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Chapter 19
Astrid
Oh, the irony. Justin and I almost get caught leaving. No talking or tripping over our feet as we hustle down the hallway toward the exit. But we freeze in place when we hear coughing and footsteps approaching. Justin tries a doorknob near us, and thankfully, the door opens. We squeeze into a janitor’s closet, careful not to knock over a mop and a pail filled with nasty-ass opaque water. I have to maneuver my feet over it, so I’m straddling that filthy thing. Justin pulls the door closed but leaves his hand on the doorknob. Immediately, the footsteps pass by the closed door, and I think we’re safe, but Justin gives me a scathing look. I hear a voice, then laughter, and I freeze in place again. We wait there for what feels like hours, my legs trembling from holding the awkward pose.
Eventually, Justin opens the door, and the lights in the hallway have been shut off.
We slip back down the stairwell, and now, the dark building creeps me out. Noises bang in the distance, but we don’t hear or see another person. We slip out of the door, and I grab Justin by the arm before he can slip away.
“Hey, so does this mean I’m in?” I whisper as we run from the building.
“The senior members have to meet and decide,” he replies, “You may be asked to do another task.”
“Like what?” I almost shout in disbelief. We just stole school property, and it’s on my person, not his. The weight in my backpack jabs me sharply in the back while we run toward the trail.
His voice is short. “We shall see.”
“What are you two doing here?”
My feet launch into the air as I jump completely out of my skin. I have to grab my chest to keep my heart from popping out my throat. But Justin remains calm as he stares into the darkness at the person approaching us. Wyatt is dressed in his black workout gear and carrying a bag over his shoulder. He scowls at Justin, but Justin responds with an apathetic roll of his eyes.
“Why are the two of you here?” Wyatt glares at Justin as he steps between us.
Justin looks Wyatt up and down but doesn’t answer.
“What the hell is going on with the two of you?” He glares at me, and I place a finger to my lips. Wyatt ignores the warning to be quiet. “Why are you out here alone?” he demands as he grabs Justin by the front of his turtleneck. I take a step back and hold my breath.
Justin knocks Wyatt’s hand off him. “We haven’t broken any codes. Yet.”
Wyatt lowers his voice. “What’s that phrase under your dad’s picture? I saw it online. Slick Willy. That’s it. Who said it always gleams?” He laughs. “Was it the senator’s aide? Do you have a slick one too? Or just your dad?”
“Shut your mouth, Wyatt,” Justin hisses. “Keep it shut. You don’t get to say that. You understand. And I’m nothing like my father.”
Wyatt doesn’t respond. But the tension builds in the dark, and I back away from them. Sure, people fight at the Pit every weekend, but these two sound like they’re ready to kill and won’t give a single fuck when it’s done. Wyatt finally remembers that I’m still there as Justin steps in my direction.
I want nothing to do with their freak-out and step off the trail toward the dorms. “You can both claim the impropriety code without me.” I run off with the laptop pounding against my back.
