I held out my hand, and she narrowed her eyes, looking confused.
But then she relaxed, nodding and taking my hand. “Oh, that’s right. The younger brother’s girlfriend.”
I breathed out a laugh, not bothering to correct her. She didn’t need my life history.
“Rika,” I told her. “Actually, it’s Erika, but everyone calls me Rika.”
“Ree-ka?” she repeated, shaking my hand. “Hey, I’m Alex Palmer.”
I nodded, releasing her hand and facing the front of the class again.
Professor Cain walked in, with his graying hair, brown suit, and glasses, and immediately began unpacking his bag, taking out papers and setting up his projector. I dropped my bag on the floor, digging out my iPad and propping it up, so I could lay out the keyboard to take notes.
I tried to keep my eyes forward, but I couldn’t help but take Alex in out of the corner of my eye. She was really beautiful. Her green eyes were exotic and piercing, and she wore skinny jeans and a tank top under her open cardigan. Her body was flawless, sexy, and her tan skin glowed.
I pushed my hair behind my ear, looking down at my own clothes. Black leggings with knee-high brown-leather boots and an oversized white shirt with a burgundy scarf loosely tied around my neck.
I let out a breath. It didn’t matter. Even if I had dressed sexier, I’d still wouldn’t look like her.
“Move,” a deep voice ordered.
I snapped my head up, my chest immediately caving seeing Damon Torrance standing over me.
What the hell?
He glared down at Alex, his black hair gelled and his T-shirt just as dark as his hair and eyes.
I heard her shuffle, and I twisted my head, seeing her pick up her things and move a few chairs down.
My mouth hung open, and I narrowed my eyes. “What are you doing?” I demanded.
But he ignored me, brushing my legs as he pushed passed me and sat down on my left, in Alex’s seat.
“Hey, Rika,” another voice called, and I turned back to my right, seeing Will Grayson take the empty seat on my other side. “How’ve you been?”
Both settled back in their chairs, and I felt them like walls at my side. I hadn’t spoken to them in three years, and I stared ahead, not knowing what the fuck was going on right now.
Déjà vu. They were here. They knew I was here. The hair on my arms stood on end, and it was like no time had passed. Three years ago was today.
I squeezed my fists, noticing the professor coming to stand in front of the class.
“Hello, everyone,” he greeted, threading his tie though his fingers. “Welcome to Anthropology in Youth Culture. I am Professor Cain, and…”
I shifted my eyes, the professor’s voice trailing off as I felt Damon’s arm lay across the back of my seat.
Cain continued to speak, but dread sat like a brick in my stomach. “What are you guys doing?” I asked them, keeping my voice low. “Why are you here?”
“Going to class,” Will chirped.
“You go to school here?” I asked, staring at him disbelievingly before turning to Damon.
His eyes, so cold but so hot at the same time, were on me, as if the teacher and class weren’t even here.
“Well, we did kind of lose time,” Will mused, keeping his voice low. “I must say I was a little heartbroken not getting a letter from you the entire time we were away. The last night we were free, we all had a lot of fun, didn’t we?”
No. No we didn’t have a lot of fun. I breathed hard through my nose and hurriedly folded down my iPad and reached over for my bag, getting ready to leave.
But Will grabbed my wrist, pulling me back up. “Stay,” he suggested in a light tone, but I could tell it was a command. “We could use a friend in class.”