It takes a while to find me and then pinpoints me on the map. I still can’t see the room where I need to go. Maybe I should give up and get a head start on my second class.
Footsteps sound down the corridor. Finally, someone, I can ask for help. I just need to be pointed in the right direction, then I’ll be okay. Maybe.
I’m all ready to ask when the person comes into view—it’s Brad. He’s storming along with his head down. He will probably walk right past me if I don’t say anything.
I really don’t want to ask him.
But it might be a while before anyone else comes along.
“Excuse me,” I say quickly.
Brad stops and looks up. “What?”
I’m taken aback. A war rages inside my mind about whether I should just let him go. “Are you able to help me find my room? Pretty please?”
He glares at me for a moment before I see all his features relax. His jaw doesn’t even tick anymore. “Yeah, I can help. Where are you trying to get to?”
“Room 10C.”
“You are lost. It’s nowhere near here.”
“Yeah, that’s my problem.”
He does something completely unexpected: he smiles. It makes his whole face light up. His dark, brooding eyes sparkle with the sudden change. He has the very definition of a panty-dropping smile.
“I’ll show you,” he says, “come with me.”
I think I would follow him anywhere right now. We set off and he keeps the pace fast. I’m going to take advantage of his better mood. “I’ve seen you around a bit since I got here. I think we have a few classes together.”
“Yeah, we do. How are you finding it here?” he asks. I’m so stunned we’re actually having a real conversation.
“Surprisingly good.”
“You’ll have to make sure you come to the next soccer match on the weekend. You won’t get the full academy experience until you do. It’s Saturday at ten a.m.”
“I’ll be there,” I reply. I wouldn’t miss an opportunity to see him in tiny shorts. As long as I don’t get too attached, I’ll be fine.
“Here you go,” he says as we arrive at the room. It’s down a corridor I would not have thought to go down. I must have walked past it twice before.
He opens the door for me as I thank him. I actually get another smile before I push on the handle. I get it now, why the girls flock to him. When he smiles at you, it feels special. Like he only reserves them for those he likes and to get one is to really earn one.
My heart skips a beat. I hate that it does. The other people I have met here have been a thousand times nicer than Brad. My traitorous heart needs to remember that.
He waits in the corridor until I’m inside. The last thing I see is him waving goodbye. It seems so out of character for him to do that. He’s a walking contradiction and that makes me wonder who the real Brad is.
I take a seat in the classroom while everybody watches me cross the room. The teacher doesn’t say anything. There is no admonishment for being late. If I wasn’t a princess, would I still be able to get away with it? I don’t know.
It’s difficult to concentrate all morning as I move through my classes. My mind keeps wandering to Brad. I pass him in the hall when I change rooms but he doesn’t see me. Would I get another smile if he did?
Argh. I need to forget about him. He’s not worth my time. Not when he goes through women like he does socks.
At lunchtime, I head for the dining room and see Hayley also on her way there.
“Hey, girl,” she says in greeting. “How do you feel after yoga this morning?”
“Tired,” I reply. “But that’s probably more to do with my late night than early morning. I think I’ll try yoga again tomorrow. I think it did help center me.”
We reach the dining room and enter. I head straight for my usual table—I’ve sat there twice now, that’s enough to qualify for my usual.
Reuben intercepts me along the way. “Hey, Paige. Would you do me the honors of sitting with me?”
I look at Hayley, I’m not going to ditch her for a guy. “Do you mind if we all sit together?”
Hayley hooks an arm around Reuben’s neck in a very familiar way. “Of course. Reub and I go way back. Don’t we?”
Reuben nods. “To kindergarten, I think.”
“That’s right. You were the first boy to pull my pigtails.”
“And then you pushed me into the sandpit.”
“Actions have consequences,” Hayley says, laughing. “I was just teaching you a lesson.”
Reuben laughs along with her. “Well, I never did it again so I guess it worked.” He tugs on a stray strand of her hair and she playfully pushes him.
We sit at our table and the waiter cautiously comes over. “Would you like a menu today, Your Majesty? Or shall I fetch a plate?”
I glance over at the food buffet. I’m not sure what I’m in the mood for yet but I will probably eat anything they have here. It’s too yummy to refuse.
“A plate, please,” I reply.
“Plates all around,” Reuben adds. I’m grateful that he doesn’t let me be the only one wanting to serve myself. The waiter distributes some plates and fills our water glasses before leaving.
The three of us peruse the buffet as we pile our plates with food. My mouth is watering just looking at all the goodies. I add some chocolate mousse to the edge of my plate so I can indulge in dessert too.
Back at our table, there isn’t any conversation for a few minutes as we savor the taste. I chose some vegetarian lasagna and I’m supremely happy I did. It dances in my mouth and fills the void in my stomach.
“There’s a party tonight in the west wing,” Hayley says. “You have to come.”
“We’re allowed to have parties here?” I ask. It all seems so posh, I didn’t think there would be room for any frivolity.
“Yeah,” she replies. “We give the wing assistant some honey cakes and he turns a blind eye. As long as it doesn’t get out of hand, he leaves us alone. Seb hosts the best parties. Say you’ll come with me.”
Nobody has told me that I can’t go to parties. They haven’t really given me a list of what I can and can’t do. Until that happens, I’m going to assume I can do whatever the hell I want—just like Doug said.
“I would love to,” I reply. “Reuben?”
I’ve caught him mid-chew. He makes me wait a few seconds before swallowing and answering. “Seb’s parties are always fun. How about I pick you up and walk you there?”
“It’s a date.”
I can’t wait. If the party is even half as fun as they promise, it’s going to be a great night.
Chapter 6
As it turns out, there are buildings here at the Royal Academy of the Fae that are outside the circle. Seb’s dorm building is one of them.
Thank goodness Reuben walked me there, otherwise it would have taken me all night to find the place. These buildings are apparently reserved for the older students, the ones almost ready to graduate.
Seb’s room takes up half the top level and spills out into a beautiful courtyard on the rooftop. The whole place sparkles with floating lanterns. Music thumps inside but there isn’t a peep outside. Either his entire suite is soundproofed or there’s some magic afoot.