Total pages in book: 177
Estimated words: 178117 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 891(@200wpm)___ 712(@250wpm)___ 594(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 178117 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 891(@200wpm)___ 712(@250wpm)___ 594(@300wpm)
His face contorts. “How dare you?”
My nostrils flare. “You made her break up with those boys, didn’t you?”
He snorts. “I don’t care what you call it. I told my boy he needed to quit before it got out of hand, and he didn’t take my advice until it was too late.”
Wait … the dean made the boys break up with her too?
His jaw barely opens up as he grits, “I gave that girl a choice, and she didn’t take it.”
My eyes widen.
What?
A choice? As if dying was a fucking choice?
“You threatened her just like you threatened me,” I growl. “You wanted her gone.”
“She was toying with my son, messing with his heart and his head,” he growls, leaning over the desk like he intends to grab me. “I allowed her to leave the school. Quietly.” He pauses. “But she decided to make a fuss.”
A fuss.
A fucking fuss.
That’s what he reduces her suicide to.
“And if you do not stop engaging with my son, I will require you to leave as well,” he warns. “Unless you want your parents to have zero children left.”
My eyes widen as I step away from his desk, my heart palpitating, and I run out the door, not even once looking over my shoulder.
ALISTAIR
I watch the sorority girls hover near the building, waiting for the fire department to release their home. Apparently, the place has been deemed safe again, so they’re just busy finalizing some paperwork as well as making sure no one actually goes into the burned-down room. Obviously, the place will need some renovation, but that’s definitely not enough reason to keep a bunch of girls away from their precious things.
A girl I recognize jumps to the front of the queue, and when they’re finally given the go-ahead, all the girls stumble over each other to get back into their housing like they haven’t been there in ages.
Guess it’s about time I visited someone.
I get up from my comfy bench and march toward the girl’s sorority, but instead of going inside in the regular fashion, I slip to the backside of the building and go up a fire escape. One of them connects to a particular balcony that I frequently hop onto, and I crawl in through the window without a second thought.
A loud shriek stops me from placing my second foot on the ground.
“Jesus Christ!” Kayla looks at me like she’s seen a ghost. “Alistair?”
I put my finger in front of my mouth as I put both feet onto the floor and come to a stand.
“Why didn’t you just ring the doorbell?” she asks.
I raise a brow at her. “Like they’d let me in.”
She makes a face. “Good point.” She sighs. “What are you doing here anyway? I haven’t seen Penelope here if that’s who you’re looking for.”
I shake my head. “I actually came here to talk to you.”
She frowns. “Okay, now I’m really confused.”
“You’re her best friend. I figured she might have told you something about why she suddenly ran off?”
She tilts her head. “Wait a minute.” She points at me. “I thought she was staying at your frat house.”
I rub my lips together. “She disappeared and hasn’t responded to any of our texts or calls.”
Her face contorts. “Oh no, that’s not good.” She sits down on the bed. “Oh God, what if something’s happened to her?” She clutches a necklace hanging around her neck. “She must be around the school grounds somewhere, right?”
I shrug. “That’s what I’m trying to figure out.”
She narrows her eyes at me. “This is all because of you three boys. Always causing trouble wherever you go. First with Eve, and now with Penelope.”
I avert my eyes. “Yeah, well, we kind of attract the violent ones.”
“Violent?” she scoffs. “Penelope?”
“You don’t know her like I do,” I say, crossing my arms. “Anyway, any chance I could check the burned-down room?”
Kayla rolls her eyes. “Whatever. I’m not gonna stop you. But if someone catches you, it’s your fault. Don’t drag me into it.” She points at the door. “It’s down the hall and to the left. Can’t miss it because there’s tape all over it.”
I nod. “Thanks.” And I walk past her.
“Hey,” she says, and I glance over my shoulder. “If you see Penelope again, tell her to call. I’m worried.”
I nod and continue through the hall, passing by several open doors where students are putting their clothes back and rearranging their stuff like they just came from a long holiday. No one seems to notice me slipping by, which is a good thing.
I head to the room in the back with the taped-over door, but I tear it all down and go inside, closing the door behind me. The place is completely blackened, and the taste of soot lingers on my tongue.
I sit down on the bed where a new student already made her home, but to me it’ll always be Eve’s. But it collapses underneath me, and I struggle to even stand among the rubble.