Page 38 of Born in Sin (Phoenix #3)

“Celina.”

She turned, sighing as her mother’s angry face hove into view. Her mother was always angry these days…mostly at Celina.

She exhaled, a long suffering sigh as her mother bore down on her. “What did I do now?”

In response, her mother grabbed her by the arm and dragged her into an empty room, the Chemistry Lab.

Celina’s gaze wandered to the window in the far wall.

The wall behind which, Virat and she had spent endless hours huddled.

A small smile escaped her irritation with her mother as she thought of her serious, brooding boyfriend.

“What are you smiling about, you stupid girl?” Her mother pinched her arm to get her attention.

“OW!” Celina rubbed her arm resentfully. “What is your problem?”

“You are my problem.” Her mother crossed her arms and stared at her. “And it’s all because of that boy. You just won’t listen to me.”

Celina didn’t bother with a reply. There was no point in arguing with her mother. She was convinced that Virat was Satan’s spawn and there was nothing Celina could say to change it.

“Are you listening to me?” Maria Fernandez hissed.

“No,” Celina retorted. “Didn’t you just say I don’t listen to you?”

Maria’s face turned red. “I am going to send you to live with your father. Maybe you’ll listen to him.”

Celina ignored her, the threat making no difference to her.

Maria had been threatening the same for years now, but Celina knew it would never happen.

Not because her mother wasn’t serious about shipping her off but because Celina knew her father didn’t want her living with him.

Hurt stabbed her heart but she didn’t waste too much time on it.

She was lucky her father didn’t want her.

It meant she got to stay here, with Virat.

“Is there anything else, or can I leave?” she asked, forcing bored indifference into her voice, knowing it would drive her mother crazy.

Before her mother could go nuclear in her rage, the door opened and Dhrithi poked her timid head in.

“Excuse me, Maria Ma’am. I had a question about the assignment on Shakespeare’s iconic works.”

“Not now, Ms. Sahay.” Maria’s voice was coated with frost. “See me during teacher’s hours.”

Surprisingly, Dhrithi didn’t run for her life. Instead, she firmed her chin and stepped further into the room.

“But ma’am you’ve cancelled the last two teacher’s hours and the assignment is due tomorrow.”

It was? Celina should probably get cracking on it then. Her mother cut her no slack when it came to stuff like this. Being the teacher’s kid had zero advantages and a million disadvantages, she mused.

“Dhrithi Sahay – “

The door opened again and Majid sauntered in. “Ms. Fernandez, I was wondering if you could help me with an assignment I was working on.”

Everyone in the room stared at him.

“What assignment?” Maria asked, looking completely flummoxed. “I don’t teach your language class.”

“Yes, umm,” Majid floundered a little. “It’s not for a school assignment. It’s something personal I’m working on.”

Maria gaped at him. “Personal?”

“He’s writing a book,” Celina interjected, tossing him a lifeline. Her friends had come in to save her from her mom, the least she could do was save them when they were drowning.

“A book?” Maria looked interested. “What’s it about?”

Majid looked desperately round the room like inspiration was hiding in the beakers lining the chemistry lab.

“It’s a romance,” Celina blurted out.

Majid turned puce red.

“A romance?” Maria’s eyebrows shot up.

“Ye-ye-yes,” Majid stammered.

Celina stifled a giggle, not meeting Majid’s furious gaze. Across the room, Dhrithi slapped her hands to her mouth, trying to hold her own laughter back.

“Well,” Maria said now. “I don’t know how much help I’ll be with a romance novel but sure, we can talk about it.”

“Okay.” Majid nodded enthusiastically.

“Let’s go.”

“Now?” Majid threw them a wide eyed look.

“No time like the present, eh?” Maria pointed to the door and waited for him to precede her from the room. With one last panicked look at Celina and Dhrithi, he left.

Laughter exploded out of both Dhrithi and her the minute Maria and Majid left the room.

“Oh my God,” Celina gasped. “That was epic.”

The two of them were so busy laughing that they didn’t notice the door opening. Virat stood there, a puzzled frown on his face.

“Celi, I’ve been looking for you.”

Behind him Amay and Ishaan hovered, Amay’s pained gaze on Dhrithi’s face. Dhrithi stopped laughing abruptly.

“What’s going on?” Virat asked, his concerned gaze taking them both in.

“Majid just made the ultimate sacrifice for me. I don’t think anyone can top it. Ever.” Celina grinned.

Virat’s face smoothened out, all expression disappearing. “Right,” he said stiffly.

Celina sighed, her amusement disappearing like mist in the morning sunlight. “Vir, it’s not like that.”

“I know.” He cleared his throat. “I was just worried. I can see there was no reason for that now.”

He turned away from her, walking towards the door and his friends.

“Virat Jha, you stop right there!”

He stopped. He would always stop if she asked. She knew it. She wondered why he didn’t know it was the same for her.

Amay and Ishaan disappeared from the doorway, Dhrithi following, keeping a safe distance between Amay and her.

“He’s just a friend.” She cupped his face, turning it towards hers so he was forced to meet her gaze.

“I know.” Virat’s intense gaze bored into hers.

“Then what’s the problem.”

“I don’t trust him.” He sighed, resting his forehead on hers. “I don’t trust any of them, especially not with you.”

“Do you trust me?” She stroked her fingers through his hair, holding on to him tight.

“With my life,” he whispered.

“Then trust my judgement.” She kissed his cheek, gentling him. “Majid will never hurt me.”