Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 70458 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70458 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
The kid took a step back away from me, and I breathed a sigh of relief.
Jesus, the kid really did know how to give me the creeps.
Romeo Ricci was of Italian descent, and I only knew that due to his last name.
But his dark hair and dark eyes paired with his all black clothes never ceased to give me the heebie-jeebies.
Which was saying something because Louis was virtually the same way—at least appearance-wise.
But there was just something about Romeo that made my skin crawl, and I couldn’t pinpoint exactly why.
“That’s unfortunate,” Romeo said, his body twitching slightly at the news that Louis had just given him. “Was your cat sick?”
No. The cat was not fuckin’ sick.
“No,” I said stiffly. “It was quite unexpected.”
I didn’t want to be talking about this, mostly because I didn’t want to be thinking about this.
“Now, Mr. Ricci, as much as I feel bad for your stomachache, I think it’s time for you to just deal with it and get back to class,” I said. “Unless you’re actively throwing up or running a fever, there’s nothing I can do for you.”
Romeo looked pissed all of a sudden.
“I can call my mom,” he snapped.
He could. Yes.
But I knew for a fact Mrs. Ricci wouldn’t come. She never did. After the second time that I’d called for Romeo, I’d gotten the ‘don’t call me unless it’s an actual emergency’ from her.
From that point on, I hadn’t called for Romeo. What he did on his own was out of my control.
“Well, just make sure you don’t do it during class,” I said. “Hope you get to feeling better.”
Romeo didn’t take the hint for a few long seconds, his mouth tight.
Louis shifted into the room, walking to my side and standing next to me with an expectant look on his face directed right at Romeo.
Romeo glared harder, then abruptly turned and left the room, leaving me with Louis entirely way too close—and me feeling entirely way too comfortable with his proximity.
I twisted in my seat and stared at him, though his eyes were still on the door where Romeo had disappeared.
“That kid is freaky,” he muttered, moving so that he could give me a bit more space.
I hated that I cared that he was no longer close.
Steeling my spine against that unwanted thought, I watched as he moved to the seat that was beside my desk and sat down.
“He is,” I confirmed. “What is Hayes doing here?”
“Hayes wanted to see Ares,” he said. “This is the first day back after… you know.”
After she was held hostage by our principal. After Hayes had shot the school resource officer who’d been sleeping with a student.
Yeah, I didn’t really want to talk about it either.
“The new principal is a dick,” I said. “But they say he’s good with kids. I’m not super fond of his attitude.”
Louis’ lips tipped up in amusement. “Do you remember him?”
I frowned. “I know that he used to be the principal at the middle school when we were there. But I don’t remember him being bad. Or good for that matter.”
“I remember,” he murmured, leaning back in his chair and stretching his feet out in front of him. “Do you remember when I got sent to the principal’s office in seventh grade because I refused to take that standardized test? The one that my mom told me to refuse?”
I nodded. “He made me sit in his office for six hours while he berated me and my mother. Remember how pissed my mom was?”
Oh yeah. I remembered all right.
“Your mother came up to the school and tore him a new one.” I grinned. “In front of the entire school.”
“That’s him.” He gestured with his thumb over his shoulder. “He’s implementing new security protocols as we speak.”
“Meaning he didn’t want to let you in?” I guessed.
Louis winked. “One and the same. But Ares happened to be there to vouch for us. We had to get office passes, though.”
He pointed to the printed off label that showed his name and picture on it in black and white.
“I’m not sure what that’s supposed to do,” I admitted. “I mean, what’s it accomplish?”
Louis shrugged. “I’m sure somewhere there’s a reason. He just didn’t give it to me.”
I groaned and covered my face with my hands.
“He told me that I wasn’t allowed to come in ‘on time’ anymore. I had to be here ‘with all the other teachers.’” I paused. “I’m not a teacher, though. I’m the nurse. I don’t do school drop off. I come in here on time. I’m not even hired through him. I shouldn’t have to obey his edicts.”
Louis grinned. “Did you tell him that?”
I scrunched up my nose. “No. He gave me this stern look when I started to argue, and I felt like I couldn’t.”
And why was I talking to Louis, anyway? I should be mad at him, right?