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“Thanks for catching my girl in there and getting her out. Sorry, I don’t know your name?”
“Oh, it was nothing. I’m Christie.”
“Thanks Christie. I’m Bhodi and this is Malia. We owe you one.”
“Don’t mention it. I need to go, I don’t want to be late. My professor is a real hard ass.”
“Ours too,” Bhodi replies with a chuckle.
Christie gives us a wave and turns to head back inside the building, which is much quieter now, and I can’t help but blurt out, “I like your wings!” She turns around and grins at me, calls out ‘thanks’ and then disappears. Bhodi gives me the strangest look. “Come on, let’s get to class,” he says cagily, holding out his hand for me to take, which I do.
In class, the professor completely ignores me. Even when I have to put my hand up to ask a question, he blanks me. It’s like I don’t exist. Embarrassment and frustration make me hot and agitated and for the first time ever, I give up listening to the lecture and allow my mind and eyes to wander.
A guy sitting at the end of our row catches my eye and flashes me a brilliant smile that’s all sharp, white teeth.Were those fangs?I blink and go to check, but he’s already turned away from me.
I shake it off, but I can’t help but wonder if I need to hunt down Summer and beg her for my meds. Am I going crazy without them? I feel better than I have in a long time, and I don’twantto be reliant on them but if they stop me from hearing and seeing things, maybe I should be on them.
The guy behind me is scratching like he’s got fleas, but I guess that isn’ttooout of the ordinary. Until I hear him thinking about the full moon and wondering if he’llshifttonight.
Okay, I’m going crazy. I need to get out of here. I kinda sort of wish Reef really was my therapist because at least then I could reach out and talk to him, though obviously it’s better that he’s not since we kissed and I’d quite like to do it again.
When the lecture ends, Bhodi kindly waits for the rush to die down before getting to his feet.
“Bhodi?” the professor calls. “A word please?”
“Sure. Malia, wait for me? Inside.”
I hover by the door, not wanting to eavesdrop, but also knowing that Bhodi will get mad if I go outside without him.
“What are you both doing here?” The professor spits.
“Sorry, boss, she needed a change of scenery.”
“Take her home. She looks like shit.”
I wince. He knew I would hear him; he didn’t make even the slightest effort to lower his voice.
Yes, it’s very likely that my weird dream last night has messed with my emotions where the professor is concerned, but I swear before that, on the balcony, we shared a moment. I felt like we were making progress when he confided in me about his struggles. I don’t know what I did wrong to make him go back to being a dick to me. And I don’t have the energy to fight with him today and demand he explains himself. “Will do, boss,” Bhodi says apologetically, shooting me a grimace.
Who’s he apologising to, me or the prof?
We leave after that, walking in awkward silence until Bhodi loops his arm through mine and the tension melts from my body. All the mind chatter stops and I find a little peace.
“Do we have to leave straight away?” I ask Bhodi.
“Nah. What’s up?”
“I could really use a drink. I don’t know, maybe my hangover from last night is just hitting now.”
He chuckles. “Sure. Wanna hit the Cabana?”
“Perfect,” I reply because even though I know it’ll be busy, it’s closest to us, and so long as Bhodi keeps touching me, I know I’ll stay sane.
We’re almost there when I spot Summer coming out of the coffee shop.
“Oh, look! There’s Summer,'' I tell Bhodi, not missing the way he tenses under my fingertips.
“I’m just going to run over and say hello.”
