied.
The shift goes quickly, and before I know it, it’s almost four and Lu is waving me out. ‘Come on,’ she says. ‘We’ve done our time. Want to go have some retail therapy before we suit up Dagorhir-style?’
‘I’d love to,’ I reply, ‘but I have to go check my emails before I meet you in your dorm.’
She frowns. ‘You’d rather go check your computer than hang with your new bestie?’
I shake my head, afraid she’s upset. ‘No, of course not. I just changed majors and ...’
‘Whoa, whoa, whoa!’ She puts up a hand to stop me talking. ‘I knew it. You’ve seen the light and you’re joining me on the stage.’
‘I’m afraid not,’ I laugh, happy that she doesn’t seem actually annoyed.
She sighs dramatically. ‘What then?’
‘Chemistry and Physics.’
‘Fuck me!’ She looks dubious. ‘That’s intense . Are you up for that, babe? ’
I nod. ‘I have the credits from before I came here. John was the one who enrolled me in English Lit, and he pulled strings to do it, too. I barely had the classes to be a freshman, let alone a sophomore.’
‘So, you can do all that science stuff?’
I grin. ‘Let’s just say it’ll be a lot easier for me than Shakespeare!’
‘Well, okay. All the power to you, babe. Knock ’em dead!’
‘Applegate is having me work in a lab though, so my shifts might have to change a little. I’m sorry.’ I wince. ‘I hadn’t thought of that. I have no idea how much time I’ll need to spend there.’
‘The lab?’ Lu gives me a funny look.
‘Yeah, why? It’s okay, isn’t it? With Grinder, I mean?’
‘Yeah,’ she waves a hand. ‘Of course it is! Oh, that reminds me!’
‘This is for you.’
She proffers an envelope and my eyes widen.
She shakes her head. ‘It’s not a creepy note. I promise I’m not stalking you.’
I laugh as I take it and open it. There’s a wad of bills inside.
‘I thought you might not have a bank account yet, so I asked Bill to give you cash. I hope that’s okay with you.’
I close it up, relieved. ‘Yeah, I hadn’t thought of that either. I have a card, but I don’t know if I can put money on it. Thank you. That’s really helpful.’
‘No probs, but keep it to yourself, huh? Everyone else gets a check every couple weeks.’
‘Thanks, Lu.’
She gives me a wink. ‘Shut up and go check your emails, genius. I’ll see you in a half hour.’
I go back to the library and check my university email. I have two new messages. One from Applegate’s secretary, and one from Applegate himself telling me to come to the lab tonight, so they can start showing me the ropes. Applegate’s secretary has attached my class schedule and a list of the books I’ll need so, with my wad of Grinder cash, I make my way to the campus bookstore and find the textbooks I need.
The clerk tells me I can buy them cheaper second-hand, but almost all the pre-used ones are already gone since we’re three weeks into the semester already. The prices are steep for the new ones and I can only get half of the list. The guy at the register packs them into a plastic bag and I leave feeling a little anxious. These aren’t the kinds of books I’ll be able to find at the library, so hopefully I can share with people in class until I can afford the rest of them.
Staring up at the clock tower that looks over the quad, I see that I have just enough time to go to Lu’s and then get to the lab. I go to her building and press the buzzer for her floor.
The door opens and I go up the stairs just inside, finding myself in a very long corridor.
‘Hey!’
I find Lu waving at me from about halfway down. I hurry over and she waves me into a small, white-walled dorm room with a couple of windows and two twin beds on either side of the room. There are also two desks, two closets and a small fridge. As I look around, I can’t help but think that I prefer my room in the KIP house, even if the company does leave a lot to be desired. Lu shows me what she has and we pick a breastplate, and a battered looking foam sword. I forgo the helmet because hats always feel weird, and she says I don’t really need one anyway.
I thank her for everything and she tells me she’ll bring it all for me on Friday, since I don’t want to carry it around to the lab to meet Applegate. I’m done with a few minutes to spare and follow the path straight to the Novelle Center .
