“It’s okay,” she said. “I won’t say anything.”
“How did you know that he and I…?”
“You can’t stop staring at each other, for one thing,” she said with a giggle. “It’s really cute.”
“God, is it that obvious?” I asked, my cheeks burning.
“No, but I pay attention. I figure it’s my job, if I want to be a good actress. Not going to lie, I was pretty jealous at first, but I got over it.But seems like things aren’t so great?” She waved her hands. “None of my business. The point is, Orion dropped this paper in his rush to get out of class yesterday. I was going to return it to him today, but he’s not here and…well, it’s not the first time I noticed something off. Not in a bad way,” she added quickly. “But I think he’s struggling and needs help and Callister doesn’t care. Or maybe he doesn’t know.” Tessa bit her lip. “Maybe no one knows?”
I nodded, glancing down at the paper, which blurred in my vision. Because Orion had been working so hard, for so long—alone—and it broke my damn heart.
“No, I don’t think so,” I whispered.
“So anyway, I don’t mean to pry into his business,” Tessa said. “I won’t say another word or butt in. I just wanted someone close to him to…I don’t know. Help? He seems so tired.”
I cleared my throat and folded the paper in quarters and tucked it into my bag. “Thanks, Tessa. I appreciate it.”
“No problem.” She smiled prettily. “And hey, if things get sorted maybe you two will come to my show? We’re doingLes Misérablesthis spring. Shameless plug, I know…”
I smiled. “I’ll be there.”
“Great. And Harper, if you ever want to talk or hang out…” Tessa suddenly looked shy. “This place isn’t exactly overflowing with friendly girls. My best friends are the gay boys in drama class. Not that I’m complaining; they’re the literal best. But I wouldn’t mind having a girlfriend forgirltalk once in a while.”
I managed a smile. “I’d like that.”
“Me too.” Tessa’s own smile was brilliant, and I had a premonition that I was going to see her on the big screen someday.
We parted ways, and I rushed down the hall, not sure where to go, or what to do, except I had to find Orion and…
Do what? Make things worse? And what about Dash? What am I going to do with him?
Anger at my mother for abandoning us flared at me all over again as I walked fast, not paying attention to where I was going, and then I crashed headlong into someone.
“Bloody hell…”
The British accent sent my hopes soaring until I looked up into bleary blue eyes instead of brown ones.
“Professor Wolfe?” I glanced around the crowded hallway, which was nowhere near the Arts Wing of this huge school. “Are you okay?”
“Hm? What?” Today, he wore black baggy pants, a black blouse-like shirt, and a long, light jacket that flowed behind him like a cape, and all of it was tinged with the perfume of old liquor. “Fuck me, I’m all turned around.”
Maybe if you weren’t hungover all to hell…
“Right,” I said darkly. “Arts Wing is that way.” I pointed and intended to carry on, but Wolfe looked truly lost. “Do you need some help?”
“Would you mind?” he said. “Being found wandering the corridors in my present condition might be detrimental to my financial interests.”
I turned the professor around, and we walked through the crowded hallways like a pair of crows toward his office.
“Why are you in thispresent conditionif you know you have classes to teach?” I asked, not too kindly. “Our piano class next period, for instance.”
Wolfe glanced down at me. “Have I done something to arouse your anger, Ms. Bennett?”
I didn’t reply. We arrived at his office. I saw him safely inside, gestured as if to say,Voila,and turned to go.
“You didn’t answer my question,” he said, slumping onto the couch and stretching out. “Something on your mind? Are you going to tattle on me to President Sterling?”
“No, but…” I crossed my arms. “If you have people counting on you—kidscounting on you to be there for them, why do you do it?” I shook my head. “Never mind.”
