Page 279 of A University of Betrayal

Everything in me resisted Bastien’s words.He would never change.

“You’re just wishing he would.”

Without warning, I left the parking lot, avoiding the other Ruisangors and making my way to my next lecture.

Of course, everyone stared at me. My car had been ruined this morning, and now so had my life on this campus.Iwas ruined.

My thirst was growing. I needed to drink something, soon. Not that I was doing anything no one here wanted to happen. Anger and hunger were a dangerous combination.

I quickened my pace as I passed the Senseque. I could feel them scrutinizing me. And with all my strength, I managed not to turn to face her. Even though it washergaze that I felt most clearly.

Litt Up

Christopher Tyng

The day had seemed like an eternity. Boring lectures, frontal teaching and English. I felt drained and could have been on my way home by now, and yet here I was, in a completely messy art room that I was supposed to clean up thanks to the wannabe director.

I hadn’t had the strength to fight this form of detention I had to endure because of the uniform violation thing. I was too fucked up about my asshole father. I had enough problems.Hewas my biggest one.

I was hoping to distract myself with this task when I discovered who was waiting for me in the room.

“Come on. Do you have to be everywhere I am?” I asked, annoyed, trying not to look at her as I entered the room. I failed miserably.

Emely was frozen into a pillar of salt. She seemed taken by surprise by my appearance. And I also tried not to think about what I had planned to do to her in my rage this morning. Which I would still be doing if I wasn’t so exhausted from all of this bullshit.

“Yes, surprise.I’m coming to Professor Wannabe’s punishment work.” Gesticulating, I raised my hands, but nothing about her expression changed. “I just didn’t expectyouto be here,” I snorted. “Although you deserve it.”

Rebecca Harlow hated us both.

I strode across the room and grabbed one of the brooms. I realized I’d never held a broom in my hands before.

“Do you think Harlow forgets what we did?” Emely said in a serious tone, watching me put the broom back down.

“Do you thinkI’mforgetting what you did to my car?” I looked at her with reproach.

Her cheeks reddened, forcing me to stare at her high cheekbones.

“I...”

“Don’t deny it,” I interrupted her.

“I wasn’t going to denyanything!”she snapped at me. “I just wanted you to learn a lesson.”

She actually made me grin after a day like that. “For what? For my honesty?”

Her eyes filled with impatience. “For your entire behavior, Miles!”

“Oh,nowI’mthe guilty one?”

Of course.I was always the stupid one. For everyone.

“You’re an idiot!” she snorted, crossing her arms like the grumpy little spoilsport she was.

I slammed the broom on the floor and came toward her. Emely flinched and stepped back, but bumped into the table on which countless art posters lay unsorted.

She eyed me, every little movement. Was it my arm, which was propped up against the table so that she couldn’t escape so easily, or my head, which came closer so that she could hear my next words clearly.

“I don’t want to spoil your fun, but I don’t feel likefighting with Emely Copelandtoday.”I said it clearly, but more calmly than usual. When I was angry, I often sounded exhausted. “I need a break from this,” I added, disbelief mingling in her gaze. “Even though I’d love to make you pay. That was my favorite car.”