Page 12 of Atone

Have a good day, babe.

Rolling my eyes, I shove my phone back into my pocket, dip into the Science Hall, and quickly rush to my classroom. It’s already almost full by the time I step inside, but thankfully, Patience saved me a seat.

After we left Alex yesterday, she disappeared to the library to study, and I haven’t seen her since.

“You were up early today.” I slide into the seat next to her, trying to ignore the icy chill radiating off my best friend.

As cold and stubborn as she can be, I appreciate that Patience doesn’t pretend like everyone else. She’s honest about who she is. She tells you what she’s thinking and makes no apologies for it.

Besides, we’ve been friends long enough for me to understand she has her reasons. Ones she refuses to talkabout, no matter how many drinks she’s had. Alex isn’t the only Lancaster with physical scars. Hers are just more carefully hidden.

“I had a hard time sleeping, so I went for a run.” Patience tightens her ponytail, smoothing it over her shoulder.

“You went for a run at four in the morning?” I hitch an eyebrow skeptically. “And you want me to believe this has nothing to do with you avoiding Teal after your chat in the hallway yesterday?”

“Believe what you want. It doesn’t matter.” Her light-brown eyes narrow. “Did you finish your history essay last night?”

“Avoiding the question.Got it.” I flip my book open. “Yes, I just turned it in. It’s probably terrible, but so long as I pass the class, I guess that’s all that matters. How hard do you think this anatomy test is going to be?”

“Grueling,” Patience guesses. “But Professor Oro adores you. I bet you could turn in a blank piece of paper, smile at him, and still get a perfect grade.”

I glance up at Professor Oro, appreciating his broad shoulders and strong jawline. He’s late twenties, ridiculously charming, and if rumors are correct, more than generous during his office hours.

“Professors should not be allowed to look that good.”

“I wasn’t issuing a challenge, Mila. He’s our professor.” She bristles.

“Lighten up.” I nudge her arm, but it doesn’t crack her frown. “Older men do have a certain appeal to them. Experience… You’ve been awfully uptight this semester. Maybe you could use a little help from a professor to release some tension.”

“No thanks.” Patience slaps her book shut, pulling out the one under it.

“God forbid Patience Lancaster take the stick out of her ass and have a little fun every once in a while.” I roll my eyes.

“I don’t need fun. What I need is to pass this test.” All emotion has drained from her face, leaving the chilling mask of indifference in its place.

The expression that earned her the nickname Ice Princess around campus.

I try to imagine what she’s experienced in her life that made her so cold and unflinching. Things terrible enough that even her best friends don’t know about them.

“Can you do me a favor?” Patience lays a book on my desk, snapping me out of my thoughts. “I have to meet up with Violet after class to prep for our statistics presentation. But my dad needs me to get this book to Alex.”

“Why doesn’t he take it to Alex himself?”

“Because why would Gideon Lancaster do anything when he could have people do it for him?” She rolls her eyes.

“So you want me to take this to your brother?” Goose bumps prickle my arms.

“If you don’t mind.”

I swallow, but my throat is scratchy, and my nerves are on their ends. After Alex looked up at me yesterday, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about him. I fully intended to avoid him as much as possible moving forward because the last thing I need is one glance to plant ideas in my head. He’s in a psychiatric ward. He’s my best friend’s brother. There’s no point wasting time chasing someone so out of reach.

If only my subconscious agreed. When I woke up thismorning, I swore I smelled Alex in my room and on my clothes.

Citrus and oranges.

Home.

“Can you take it to him?” Patience’s eyebrows pinch, and I realize I’m staring at her.