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She leans against the desk, folding her arms. “I sympathize with the difficulty of moving to another country so close to graduation, especially on the heels of personal tragedy.”
My head pops up. I didn’t realize my dad told the school about Mom’s death. He probably used it as a sob story to get my transfer accepted. I ball my hands into fists. Fucking asshole.
“Miss Baker, I don’t think you fully comprehend the dire situation you’re in. If you fail, you do not graduate. You will not be given special treatment for your circumstances.”
“I’m not asking for special treatment.” My eye twitches. “If I flunk out, I’ll just go back to the States and get my GED.”
She shakes her head. “Most European universities do not accept the GED. It will significantly hinder your opportunities.”
“Who said I wanted to go to college here? College is a scam, anyway.”
She pins me with a concerned gaze. “What is your plan, Miss Baker? Where do you want to be six months from now?”
“I don’t know!” I snap. “Anywhere but here listening to this bullshit.”
The students behind me grow quiet, and I avoid their stares as I dart out into the hallway.
I glance up and down the corridor, and I see Dmitry emerging from the restroom.
“Dmitry!”
He lifts his head, at last meeting my gaze. I jog to meet him where he stands, but he begins to retreat into the restroom.
“Stop,” I say, grabbing his arm. “What’s wrong? Why are you acting so weird today?”
“Let go of me.”
His attempt to yank his arm away fails because I refuse to release him without an explanation. “Why are you avoiding me?”
“I need you to leave me alone, Willow.”
“Why?”
“Because he told me to.”
“Who?” I ask, though I already know the answer.
His gaze darts up and down the corridor like he’s paranoid of someone watching. “The man who attacked me at the festival. He warned me to stay away from you.”
At last, I release his arm, taking a step away from him. “I’m sorry.”
We both know I’m the reason he got hurt.
“I like you,” he says. “But I cannot be seen with you anymore. I don’t know who, but someone is watching you. Stay safe.” He darts back into the restroom, slamming the door in my face.
My shoulders deflate. No one likes me here except Prisha, and now, my friendship with Dmitry has ended before it began.
Alek hurt him because of me. And I’m certain Alek will hurt any other guy I try to get close to.
I wrap my arms around myself and head back toward the classroom, but when I turn, Alek is waiting for me at the door, leaning against the wall with his arms folded.
Watching me with that wicked smirk of his.
When we’re dismissed for lunch, I’m relieved. Before Alek can torment me any further, I rush from the room, eager to leave the stifling classroom. I dip into the women’s restroom and lock myself in one of the stalls. I need a minute alone to breathe.
But I’m already isolated from everyone—Alek made sure of that. I mean, it doesn’t matter because I’m leaving this awful country in two months, and trust me, I’m counting down the days to my eighteenth birthday.
However, until then, I have to deal with the pettiness and the whispers behind my back, and I’m fucking sick of it. All of it. Why is it so hard for people to be kind to one another? I’ve dealt with enough shit in the last few months to last me a lifetime, and I don’t need bratty rich kids and bossy adults harping on me.
