“It’s clean, and I’d like some privacy if I’m going to get through this year.”
“I’m sorry it worked out this way, Biba. I really didn’t know anything about their prank, and it was a rotten thing to do.”
“Whatever that means. I don’t care. My dad left me the money to get through this school, and damned if I’m going to let anyone take it away from me. So, give me a minute to pack, and I’ll be out of your way.”
“I’ll still be here for you.” Her tone sounded sincere.
Packing didn’t take me long, and I was out the door without even saying goodbye. Sure enough, at the end of the hall, the door to a room was standing slightly open. I peeked inside and saw that a bed had been shoved in, along with a small side table with a lamp. No desk. No closet. No window. Perfect.
I realized there was no bathroom. I’d have to use the girl’s bath and shower in the gym. It wouldn’t be fun heading there in the middle of the night, but I’d get used to it. I’d get up super early and get my shower before anyone else was up and around. I’d make it work.
I was a survivor. I was my father’s daughter.
Chapter 6
Biba
The girl who looked back at me from the locker room mirror was not the girl who had arrived just a few days ago. In two short days, I’d developed dark circles under my red-rimmed eyes. Even in my darkest moments, I could normally manage a genuine smile that lit up my face. Not now. I felt like I’d been pushed over a cliff and was watching death approach me in slow motion.
I dressed and ignored the snickers of girls who came in and left in pairs. Why do women travel in pairs? Wrapping my clothes in my towel, I headed back to my room and made my bed. It was time for breakfast. I’d deal with the room situation when I finished with class for the day.
I chose to sit with my former two tablemates, but apparently, they had also heard about the pee incident and didn’t want to associate with me. Their backs turned toward me, they chatted between themselves. I was completely excluded. I saw Buffy looking at me from across the room, but the normal cheery smile and wave were gone. She just looked as if trying to gauge what her appropriate acknowledgment should look like. I didn’t care.
Classes were equally stressful. I hadn’t gotten a chance to study properly, leaving me responding with “Uh…” and “I’m not sure” when called upon to answer. I was further embarrassed and heard the muttered insults from Zephyr’s followers.
When it came time for lunch, I filled my plate and then headed toward my usual, lonely table. I was in for a surprise. There was someone else sitting there—a guy. He looked up when I arrived—Theo.
“I’ve been waiting for you.”
I nearly tipped my plate onto the floor. “Me?”
He took my food from my unsteady hands and set it next to where he was sitting. “Who else?”
I tried not to look dumbfounded, but I was. I pointed to my plate. “You want me to sit there?”
“Of course, silly. What’s wrong? Why are you so jumpy?”
I grabbed my hair and began twisting it—a gesture that I often fell into when I was nervous. I was trying to be cool, but damn! He was just so good-looking. “Oh, no reason,” I lied and slid into the seat next to him.
“Yeah, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about. That little no reason that happened yesterday.”
I stiffened. Was he going to poke at me, too? “What about it?”
“Zephyr can be a real jerk. He and the others—they shouldn’t have done that. I was tied up elsewhere and didn’t hear about it until later.”
“I could think of a few harsher words.”
“I wouldn’t blame you. He thinks he’s king around here, you know.” He was watching my face carefully.
I looked at him sidelong. “King? Hah. That’s a joke. He doesn’t impress me. Anybody can be an asshole with little effort when they want to.”
His mouth formed into a wry grin. “Don’t underestimate him. Some people are raised to be mean, like pit bulls. Too tightly bred, cold, inhumane environments growing up, forced to be competitive with siblings, even abuse. They can be hard to read, and you can get into trouble fast by jumping to conclusions.”
“He made it pretty evident that he was an ass the first time I saw him.”
Theo turned his attention to the breaded veal and mashed potatoes on his plate. “You don’t have to agree with me now, Biba. Just remember what I’m saying, and the day will come that you’ll remember it and be glad you were warned. You do know who he is, right?”