Chapter 4 Four
“Wh-Where are you taking me?” I ask, trying to pull my arm away but his grip is like a vice.
“We're going to meet the president and the Vice Chancellor.”
“Why?”
The door of a black car slides open and he shoves me inside. I mutter curses under my voice and I hear him chuckling.
“Why are we going to meet them?” I ask again, my voice comes out through clenched teeth.
I'm so angry that my fear has been overshadowed.
“You're going to tell them that I was never a part of those people. You're going to testify of my absence. We've already come up with the proper alibi.”
“But you were there, I saw you leaning against the wall and watching.”
He turns to me sharply.
“You didn't see me, are we clear?”
I don't answer him.
He lowers his head so that we're at eye level. I see the fiery red streaks in his Hazel eyes, it looks like it's on fire. There are streaks of liquid gold and honey and fresh grass…
My heart stutters and I find myself gasping for air.
“Are we clear?”
“Yes.”
“Good girl.”
He returns to his former sitting position and he whips out his phone. Something makes him frown at his screen.
I want to turn my eyes away but the way his cupid bow dips in the middle is sultry. The perfect tilt of his eyebrows, his nose… How can God create someone so beautiful and so mean?
His gaze leaves his phone and darts to me, he catches me watching him and I turn away quickly.
I should have looked away sooner.
I lay back in the seat and close my eyes. At least they're not leading me to the woods to participate in another secret threesome.
“I had called the school management because I stand for integrity. Some may say that my morality is too high and that I'm too sensitive but what they fail to see is that I'm a trustworthy person. I recognise the rules and I try my best to follow those rules.” I say with my head held high.
I'm sitting facing the Vice chancellor and the university president and they're listening intently.
The president beams and then she stands.
“Every few years, we admit a student whose transcript tells us a story of brilliance, but whose action tells us a story of character. Glinda, you joined us as a valedictorian, yes, but more importantly you joined us as a three time gold medalist for the Red Cross.”
She turns her gaze to Reid who looks like he wants to be anywhere but here .
“Did you know that, Mr Williams? While her peers were focused on their next exams, she was developing medical projects that didn't just win awards, they saved lives in underserved communities. When she arrived last fall, we expected her to take a breath, instead she has already earned the freshman humanitarian award and her work has been on display in our local clinics. It's rare to find a student who views their intellect not as a prize to be displayed, but as a tool to be used for the good of others…. You should strive to be like her, Mr Williams and stop dragging your family's name in the mud. You have a bright future ahead of you, and you've already been suspended twice this semester. You're lucky you have her to vouch for you, if it was someone else, I wouldn't believe them and you'd be expelled from Grathford.”
She turns her gaze to me.
“Thank you, Glinda Larsson.”
I slowly stand from my seat.
“Thank you, President.”
“We hope to see more works from you.” the president says
“Don't put pressure on the young woman.” the Vice chancellor says playfully.
“It's my dream to help.” I say with a small nod in their direction and I turn to see Reid Williams waiting at the door, like a grim reaper ready to lead me into hell.
He holds the door open for me and I rush out.
“You've gotten what you wanted, now I'm free to leave, right?”
“Wrong.”
I stop walking and stare at him dead in the eyes
“That wasn't the deal.”
“We had no deal.”
“I'll walk back in there and tell them that you're… Doing whatever this is.”
“I dare you.”
His smirk deepens.
“If you think you're fast, I'm faster.” he says softly. “I will catch you before you even take two steps and I will make you pay.”
“What else do you want from me?”
“Now that's the spirit. Come.”
You might not like this, but I need you to come up to my room.”
“You're joking.” I choke
He shakes his head slowly. His features soften, the boy morphs into an angel in front of my eyes. The change is so obvious that I take a step back.
His eyes seem to hold more gold than red, as if every other colour has blurred and given way to just one.
“I know that you must hate my guts. You had to lie to the Vice chancellor and the school president, I know how hard that is for someone like you. You're a genius, you shouldn't be with people like me and most of all, you shouldn't be giving favours to me but it's not what you think it is.”
He looks around as if he's searching for someone. He turns his gaze back to me and sighs deeply.
“I want to change, no one around me understands it yet but I know that you will understand. I love hockey and all of this…” he lifts his hands and gestures around him. “It's threatening to take that away from me. One more mistake and my entire career is over.”
I shouldn't feel pity for this devil, but I do.
“What do you want me to do?”
