Page 9 of Savage Don

The second I stumble out of the alleyway, I hear a familiar, welcoming voice.

It comes from beneath the central courtyards most famous sycamore tree. I can’t see beneath the shadows, but I already know who it is.

The light of a single burning cigarette takes its last breath before being thrown onto the ground, where it’s promptly extinguished beneath the heel of a white converse sneaker.

“Hey, Janice,” I smile, shaking off the last bits of primal fear that always seem to haunt me when I’m on the run.

This is my safe place. Even if Branksome isn’t a normal school, when I’m here, I’m a normal student.

“You’re early today,” she teases, looking down at her phone. The blue light floats up from the screen, illuminating her soft country features.

“I’d say I’m exactly on time,” I smile back, checking my own phone to make sure I’m not actually late.

Nope. It’s 7:45pm. Class is at eight.

“Exactly on time is early for you,” Janice giggles. “You must be nervous about the pop quiz.”

“Pop quiz?!” If I thought the fear of getting caught sneaking around by one of my father’s men was bad, it’s nothing compared to the chill that runs down my spine at the devastating news.

“You didn’t hear the rumor?” Janice asks, raising her dark auburn eyebrow in my direction. “Apparently, someone overheard Professor Goldin on the phone during office hours. Another pop quiz. The man sure does love his surprise tests.”

It feels like I’m back on the other side of that alleyway again, being battered by the irregular waves of headlights—any one of which could be someone who wants to drag me back to my gilded cage, back to hell.

“Why didn’t I see anyone complain about this guy on RateMyProfessor?” I sigh, exacerbated. “This is a history course. We’re supposed to get like two big essays and an exam at the end of the term—wait, don’t we have an exam in like two weeks? Why would we have another pop quiz on top of it?”

“Some say he’s losing his mind…” Janice teases.

“I’m going to lose my mind.”

“Aren’t you all caught up on your reading?”

No.

“Just because I read something doesn’t mean I’ll remember it.”

“Of course you will. Someone as smart as you—you’ll be fine, girl.”

“No, you’ll be fine,” I remind her. “You love these types of things.”

“Love is a strong word,” Janice shrugs, before stopping in her tracks. “But I do enjoy them…” her words trail off as she reaches into her backpack.

“What’s the matter?”

Janice pulls out her cell phone again. It’s ringing.

“Mikey,” she sighs.

Her boyfriend.

“Are things still… rocky between the two of you?”

“It’s complicated.”

“Boys always are.” Not that I would know.

“Ain’t that the truth,” Janice chuckles, her southern twang coming out in full force. “I’ll answer him this time—if only to make sure the dolt knows not to call me during class. Would you mind running ahead and getting us some good seats?”

“Yeah, sure thing,” I nod, understanding the implication. Janice wants some privacy. Things still aren’t going well between her and Mikey. That’s too bad. He seems like a decent dude.