I stand in front of it, taking a moment to really look at it. Most of the front is made up of tinted green glass windows, allowing passersby to see into the classrooms and the large foyer at the front. The lines are slightly curved, and the roof is covered in a living canvas of grasses and plants. It’s so natural, and yet the building’s facias gleam in polished chrome that makes it feel state of the art as well.
Almost unable to contain my nervousness and excitement, I go in through the large front doors.
I look at the email I printed out and take the stairs down to the first basement level. Afraid I’ll be late, I quicken my pace, but when I turn a blind corner, without looking, I bump into none other than Doctor Applegate himself.
‘I’m sorry!’ I say, trying for my practiced inflection, so that he knows I mean it.
‘That’s okay,’ he says, giving me an easy grin that’s a bit at odds with how he was in his office this morning. ‘I was just coming up to see if you were here yet. I’ll take you right to the lab and you can get started. Have you ever worked in a lab setting before?’
I think about all the times I snuck out of my room and avoided the cameras so I could mess around in The Heath’s small lab behind Stoke’s office when the blanks were in their staff room chatting late into the night. I hope I have enough practical knowledge to not make a total fool of myself.
‘A little.’
‘Great. Well, there’s nothing out of the ordinary. You’re to assist for now, and maybe we can put you on the project in a greater capacity once you’ve ...’
‘Proven myself?’
He chuckles. ‘Something like that. A couple of the seniors are in the lab this evening too. You’ll be working with ... sort of for them at first as the assist, so if you have any questions, just ask them and they’ll put you on the right track. ’
‘Okay.’ I look over at him as we walk. ‘Thank you again,’ I say. ‘I wasn’t sure what you’d make of me this morning. I hope I don’t let you down.’
He nods. ‘I appreciate that.’
For a second he looks as if he’s going to say something more, but then he just gives me another smile and uses his card on the pad next to the door in front of us. It opens with a click.
‘Normal lab protocols from this point. Your keycard should already have been updated, so you’ll be able to get in and out. Oh, I almost forgot.’ He stops and puts an arm out to halt me too. ‘Some of what we’re working on here is cutting edge stuff. We don’t want knowledge of it getting out. There should be an NDA in here waiting for you. You’ll have to sign it before you’ll be allowed near anything important.’
I nod. ‘Of course.’
‘Perfect, Miss Evans.’
‘Please, call me Daisy,’ I say.
‘Daisy?’ He points his two index fingers at me. ‘Oh, Marguerite . I get it.’
We walk down the hall and Applegate points out the various labs and when we get to the end, he takes a white coat off a hook. I do the same.
‘There are always a pair of safety goggles in the pocket,’ he explains, ‘but, I’ll warn you, you’ll probably be put on basic admin tasks to start with.’
I nod. ‘No problem at all.’
‘Okay. Let’s see if your card works. Swipe it.’
I take my campus card out and press it to the pad by the side of the door. It turns green with a beep and clicks open. Doctor Applegate ushers me in front of him and I enter the lab.
‘Doc. I was hoping you were still here. Some of these results don’t match up. I think we’re going have to check through all the numbers again tonight.’
I freeze at the voice and my eyes widen as I turn.
‘Perfect timing, Mr. Shaw. I’ve brought your new assistant.’
Mav turns with a smile on his face and freezes much like I have when he sees me.
‘Daisy?’ he asks.
His confusion would be funny ... if any part of this was funny.
‘Oh. You know each other. No introductions necessary. Where’s Blake?’
Blake will be here, too? My shoulders slump a little. I’ll bet I’m supposed to be their assistant.
I almost put my head in my hands.
Sounds about right.
Things had been looking up, too.
It’ll be fine, I tell myself. We aren’t in the frat house now. There’s no reason for them to be jerks to me.
‘I’ll leave you to it. Daisy, I’m sure things will be great. If you need anything at all just ask the guys, okay?’
‘Sure, Doctor Applegate,’ I say faintly.
If he notices anything amiss, he doesn’t voice it.
I stare at Mav, hearing the beep and the opening of the door. It closes with an ominous click that echoes through the lab.
‘What the fuck?’ Mav hisses. ‘What – how are you even in this building ? What did you say to Applegate for him to let you in here?’
‘I ... changed majors,’ I say quietly.
