Is what happened in the gym as bad as losing a finger?
Yes.
I grit my teeth.
River
Where are you?
I send the text to Pandora, then strip down so I can take a quick shower. She shouldn’t be in class, but that doesn’t mean she’s sitting around her dorm room, either.
I don’t know what I’ll do if she ignores my text.
The second I’m out of the shower, half-dry, I grab my phone to see if she’s texted back.
Pandora
Library. I have to study or I’ll fail biochem! Wtf is this bullshit!
I take in a deep breath, releasing it slowly. It’s not the best place to have the conversation we need to have, but I doubt I can talk her into going back to her room.
River
I’ll help you study
Pandora
With your cock? That’s not going to help with biochem.
I snort, then set my phone aside so I can get dressed. My hair is still wet enough to where it’s dripping down my face when I toss my towel into the bin. I grab my bag and shove my phone into my pocket, heading across campus to the library.
I find Pandora in one of the study rooms toward the back of the building, far away from everyone else. I don’t know if she moved there knowing I was coming or if she’d just chosen it for the privacy, but I’m glad for it.
I pull up a chair and sit down next to her. “So… Biochem’s kicking your ass?” It sounds like a stupid pickup line, and I know it, but it’s better than confronting her right away with the necessary conversation about Ezio.
It’s better than thinking about the games of revenge we keep going back and forth with.
“I got a fucking seventy-six on the last test,” Pandora grumbles. “Does it even matter whether the enzyme is lactase or glucosidase?” She glares at her tablet, where chemical structures are displayed.
I have no clue what those are, but that’s why I’m studying engineering and not biology. “I’m sure it matters to someone doing… something,” I tell her. I don’t know what, but it sounds important. “Listen,” I begin, only to falter when she turns her gaze back on me.
“It probably matters to lactose intolerant people,” Pandora says. “On account of lactase being the enzyme responsible for breaking down lactose. But I’m not studying to find a cure to milk intolerance. They already make lactase tablets anyway.”
“Uh huh,” I say. “Yeah, my mom takes—” I’m getting distracted, and I don’t want to think about my family anyway. “Anyway, I was wondering if you’ve made any progress on… things.”
“They should let first years do dissections. I’d be way better at that.” Pandora tilts her head. “How many people drop out of pre-med because they’re too squeamish?”
“Pandora,” I say, reaching out to touch her arm. “Seriously. Can we actually talk?”
“We are talking,” Pandora says. “Words are coming out of my mouth. But I’m here to study, River.” After a beat, her brow furrows and she adds, “Did I bite you that badly?” She reaches out to touch the bruise on my jaw.
“What? No,” I tell her, grabbing her wrist and pushing it away. “And you know that isn’t what I mean. We have a serious problem, and we need to figure something out before it gets out of control.”
Not that I think it’sincontrol, and I’m not sure it’s not already too late.
“You took care of Tate already.” Pandora leans closer. “Thank you. Did I mention that? Oh, did Blaze give you a kiss like I asked?”
“No,” I tell her. “I’m not kissing Blaze.”
