Page 32

“I understand. I don’t want his behaviour to affect my learning. If this goes to the schoolboard, and they make us leave until it’s resolved, that’s my money and time wasted. I didn’t know he was doing it to other girls. What should we do?”
I can understand her reasoning. It’s a hard situation to be in, especially when he’s the one in power.
“I don’t know, but if he’s done it to us, maybe more girls will come forward.”
She scoffs, rolling her eyes. “If you’re thinking of asking around, don’t bother. I got my head bit off by one girl. She slept with him willingly, and when I mentioned what he did, she told me I was jealous and that they are in love with each other.”
“It’s not all of us he’s doing it to, then,” I say, sickened. He shouldn’t be sleeping with a student, anyway, even if she is of age. He’s abusing his position.
“Nope. I was actually going to tell my dad if he did it again, but since then, he’s left me alone.”
“I’ll think of something and text you. There must be a way to get proof to the schoolboard. They won’t be able to make excuses for his actions then. He’d never be able to get away with it.”
“Ooh, I like where this is going. I love Veronica Mars, and this sounds right up her alley.”
“Veronica who?” I ask.
She shakes her head at me, looking utterly appalled. “You don’t know who Veronica Mars is?”
I shake my head. “Nope.”
“You’ve not lived. Go home, watch it online, and let me know what you think. Unless you hate it, then keep it to yourself.”
I laugh at her bluntness. “I will,” I tell her, then turn to the empty corridor behind us, a shiver running down my spine. “Let’s go before they come out. We’ve been out here long enough.”
“I’ll speak to you soon,” Becky tells me, before we step outside.
I open my umbrella up, waving goodbye to Becky as she turns left and I walk right. It’s darker now, but a few of the streetlamps are still not on.
A sense of foreboding washes over me when the back of my neck starts to burn. I check out my surroundings, squinting into the darkness and seeing nothing.
I turn back around, my foot in the air to take another step, when I hear a can being kicked behind me. Alarmed and panicked, I rush forward, needing to get out of the dark pathway and into a crowded area. They still haven’t caught the killer, which is why I begin to run. I peek over my shoulder to check that someone isn’t chasing me and see nothing, yet… I still feel their eyes on me. It’s like a spider crawling up my spine.
I crash into a hard body when I reach the corner, causing my umbrella to fall to the ground. I cry out, ready to yell for help. Strong hands grip my biceps, and the inhale I take to scream, freezes in my throat, and I become paralyzed.
Flashes of Darren hitting me surface. I never want to go through that kind of pain ever again, to not know if I’ll come out breathing or not.
“Emma, what the fuck! What’s happened? Why are you walking down here in the dark by yourself?”
I fall forward, my head hitting Banner’s chest as I hold onto him for comfort. “I’m sorry. I panicked.” He bends down to pick up my umbrella, passing it to me. “Thank you.”
“Why did you panic?” he asks, pulling me close.
I’m not going to tell him about Mr. Flint; Banner will only go back in there and start a fight. I don’t want him to be kicked out of uni because of that sleaze ball.
“It was dark, I was alone, and it felt like someone was watching me,” I tell him, missing out the part I was already freaked out by: Mr. Flint.
He stops mid-step, looking around the dimly lit courtyard. “I don’t see anyone,” he says, before we continue to walk. “Why were you coming out of the side door, anyway? I’ve been waiting out here for nearly twenty minutes for you to get out.”
“They’re doing maintenance or something. Oh, and before I forget, I don’t have class tomorrow now. It got cancelled due to the work that needs to be done.”
He grins. “More time together, then.”
Becky flashes through my mind, and I nearly jump in the air when I tell him. “I made a friend today.”
Banner knows what a big deal this is to me, knowing how closed off I am. The proud look on his face when I tell him disappears though, and I look around, thinking he saw something.
“Please tell me they’re female.”