Bryn sat in the hard-plastic chair in front of Medic William’s desk. Hopefully she wasn’t about to make a mistake. Maybe she should hedge her bets a little bit. “This is going to sound weird, and it’s probably all in my head.” And then she launched into the story about Zavien’s forearms and Clint’s dragon-pire theory.
“That is odd.” She tapped her nails on the desktop. “Janelle is inexperienced, but that was also a low-level injury. Before we decide a dangerous cult is back on campus, I’ll have a talk with her.”
“I’m beginning to understand how those conspiracy theorists feel,” Bryn said. “I feel like I’m overreacting all the time but if I don’t say something I’m afraid it could lead to disaster.”
“If it makes you feel any better, I think we all feel that way after the attack on campus. Dragons I’d known my whole life had been Rebels, and I never had a clue that they were anything but what they said they were. Feel free to bring your suspicions to me. I’m always willing to listen.”
“Thank you. Hopefully, I won’t have to take you up on that offer.”
Later that night, Bryn tossed and turned. Her mind wouldn’t stop spinning speculations about possible spies. Was Janelle part of a cult? Did Silver dragon-pires even exist? Why couldn’t she stop focusing on all this weird crap and fall asleep? At least tomorrow was Friday. Not that she had any special plans, but two days spent either hanging out with Clint and Ivy or hiding in her room reading books, eating pizza, and avoiding the world in general, sounded fabulous.
…
In Quintessential Medicine the next day, before class started, Janelle was too quiet. Bryn got a funny feeling in her stomach. Had Janelle heard that Zavien had come to Bryn or that she’d spoken to Medic Williams? It’s not like Bryn had ratted her out. If Clint hadn’t put the idea of Quintessence sucking dragon-pires into her head, she wouldn’t have gone to Medic Williams. Should she bring it up?
“Class, we are low on volunteers for healing at the moment, so we are going to read over some interesting case studies.”
Bryn doubted the interesting part. She leaned toward Janelle. “I was hoping this class would be mostly hands on.”
Janelle nodded. “Me, too.”
Medic Williams passed out bound copies of case files. “The names and other personal information have been redacted. Focus on how the Medics diagnosed the patients rather than the actual treatment. Not every injury is clear-cut. You need to be part detective to be a good Medic.”
Bryn read the first few lines. A female dragon had been admitted to the clinic with a strange rash. Not exactly a page turner.
Janelle scooted her desk closer to Bryn’s. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure.” Please don’t let this be awkward.
“Why did Zavien have you look at his arms yesterday?”
And it’s awkward. How could she say this without putting Janelle’s efforts down? “One of his arms felt a little weaker,” Bryn said, not specifying which one.
“Crap,” Janelle said. “I screwed up. Didn’t I?”
“No.” Bryn stalled for time. “I think you stopped just short of putting on the finishing touches. The skin was healed, but he needed a little bit more of a boost, if that makes sense.”
“Medic Williams’s watching made me nervous,” Janelle said. “I guess I stopped when the cuts were healed and didn’t think to finish up.”
“No big deal,” Bryn said. “We are here to learn.”
“As a Green, there’s pressure to always do the best job possible. Sometimes I get distracted. I’m not the perfectionist most of my fellow Greens are.”
“That’s not a bad thing,” Bryn said.
Someone shushed Bryn. She rolled her eyes. “Speaking of perfectionists,” she whispered, which made Janelle smile. Bryn went back to reading her case study. Thank goodness Janelle hadn’t been offended.
In Basic Movement, Bryn ran on a treadmill next to Ivy while Clint used a stair climber.
“What are we doing tonight?” Ivy asked.
“What are our options?” Bryn asked.
Ivy reduced the speed on her treadmill to a slow jog. “We can go to dinner in Dragon’s Bluff or eat pizza in your room and play cards.”
“Are you still carrying around a deck of cards at all times?” Bryn asked Clint.
“Yes. I think of them as my good luck charm,” he said. “Plus I rock at building card houses.”
When they’d been trapped under the library, the hallways had seemed like a never-ending maze. Clint had left a card at every turning point in numerical order so they would know where they’d already been. Ever since then he’d carried a deck, just in case.
“I used to build those with my dad,” Bryn said. And then another memory hit her. “I wonder if Valmont’s dad went through with his plan to create those pizza-shaped decks of cards he told Valmont about.”
“If you’re talking about him, does that mean you’re ready to go to Fonzoli’s?” Ivy asked.
Was she ready to go visit Valmont’s family restaurant? Dragon’s Bluff wasn’t very big. She’d bump into him eventually. Maybe it was better if she did it on her own terms. “I might be willing to give it a shot.”
“Cool,” Clint said. “I’ve been craving Fonzoli’s pizza, but I didn’t want to mention it.”
“And if it’s too weird we can order carryout and come back to campus,” Ivy said.
Bryn nodded. Hopefully, she wouldn’t need to take that route.
They took one of the sanctioned SUVs into Dragon’s Bluff that evening and had the driver drop them off down the street from Fonzoli’s. Bryn inhaled the garlic and Italian-seasonings scent drifting through the air. “That smells amazing.”
“It does,” Ivy said.
Even though her mouth was watering, she wasn’t quite sure about this. She wouldn’t just be facing Valmont. His entire family had disapproved of their relationship…especially his grandmother. “If it’s super awkward we can leave, right?”
“Yes,” Ivy said. “If it’s too much you can say you’re running to All That Sparkles to pick something up, and I’ll have them change our order to go.”
“Okay.” She could do this. Clint walked into the restaurant in front of them. Bryn trailed behind Ivy. The hostess smiled at them like they were just another set of customers. Bryn scanned the room for Valmont but didn’t see him…thank goodness.
The hostess seated them up front near the window. “Megan will be with you in just a moment.”
Holy crap. Bryn hadn’t even thought about Megan, the cute young waitress who’d had a crush on Valmont…the human girl who could give him the simple, uncomplicated life that he wanted…that he deserved. Maybe coming here was a mistake.
Megan approached with a smile on her face. The smile slipped a bit when she saw Bryn. “Welcome back to Fonzoli’s. Are you ready to order, or would you like me to bring your drinks while you look over the menu?”
“Clint and I want to split a large sausage pizza,” Ivy said.
“I’ll have two pepperoni calzones,” Bryn said, like the situation wasn’t all sorts of awkward.
Megan stared at Bryn for a moment.
“Something you want to say?” Bryn asked.
Megan frowned. “Honestly, I’m stuck between wanting to yell at you and wanting to thank you.”
And that’s when she understood. The spicy scent which had made her hungry moments before now made her slightly nauseous. “You got your wish. You’re with Valmont now.”
Megan nodded.
Bryn’s pulse spiked. “Is he here?”
“Yes, but he’s not waiting tables anymore. He’s cooking.” Megan glanced around. “I hope…you’re not here to try and take him back, are you?”
Bryn shook her head no. “I’m just here for the food.” And to rip the bandage off an emotional wound.
Megan gave a nervous laugh. “Good. Should I tell him you’re here?”
He’d probably hear it from one of the other waitstaff, even if Megan didn’t say anything. “Tell him I said hello. He doesn’t need to come out and see me…I know he’s busy.”
“Okay.” Megan bit her lip. “Maybe the next time you come in it won’t be so awkward. I’ll be right back with your drinks.”
Megan walked away. Bryn noticed the hostess and another waiter watching her. She gave a tight smile and turned back to Clint and Ivy. “Well, that was fun.”
“At least it’s over,” Ivy said.