Page 31 of Trust Again

Professor Walden glanced up, looked at me briefly and slid his pile of papers into a folder, around which he snapped a rubber band.

“Why are you in school?” he asked suddenly, staring at me so intently that I froze.

Isaac rushed to help. “We’re here to learn, to build career opportunities, to become independent…”

“I wasn’t asking you, though I appreciate the fact that you have read the Woodshill University brochure,” Professor Walden interrupted him.

Isaac stiffened beside me.

“I do want to be independent,” I began, in all honesty. “I want to know everything there is to know about literature, understand the art of writing and…”

“Where do you see yourself after graduation?” he interrupted, with his penetrating voice.

I took a deep breath. “In publishing.” I wasn’t about to reveal my dream of working from home.

“And you think this attitude toward schoolwork will make it easier for you to start your career?”

“Huh?”

Professor Walden pulled on his coat and slowly buttoned it. “Do you really think you can go through life without ever having to stand up and speak in front of others? If you don’t give a presentation, you won’t pass the course.” He looked me up and down. “Come to think of it, I’d recommend a change of course for you anyway. Studies of female writers may better meet your… expectations.” He picked up the briefcase. “Good day.”

“That… that asshole!” I exploded.

Turned out the long walk to Allie’s apartment hadn’t helped me calm down one bit. I was all fired up. “How can he be so mean?”

Allie plopped down on the sofa. “What happened?”

I couldn’t give a clear answer, not in this state. What I really wanted to do was punch something. Preferably Professor Walden’s face.

“That tweed-obsessed bastard!

“You can do better than that, Dawn,” Kaden’s voice rang out from another room.

“Eat me, Kaden!” I shouted back and then covered my mouth. “I didn’t mean it, Allie, I swear.”

She grinned.

“God, I’ve never been so mad at anyone before. Fucker! I’m shaking. Can you tell?” I held out my trembling hands.

The door to Kaden’s office eased open with a faint squeak. “Should I keep Spidey in my room? So you don’t take out your anger on him?”

I crossed my arms over my chest to ease the trembling. “What I really want to do is teach Spidey how to eat people, and then sic him onto Professor Walden. Are you okay with that?”

A soft laugh came from the office, and I spun around. Kaden was standing in the doorway. Sitting at the huge desk behind him was Spencer. The two computer screens in front of him were brightly lit; he sat with his back to us and didn’t turn around. I hadn’t seen him for days.

I guess he was enjoying the space he requested.

He’d picked up his car late on Sunday while I was in a deep sleep, trying to recover after that stressful night. Sawyer had given him his key and then he was gone. She’d started nosing around, asking me what was up between him and me. But something else was on my mind. I just couldn’t stop thinking about what had happened the night before. I was pretty worried about Spencer.

What was going on with his family? Why did his father seem to hate him so much? What had happened in that room? I’d never seen him so devastated and wanted to know what was wrong. I wanted to be there for him. To be friends again.

“What did Professor Walden say that ticked you off so much?” Kaden asked.

Sighing again, I recounted the story in a shaky voice.

“What?” Allie exclaimed, and even Kaden frowned darkly.

“Stupid jerk.”