THE DEATH
Outside, the sun is beating down, the air thick, almost sticky with humidity. I grab a bottle of water from my backpack and cross to the large oak tree in front of Old West. Despite the sunlight, the building stands in shade as if a cloud hangs above it. From this vantage point, I have a perfect view of the dorms and of my window. Oddly enough, as I watch, the curtains twitch. I glance at my watch. Camille shouldn’t be in the room right now. She is supposed to be at choir practice. We compared schedules this morning, taping them to the inside of the closet doors so we could find one another if need be. At the time, I was touched by her concern—wanting me to fit in, to be happy, seemed paramount to Camille this morning.
Now it’s obvious she just wanted to know when I wouldn’t be in the room.
What is she doing? Going through my things?
Rage fills me, and I start to get up, to run to the room, to confront her. This will not stand.
The shadow moves again, the curtains fall back into place, and I catch a flash of dark, curly hair. Vanessa is in my room. Are they together? Has Camille skipped class? Or have I simply remembered the schedule wrong?
I’m torn now. Confront them, having made a mistake, and I look like a fool.
It’s not like I have anything that will reveal all to them. I’ve been very careful.
Cool off. Take a breath. Wait and see what shakes out.
Good, bad, or indifferent, I have to make my way here, and to do that means not drawing notice to myself. And yet...here I am, doing the exact opposite. Showing off for the hot teacher was beyond stupid. I’ve managed to get myself singled out three times, from the dean, Dr. Medea, and Becca Curtis.
One of the three is going to be a big problem. I can feel it in my bones.
The bells ring, shuddering through my skin. It’s biology now, with Dr. Hall, but as I walk past the dean’s office, Westhaven comes out and stops me.
“Ash? May I have a word?”
She looks tired today, not the same elegant creature I encountered when I arrived.
I follow her into her sanctum. “How is Dr. Grassley? I meant to come by earlier and ask after her. Lost track of myself.”
“Have a seat.”
Uh-oh.
“Ash, I have some bad news. Dr. Grassley has passed away.”
The words reverberate through me as intensely as the bells. “What?”
“The doctor at the hospital said she had an underlying issue, exacerbated by multiple incidents this year alone.”
Holy shit. There’s no way around this, my actions have just killed a woman.
I’m too upset to cry, just sit, frozen, listening to the dean’s platitudes.
She’s dead. Dead. A mistake. A simple, stupid mistake, and a talented, lovely life is crushed forever.
Do I have to admit what I’ve done?
I tune back in when I realize what the dean is asking. “Are you okay, Ash? I know this must be such a shock. I got the sense you and Muriel hit it off. You were so concerned about her...”
Tell her. Admit your sins, be absolved.
Tell her. Tell her!
She’s watching me with that curious hawk-stare, and I chicken out.
“Yes. We did. She was very kind.”
“There will be a memorial service soon. And we will start the search for a replacement right away. It may be more than a few weeks before we can find someone of Muriel’s caliber to take over. It looks like your wish is granted. You may take this time away to decide what you want to do going forward.”
I killed her I killed her I killed her.
But I only nod and say, “Thank you.”
“Off to biology. I’ll let Dr. Hall know you were with me. Stop by the ladies room and wash your face. And, Ash?”
“Yes, Dean?”
“Try not to worry yourself too much. This is a rough start to term, I know. But things will calm down. You’re going to fit in here very well.”
“Thank you, Dean.”
If she only knew.
I scamper off as if I’m heading straight to biology, which is, thank heavens, in the building behind the theater. On my way, I stop by Grassley’s office, my eyes peeled for a small gold box.
There. On her desk.
I snatch it, jam it in my bag, and take off. I will dispose of this later.
My God, not only have I killed a teacher, now I’ve stolen the evidence.
What the hell is next?
I have no answer to that.