Chapter 18 Riley #2
“That was dramatic. Although, I really shouldn’t be all that surprised anymore,” Ike pointed out, lifting his wrist to his face and looking at his watch.
“I’m already going to be late for my meeting about my teaching assistant position, so I have to go.
” He started to leave our little group but then stopped, looking at me.
“I made sure the metal was pristine with no jagged edges. First ring I’ve ever made and the design is flawless. ” He looked pleased with himself.
My shoulders shook with my laugh. “I appreciate it.”
Ike gave me one small nod, the sunlight shining down on his dark skin and close-cut dark curls.
River cleared his throat, gaining all our attention.
“Do you want to get some food? I know your class doesn’t start for another hour or so and I thought we could…
” he stopped talking, realizing where he’d made a mistake.
My eyes immediately shot over to Grayson who already had his attention on me.
We. I wasn’t quite ready for sit down meals where we were a we again.
I wanted it, I missed it, but dealing with all these strangers judging me and knowing that somewhere Chancellor Fowler was watching me, was all I could attempt to handle.
People walked by us and looked from me to Grayson, likely remembering everything that had transpired.
They probably felt bad for River, having to deal with all this bullshit.
I wrapped my arms around myself, rubbing my arms. “I’m not really hungry and I need to go to my dorm anyway. ”
River peeked over at Grayson, preparing to open his mouth to speak when Corrin cut in.
“You guys do whatever you need to do. Did I hear something about Grayson’s car?
Go take a leisurely walk and I’ll head back to our dorm with Riley.
Okay? Okay!” She hooked her arm through mine and swiftly turned us towards the school gates.
“Well at least if it ever gets stuffy on man island then you can always come here,” Corrin offered, sitting on her bed.
“Man island?”
She rolled her eyes. “My jokes are not always the best. I am a healing master with an affinity for potions, not a comedian.”
I opened my desk drawer, fumbling around inside.
“What are you looking for?” She craned her neck to try to see from her side of the room.
I pulled out the pack of tiny circular pills. I waved them in her direction.
She pushed off her bed and grabbed them from me, raising her eyebrows. “Birth control pills?”
I took them back from her, popping one of them out and swallowing it. I tugged my backpack off my shoulders, unzipping it and threw the rest of the pills inside. “Life altering revelations, traumatic deaths and betrayals tend to get in the way of remembering to take these.”
Corrin’s mouth formed an ‘o’ and I tugged my braids to one of my shoulders. “Ah and I assume you and one of your boyfriends have—”
“Yes.” I chose not to mention how I had been more than willing to have sex with Asher the other night. Nothing happened and maybe it had been for the best.
Corrin smirked, rocking on her heels. “Well, I suppose that means you’ll be using good old fashioned condoms for the next week.
Or I can mix you up an elixir. I know they're nasty, but at least you won’t have to worry about remembering to take a pill for like three months.
” She gave me a soft smile, tugging on the straps of her backpack.
“Also, if you’re nervous about…anything…
I can cook you up a different kind of elixir that’s the magical version of a Plan B. ”
“I will actually take you up on that. Both of those things, better safe than sorry. I got out my phone, looking at the time. “I have to go meet with the Dean of Students in a few minutes.”
I walked towards the door to our room, Corrin at my heels. “Dean of Students? Why?”
I tried not to make eye contact with the students that passed us in the hallway while we walked towards the elevators. “The school was bound to pull me aside at some point.”
Once we were safely tucked away in the elevator, she spoke again. “Are you going to expose Chancellor Fowler? I mean, Dean Wales was pretty nice to us after the whole thing in your dad’s office, so I mean she could be a good ally.”
“What is she going to do, Corrin? She works under him. She answers to him. As much as I want to put faith in this faculty, I just can’t. This campus is a giant fucking chess board, and he is just looming over, waiting until I’m out of moves so he can yell checkmate.”
Corrin slid her hand down my arm and folded her fingers in with mine.
“Just make it through today and then you can say you did that. And hey, despite knowing that you and River— I will assume the one you had sex with was River —would have very cute babies, you remembered your pills so that you can prevent unwanted pregnancy. I call that a win and you know, a solid start to the day.” She gave me a large, shining smile and all I could do was laugh.
I knocked on Dean Wales’s door, hearing her soft voice telling me to come in. She gave me a warm smile and motioned towards the seat across from her. I sat down, crossing my ankles and fidgeting.
The dean pulled out some papers and her eyes glanced over the top page, then she looked up at me. “You aren’t in trouble, Riley. If that’s what you think, then rest assured, you are not.”
“That’s a relief.”
She let out a small, casual laugh. “The Admissions Department would like to understand why you didn’t mark ‘witch’ on your application. You are well aware this university is integrated; your transfer application would have been treated just the same as any other student.”
I interlocked my index fingers, pulling them against each other until it hurt. “I didn’t….I didn’t know.”
“Didn’t know what?”
My voice grew smaller. “That I had magic. That I was a witch. My—” I reached up and fiddled with my necklace, deciding to not finish my sentence. The silence between us was thick and all I could do was stare at a blank spot on her desk.
She blinked a few times, scanning over her papers again as if the answer to everything would be somewhere within them.
“That explains the outburst at the meeting.” She sighed, placing her hands gently on top of her desk.
“It isn’t my job to question anything beyond this university’s walls, so I won’t ask details about your personal life.
The school is required to move your status from human to magic wielder, and if you plan to change your major toward a magical focus, then… ”
I cut my eyes to her. “I don’t. I want to keep an English major. I can keep that right?”
She got up and walked around her desk. “Of course you can. You will have to get a dampener, that is rule number one. This is pretty odd territory for the school, but we are prepared to help you. Are you fully aware of what your magic is?”
I stopped fidgeting and settled my hands on the arms of the chair. “Telekinesis and fire.”
“An interesting combination. If you’d like to take any classes related to those things we can help fix your schedule.
I’m not the liaison for human-magic relations, so anything regarding stress or just trying to get yourself back on track with all this newfound information you have at your disposal, I can’t help you with, but I can help you set up a meeting with her. ”
I scrunched my face up in confusion. “My schedule is fine. I don’t want a change.” I licked my lips, letting her words wash over me. “Wait, you replaced my dad?”
She perched on top of her desk. “Your father will be missed, but his position was vital on campus, and it was important that we fill it with a worthy candidate. You will love her, I promise.”
Sentences were formulating in my head, but nothing was coming out of my mouth. He gave so much to this school and they chewed him up and spit him out. It wasn’t fair. My mental rambling got overthrown by the sound of the dean’s voice.
“Everything that happened with the witches left such a horrible stain on the school and we want to make sure that all of you are watched over and that things are never just glossed over anymore. You caught some attention that night, but rest assured, not all of it was bad. Our students’ well-being and making sure they get an education that suits them is our top priority.
” A knock came at the door and she gave me an encouraging smile. “Come in!”
Caught some attention? If she meant the agonizingly skeptical looks I’d gotten all morning then yeah, she would be right. I don’t really know why that would be her concern or how she would even know that.
Unless…
“Ah, Chancellor Fowler please sit.”
His steps were calculated but smooth as she walked around my chair and sat comfortably in Dean Wales’s seat. She stood next to him, far too eager as if she thought him being here was good for me, like I should be thrilled to have one on one time with this school’s handler.
Chancellor Fowler sat back in the chair, his elbows on the arms with his fingers crossed. He was examining me and then the corners of his lips pulled into a smile that made my stomach turn. “It is so nice to finally meet you, Riley. You’ve caused some trouble, haven’t you?”