“You’re just taking his side because you want to fuck him.”
I hit the brakes hard as a light turned from yellow to red. “Seriously, you think that’s what going on?”
“You know how I feel. And you’re still chasing him like all the other games.”
“Have you seen me chase after him all week? I did the interview and that was all that happened.” I gripped the steering wheel and pressed down on the gas pedal.
She grabbed the armrest as the car zoomed forward. “You mean the date. You called it right earlier.”
“Whatever, that has nothing to do with what’s going on between the two of you.”
“Yeah, it does. You’re taking his side over mine.”
“You’re not telling me your side.”
“So? You should have my back regardless.”
I swung into the parking lot of our apartment, pulled into my space, and shut off the car, turning to her slowly. “Being a friend is also telling someone when they’re wrong. I think you are wrong here.”
She pushed the car door open. “This argument is pointless. You’re under his spell already.”
I threw my hands in the air. “That makes no sense. You’re supposed to be the logical one here.”
She gave me a parting glare before she slammed the car door, marched across the parking lot, and up the stairs. The bang of our apartment door echoed through the air. I leaned my forehead against the sun heated steering wheel.
What had just happened?
Chapter 9
I tapped my pencil against my test as I slouched in my chair. Professor Marshall sat at her desk and watched us with narrowed eyes over the rim of a thick book. One of the florescent light flickered behind the its ceiling panel. The other students had their heads bent over their own papers with intense looks of concentration. If only I could be like them. However, my mind kept wandering from the questions on the exam and back to Serenity.
She hadn’t spoken to me all weekend and had barely come out of her room, just to grab some food and head back in. Every time I tried to speak, she gave me a death glare and walked away. After Saturday passed, I had to get out. I spent all of Sunday holed up at the coffee shop. This couldn’t go on, for her sanity or mine.
The bells of Marshall’s phone broke the silence of the room. With a long, hard glare, she grabbed it from her bag and stepped out into the hall. I moved my pencil over the scantron, randomly filling in the bubbles. At least I looked productive. The door squeaked shut as Marshall stepped back in.
“Cassi,” she called.
I jumped and met her gaze. Shit. Did she have some sort of telepathy and could sense my disinterest? I tried to give her a bright smile.
“Yes?” I asked.
She frowned at me. “You’re wanted in the dean’s office.”
“Now? What about the test?”
She gave a long sigh. “You’ll have to schedule a make-up.”
Well, that somehow worked out. I gathered my things and handed her the test packet, though I had no idea why the dean would want to see me. My mind traveled to what I’d done over the last month since school began, and a chill crawled up my spine.
Had Mercer decided to choose another reporter because of what happened with Serenity? With my backpack slung over one shoulder, I walked out of the building and across the quad toward the administration building. I slowed as I approached the lone person moping on the bench. He sat leaned forward with his head bent with his arms resting on his knees. He muttered something, ran his hands through his hair, and lifted his gaze to mine. I froze. I’d never seen James this disheveled before. Deep shadows hung under his sunken eyes, and his shirt looked as though he’d squeezed it in a tiny ball before throwing it on. His jaw tightened, and he looked away from me with another mumble.
“James?” I took a tentative step toward him.
His glowered at me. “What? Come to gloat?”
“No, I was headed somewhere else,” I said. “You look like crap. Maybe you should go home at get some rest.”
He laughed bitterly. “Like I have time to sleep. I have cats to herd.”
I glanced at a girl passing by us. “I don’t see any cats.”
He tilted his head and narrowed his eyes. “You know what I mean. Not that it matters. I’ll never be as good as her. So, I’m stuck with all the stress and no glory.”
“This is about Serenity,” I said. “Look, you guys are a team. Everyone gets to bask if you do this.”
He sighed and laughed again. “Until they realize who the true star is. Face it, I’m doomed to mediocrity. A life of middle management.”
I sat beside him. “We all have our specialties. Maybe yours is more managing people.”
His head snapped up, and he glared at me. “What do you know about anything? You’re just a parasite hanging on the outskirts.”