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CHAPTER EIGHT
I hug my arms around myself tighter, whilst trying to keep a hold of the umbrella. It’s pouring down with rain, the wind picking up and sending a chill through me, even though I’m wrapped up in a winter coat, a hat, scarf and gloves.
I’d rather be at home, curled up on the sofa watching a sappy love story on the television. But no, Mr. Flint called us in on a day we don’t normally attend so he could go over our coursework for the term.
Mr. Flint is late, and for some reason, the front entrance to the English building is locked. I have no idea what is going on or what the protocol is when a teacher doesn’t turn up. At high school, if a teacher was ten minutes late, we could go to the dinner hall until the next class.
I glance around the sea of faces waiting to be let inside to see if one of them can help me. They all seem to be talking in groups, or with a friend. There is no way I have the courage to walk up to one and interrupt what they are doing. I’d make a fool out of myself, or most likely get ignored when I call ‘excuse me’ to get their attention.
When I see a girl standing under the tree, even though thunder and lightning is on the horizon, I decide to approach her. Unlike the others, she’s alone—like me. As I approach her, the other students begin walking off. I glance around, puzzled, and wondering if I missed something or if they’re going home, sick of standing in the rain.
Not wanting to stay standing in the dark on my own, I pick up my steps. She’s reading something on her phone when I reach her.
“Hey, do you know what’s going on? Do you know where everyone is going?”
“Did you not get the text?” she asks bluntly, glancing up from her phone.
I shake my head, not realising the university sent out texts. I check my phone just in case, and other than a text from Banner saying he’s heading back to mine, I don’t have a message.
“No. What did it say?”
“It just said the front entrance was under maintenance and to use the side door,” she tells me, pulling her hood back over her head when the wind blows it off.
I lift the umbrella over her, so she’s covered, and she smiles gratefully. “Do you know where it is? I have no idea. This is the only entrance I was told about.”
“Yeah. I took a different class last year that was through that entrance. Come on, we can walk together.”
“Thank you,” I tell her, breathing a sigh of relief. “I’m Emma, by the way.”
“Becky.”
“You took night courses last year?” I ask, starting conversation. I feel awkward with the silence. I’m also curious as this was the first late-night English class they’ve done. The others are usually done through term breaks.
I feel her gaze on the side of my face, but I keep looking at my feet, watching where I’m going before I trip and fall. Also, eye contact with strangers makes me nervous.
“I get bored. I’ve got a job at an accounting agency, so this is my only time to do it.”
“You get bored?” I ask dubiously. Why on earth would she take classes when she’s bored, instead of taking up a hobby? And if she already has a job in accountancy, why start up another course?
Bizarre.
She laughs at my expression. “I know, I know. I get that look all the time. I love learning, though. I took an accountancy course first, then an electrical engineering course, and have even got qualifications for piercings, childminding, and a few other things. I’m also a qualified phlebotomist.”
I gape at her in shock.She really is bored. “What the hell is a phlebotomist?” I ask, hoping I said it correctly.
She chuckles as we reach the side door. “I take people’s blood. I still do it on Saturdays at the local blood bank. I enjoy it, but there’s no way I could do it to earn a living.”
I watch her in wonder as I put my umbrella down, shaking off the rain before stepping inside the building. I’m just through the door when a cold shiver runs down my spine. The feeling of someone watching me has my heart beating wildly against my chest. I scan the area outside, but with the dark shadows and pouring rain, it’s hard to see past what’s in front of me.
“Are you okay?” Becky asks, stepping forward so we’re side by side in the doorway.
I paste on a fake smile. “Yeah.” I shake my head, clearing my throat. “I can’t believe you do so much. It’s incredible. Why are you taking English? You don’t have to answer—I’m just really curious.”
I’d love to know, too. There is so much you can do with an English degree. I’d like to know what she plans to use it for.
“Something to do, really,” she says, shrugging. “And it never hurts to improve on certain subjects.”
I laugh, in awe of the girl standing in front of me. “And accountancy; why did you choose that?”