He pinches the bridge of his nose. ‘You do English Lit, Daisy,’ he growls, seeming so angry that I take a small step back. ‘I’m not trying to be an asshole, but you’re not ... you’re ... you’re a fucking English major. It’s not even a similar subject. And you’re not even a senior! How did you ...’ His eyes move over me and he glances at the door Applegate just disappeared through. ‘Are you fucking him or something?’
My eyes widen. ‘Of course not!’
‘I can’t believe this. This isn’t happening.’ He throws his hands up in the air. ‘You can’t be our assistant. We have deadlines! How can you help us? What the fuck is Applegate thinking? We need someone who knows what they’re doing, who has the brains to do what we need, Daisy.... who isn’t ... like you .’
I don’t want his words to sting, and I’ll never admit aloud that they do, but I have to force myself not to turn away from his ire.
‘What the fuck? Who let you in here, shut-in?’
I wince at Blake’s voice as the door slams shut.
Perfect .
‘Applegate says she’s our new assistant.’
‘The fuck she is!’ Blake snarls.
‘How are you here?’ Mav asks, ignoring Blake.
‘I had the credits!’ I burst out. ‘The English major thing ... I don’t know. Maybe John didn’t realize my classes and marks ... grades would transfer over.’ Just a little white lie so they don’t realize that John didn’t sanction this . ‘But they do. I saw Applegate this morning in his office and I asked him if I could switch to Chemistry. I can’t do English Lit.’
I take a quick breath and try to hide my hands, knowing that my fingers are stretching wide. I don’t want them to see my differences now.
‘He looked at my file and he said yes. He said I’ve passed enough equivalent classes in the UK to be in my senior year here.’
Mav scrapes a hand through his chestnut hair, his lips looking even poutier than usual and glances at Blake.
‘Applegate brought her here himself a second ago. ’
‘She’s made a deal with him, then,’ Blake thunders, looking at me in a way that makes me tense. ‘This is bullshit!’
‘I know what you think,’ I say. ‘I know Shade told you I’m retarded or something.’
I sneer at them both. ‘But that’s not quite the case.’
They both just stare at me. My words won’t be enough, I realize. I’ll have to prove to them that I won’t be dead weight.
‘I didn’t know you guys would be here. I didn’t know your majors. No one told me. If I’d known ...’ I huff out a breath and shrug. ‘I’d still have gone to Applegate. This is my life. Do you understand?’
I look them both in their eyes.
Five seconds.
‘I want a life !’
I stop talking, precariously close to tears. What if they make it impossible for me to work here with them? Barista Plan B sucks. I can admit that. If I have to do it I will, but I don’t want that. I want to do what I enjoy. I want to use my brain. I want to prove that I’m not stupid. Maybe that makes me shallow or vain or arrogant, but I don’t care.
‘We ... we could make a deal,’ I say, closing my eyes and gritting my teeth in the face of their combined silences.
This is a mistake. I already know it. They’re lions, and with those five words ... I’ve just made myself a baby zebra, a sickly one that limps behind the herd. I’ll get picked off if I’m not careful, but there’s no other choice.
John has manipulated my life enough. I’m not going to let the Novelles continue to influence everything so that I appear as someone ... some thing else.
‘Does Shade know about this?’ Mav asks after a moment. ‘His father?’
I shake my head. ‘Please don’t tell the Novelles.’
‘I won’t say anything,’ Mav mutters. ‘Yet.’
He seems ... resigned to me being their assistant .
‘But you earn your fucking keep here like anyone else, you hear me? You do the work.’ His lip curls. ‘When you can’t cut it, we’ll tell Applegate and you’ll be dropped. I hope you have another plan, princess, because when you fail, I’m going to go to John Novelle himself and rat you out.’
I nod, staying calm even though his threat makes my stomach twist. ‘I do, but I won’t need it. I’ll do whatever you want. I’m not leaving and becoming a barista.’
And I’m not going back to The Heath.
‘What?’ His face is scrunched up.
‘Someone who makes coffee.’
‘I know what a barista is, but ... why would that be your Plan B?’
‘I don’t have many transferable skills,’ I say honestly.
Blake just stares at me.
‘I need some fresh air,’ Mav mutters. ‘Have her do the formulas.’
