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My nostrils flare as I shove my chair back in, my anger burning to the surface as I glare at him. “I’m going to say this once, and once only. Fuck you and fuck your status.”

I shoulder past him, leaving my tray of food and friends at the table as I storm for the door. Eyes trail my every move, but I make sure to keep my shoulders back and head held high.

I sag a little when I step outside and the fresh air hits me. Checking the time, I realize there’s no point trying to find somewhere to isolate myself since classes will start again soon, so I find a seat on an empty picnic table, avoiding everyone’s gaze as they sit in their groups.

Bracing my elbows on the top, I close my eyes, feeling the sun beat down on me. I take a deep breath, followed swiftly by another, as I try to calm the storm raging inside me. My father’s mantra of being calm and collected feels like utter bullshit right now. I can’t hide what I’m feeling like he can. Everything always feels too real, too raw, too close to the surface.

Shadows fall over the back of my eyelids, ruining my moment, and when I blink them open, I find Kryll, Brody, and Raiden sitting across from me while Cassian sits to my left.

Fuck my life.

A tray is placed in front of me with more force than necessary, and it takes me a moment to realize it’s my food. That’s the only interaction they offer as they chat about nothing like I’m not here.

“Eat,” Kryll states, pointing his fork at me after a while, but I’m still far too overwhelmed with how to handle the situation to even lift my fork. When I don’t immediately dig in, three more pairs of eyes turn my way wearing deathly glares.

Indecision battles inside me as I consider my options. I can make a point of refusing to deal with their shit and storm off again, or I can at least eat my comfort food first. Deciding on the latter, I ignore the four of them as I eat.

Halfway through my plate, while I’m staring off at the cute planters that frame the outdoor space, an idea comes to mind. Planting my feet only on the ground beneath me, a slight grin plays at the corner of my mouth and I have to bite it back the best I can as I finish eating.

Satisfied, I push my tray away and stand.

“Sit the fuck down, Addi,” Raiden grunts the second I do, but I quickly move to the side of the table, out of Cassian’s reach, ignoring him.

“Sit down, or I come and get you,” Cassian warns as I take a few steps away before turning back to them with my eyebrow raised.

Cassian’s eyes narrow, challenging me to take one more step, so I do.

All four of them rush to stand and charge toward me but quickly fall back into their seats with a grunt. I watch in slow motion as they peer down at their feet to find vines have creeped from the ground and laced themselves around their boots.

I snicker, and Kryll is the first to glare at me again. “Oh, she thinks she’s funny,” he grumbles.

“It’s a little impressive,” Brody states, a smirk on his lips as he looks down at the ground.

It’s not enough for me to lower my defenses, though. It won’t hold them for long, but it’ll give me a head start at least. “Later!” I holler, turning in a hurry, only to run straight into someone.

They catch me by the arms, straightening me, and I peer up to see Professor Fairbourne frowning down at me. There’s tension in his eyes that’s not usually there and my gut twists instantly, as if knowing it relates to me somehow.

“Is there a reason you’re being summoned to my office, Addi?” he asks, releasing his hold on me as he glances over my shoulder at the guys filling the table I was just at.

“Wouldn’t you be the one to know since it’s your office?” I retort, confused about where this is going. When his eyes find mine again, a ball of dread settles in my stomach.

He sighs, dragging a hand down his face before he answers. “Not when it’s the dean calling you in.”

Well, fuck. That doesn’t sound good. But staying out here with these guys doesn’t sound much better.

Reluctant to see what comes next, I nod. “Lead the way to my impending doom,” I say jokingly, and he shakes his head.

“It’s not funny if that’s what it actually is.”

TWENTY-NINE

ADDI

The air around us shifts as we step into Fairbourne’s office, and the reason for the dramatic drop is located in the high-back leather chair.

The dean.

She sits with an air of supremacy exuding from every fiber of her being as she manages to somehow look down her nose at me, even though she’s seated well below my line of sight.