Chapter 29 #2
“Sure,” I say, grateful to not be eating alone.
We’re walking across the quad when I notice a group of students standing in a cluster near the fountain, their attention focused on something, or rather someone. It’s as if they are all holding their breath in order not to disrupt the energy.
“Oh, my God! She’s coming this way,” Yulia whispers, her eyes going wide.
And suddenly, people are scrambling to move out of the way, clearing a path.
A girl walks through the crowd, stunning and effortlessly hot.
You’ll think she woke up looking perfect with her long, dark hair that falls in perfect waves down her back.
Her clothes obviously look designer, and she moves with so much confidence that it makes everyone around her seem small and insignificant.
“Who is that?” I ask.
Larisa leans in close to my ear to whisper, “That’s Pyrene. She’s a third-year student and super popular. I heard her father is very rich, and she’s dating the most handsome boy in college.”
“Really?” I say, watching as Pyrene walks to where we’re standing. I’m about to turn away when suddenly Pyrene’s shoulder bumps into Larisa, not hard enough to knock her down but with enough force to make her stumble backward a few steps.
“What the fuck?” I say, stepping forward, anger flaring in my chest. “The girl didn’t even stay in your space. Why did you…”
Larisa grabs my arm and pulls me back, shaking her head frantically. “Don’t. Just don’t do anything to her.”
“Are you sure?” I ask, still feeling angry.
“Yeah, just forget about it,” she says quickly. “It’s fine.”
We walk away, finding a spot in the cafeteria, and after we sit down with our food, there’s this awkward silence for a few minutes before Larisa looks at me. “So are you actually married?”
“Yes, I am,” I say.
She lets out a low whistle. “Married young, huh. That’s cool. Do you have a part-time job or something?”
I scratch the back of my head, feeling uncomfortable. “I used to. When I got married, I couldn’t … exactly have a job anymore.”
Envy flashes across her face. “I run errands for the school to make extra money. I used to do it before I had to drop out, and when I came back, I started up my business again. So in case you ever need anybody to run errands, like picking up food or delivering things, I charge about two hundred rubles for a five-minute trip.”
“Okay, I’ll keep that in mind,” I reply, not knowing what else to say.
Larisa holds out her phone, the contact screen already open. "Give me your number."
I type it in and hand the phone back, a small sense of relief washing through me. After the frenzy with the ring, it’s nice to just do something normal. Maybe I won’t be a total outcast after all.
The next few hours are just a long line of professors reading their syllabi and making the same introductions.
By the time my last class lets out, my brain is fried.
I’m halfway to the exit when my phone buzzes in my pocket.
I pull it out and see Alexei’s name sitting at the top of my notifications.
Alexei
I’m coming to pick you up.
Delivered
I immediately start typing back.
No, don’t come. I’ll just take the train home.
Delivered
His response comes almost instantly.
Alexei
I’m not allowing you to take any unsafe trains.
Delivered
Alexei, no. I can take care of myself. Just let me take the train.
Delivered
Alexei
Not happening, Vedma. I’m already on my way.
Delivered
My head is down as I type, my feet moving on autopilot.
I slam right into someone’s shoulder, nearly dropping my phone.
"Sorry, I'm an idiot, I didn't see…" I stop mid-sentence, my heart doing a slow, heavy thud in my chest. "Stanislav?"Please don’t. I don’t want people seeing me get picked up in a …
He blinks, his eyes traveling over my face as if he’s trying to make sure I’m real. "Zoya? What…"
One of his friends leans over his shoulder, looking between us with a smirk. "Well, look at this. Since when do you know a girl like this, Stan?"
Stanislav glances back at them. “Can you guys excuse us for a little bit?”
They exchange indecipherable looks but wander off a few feet away, and we stand there in awkward silence for a moment.
“I go here,” Stanislav finally says. “I’m in my third year.”
“Oh! That’s cool,” I say, trying to keep my voice casual even though my heart is pounding. “I’m a first-year journalism major. Hope to see you around.”
I’m about to walk away when Stanislav reaches out and grabs my hand, stopping me.
“Zoya,” he says, his voice turning serious and a little pleading. “I hope you’re not upset with me about what happened.”
One of his friends, who apparently didn’t go very far, turns back and calls out. “Wait, what happened? Did you guys fuck or something? Oh my God, so you’ve actually lost your virginity, and you’re not pining over Pyrene anymore?”
I pull my hand away from Stanislav’s grip, my face burning with embarrassment. “I’m not… Excuse me.”
I’m gone before he can say another word. I fast-walk to the exit, my skin crawling with the feeling that he’s still watching me. Once I’m out the doors, I don't stop. I run. I put as much pavement as I can between me and that building.
When I see Alexei’s car coming down the street, I wave both arms to get his attention. He pulls over to the curb, and I yank the door open, throwing myself into the seat. “Drive. Drive. Drive. Drive,” I say, my chest heaving from the run.
He gives me a confused look, raising an eyebrow. “What? You don’t want people to know you have a handsome husband with a nice car coming to pick you up? Are you planning to date some stupid frat boy in this school? Maybe I should enroll for four months in this school to watch you.”
“If you do that,” I say, glaring at him, “Your kissing privileges are off, your boob-grabbing privileges are off, and your ass-smacking privileges will also be gone.”
He groans and puts his head back against the seat. “Fuck. You really know how to get me by the balls, don’t you, Vedma?”
He leans over and kisses my cheek, then he pulls back to look at me. “How was school?”
“Fine,” I say, but my voice comes out a little shaky.
“Are you sure?” he asks, his eyes searching my face. “You look a little shaken up.”
“Yeah, because I was running so that you wouldn’t come here and embarrass me,” I say.
He laughs, amused. “What’s so embarrassing about a nice car?
You know this was the same attitude you had when we first went out on our date.
You saw a great car, and you walked away from it.
What is it? Do you have a beef with nice cars?
Should I come here next time in a rust bucket? I wouldn’t even do that to you.”
I don’t answer. I can’t stop thinking about how weird it’s going to be seeing my kidnapper’s brother in the same school as me, how Stanislav looked at me with those apologetic eyes like he wanted me to forgive him for something that wasn’t entirely his fault.
But it doesn’t matter. It’s a big school. What are the chances that we’re going to meet again and again?