‘Dude!’ Blake exclaims, bringing his arms up in a gesture that I think means he can’t believe Mav isn’t fighting this harder.
‘What?’ Mav looks at his friend. ‘What are you worried about? She’ll realize within five minutes that you don’t just decide to do Advanced Chem, and Applegate will, too.’ He snorts. ‘She won’t be our problem for long. He’ll toss her out on her ass, give us the competent assistant we need, and then Novelle will make sure she’s gone for good, just like we wanted. She’s fucked herself royally with this game she’s playing.’
Mav tears open the door and gives me a nasty smile that makes me shiver.
‘She’ll be on a plane halfway across the pond by Wednesday without us having to do another damn thing.’
The door clicks shut behind him and I sigh with relief that he’s gone. It doesn’t matter if they think I’ll fail, I remind myself. Their opinions don’t matter. I have a chance. That’s all I need.
‘I promise I’m not what you think,’ I say to Blake, not sure why. ‘I’m capable and I’ll do whatever you need me to do as your assistant. Properly.’
Blake steps closer. ‘That’s Mav’s deal, not mine.’
‘W-what do you mean?’ I take a step back.
He follows, stalking me slowly across the room and my heart begins to pound unpleasantly. At least, I think it’s unpleasantly.
What does he want?
‘You’ll crash and burn soon enough,’ Blake murmurs, ‘but if you don’t want me to out you to Novelle senior right now , before you can even shoot your shot, what’s the deal you’re going to make with me ?’
At my blank expression, he elaborates. ‘What will you give me, Daisy?’
‘I can be a good assistant. I don’t have anything else,’ I whisper, feeling the wall at my back.
‘Don’t you?’ He caresses my cheek and down the side of my neck and I frown, shaking him off when it tickles.
‘I just said I don’t,’ I mutter, confused.
He just looks at me.
‘I don’t understand.’ I say plainly, getting frustrated. ‘Just say what you mean, Blake. You have to be clear.’
‘I want you.’
‘For what?’ I shake my head.
His smile is different from the ones he usually gives me. I think he’s genuinely amused.
‘I want to fuck you.’
My mouth opens and closes. Is this some kind of slang I don’t know? He can’t mean ... that .
‘Pardon?’ I shake my head again.
‘I want to fuck you. I can’t make it any clearer than that. ’
‘Me? I don’t ... why ?’ I stare up at him, completely floored. ‘That girl. The one from the library. Isn’t she your girlfriend?’
He smirks. ‘That’s nothing to do with you.’
I frown. ‘But ... no. That’s not right. No deal. Tell Novelle if you have to but that ... That’s not right. If you have a girlfriend, I don’t think you should be doing these things.’
He sighs. ‘Do you actually give a shit?’ Then, his eyes widen a little and he laughs. ‘Jesus, are you jealous ? You don’t have feelings for me or something, do you?’
The giggle that escapes me takes him by surprise, especially when I double over with it.
‘Okay,’ he mutters. ‘Not jealousy. What then?’
I somber and shake my head. ‘I don’t know, ethics? A moral compass? And you guys think I’m weird.’
‘She’s not my girlfriend,’ he says finally. ‘She never was. She’s just ... there sometimes.’
‘I don’t think she knows that,’ I say, thinking about how she was looking at him at the bar.
‘Jolie is the least of your worries, Daisy. I’d be thinking a little more about yourself.’
I purse my lips. ‘I don’t know anything about this stuff, you know.’
‘Nothing?’ He’s incredulous.
‘Is that so hard to believe? Shade told you I was ... he told you where I was? The kind of place?’
‘Yeah, but there were other people there, right? Boys?’
‘Yes, but not any that I’d...’ I put a hand over my eyes. ‘I’m not like Jolie . I don’t know how. It’s a bad deal.’
‘A bad deal?’ his tone is cutting. Dangerous.
‘For you, I mean,’ I clarify.
‘Let me worry about that.’
‘What about Shade?’ I ask, wondering what my stepbrother’s major is. ‘Will he find out I’m here? ’
‘Let’s see if you deserve to be here first, shall we?’ He turns away. ‘On the table there. The papers.’