Extra Credit

Evangeline “Let’s break up. I’m calling off our engagement.” My brain screeched to a halt. The buzz of excitement in my stomach from just ten minutes ago — seeing the beautiful 100/100 in my Astrobiology test — dissolved like paper in acid. “W-what?” I echoed; my grip on my food tray tightening so hard my knuckles lost circulation. A short laugh of disbelief punched out of my throat. “Jer…what... what are you talking about?” Jeremy, my boyfriend of two years and also my fiancé, stared at me with a detached look in his eyes. Granted, he looked terrible. His beautiful face was dull, and he had sunken eyes and dark circles. Even his honey brown eyes that were always so warm had turned dull, the color of mud. His hair was tied back messily, tawny strands falling over his exhausted face. “You heard me,” he said. His voice was mellow, yet louder then the sounds of the cafeteria all around me. “I’ve been thinking about it for days. Losing sleep too. And I’ve decided it’s the best thing

Evangeline His words shot like an arrow to my heart. Words I never thought I would hear. Me? Lowest scores? That’s impossible. I bit my lip before I could scoff out loud. I looked around, and thankfully, it was just the two of us here. Then I snapped my eyes back on him. “I did everything the test said. Why did I get a 28?” “Your work showed directionless talent, and a lack of fundamental knowledge. In addition, you did not follow the instructions.” “I did.” His left eye narrowed, irritation flashing across his features. Or maybe it was me imagining it. Frustration started to bubble in my gut. This is all pointless, arguing with him. I didn’t come here for that. “I need the score changed.” I blurted out. I had meant to add more bravado behind it, but something in his eyes was stripping me away of my words. I wanted to leave. Fast. “I can’t have a 28. It’s a dent on my perfect record. Professor, I kindly ask that you change the scores.” He leaned his head back just a bit,

ARTHUR.“Niko, did you hear what happened with your nephew?”Levi’s call came in the moment I stepped into my house. Timed, just as he knew I liked things these days.“What happened?” I asked, walking into my house, locking the door behind me without glancing at it.The next routine was simple.Take my coat off. Shoes off, slippers on. Check every room in the house. Set water boiling. Head to my study. Drop off my suitcase. Get started on dinner.A simple life. A routine I’ve kept going for three years now.“He broke off his engagement with the Bramwell girl.”Bramwell?I paused in my tracks, my coat hovering over the hanger.A face came to my mind. Young, Angelic, framed with hair of spun gold, big expressive hazel eyes that said everything and nothing all at once. She was a stunning thing. The kind of beauty that captivates poets, artists and writers alike. Beauty that inspires worship and hatred all at once. 'I can call you daddy…or do you prefer sir?'Evangeline Bramwell. That g

EVANGELINE."Sexual favors?" He asked. For the faintest second, a dark rage flashed in his eyes. It was so sudden and so profound that if I wasn’t watching his face closely, I would have missed it.It made my breath hitch. I wanted to jump off his desk and apologize with my face slammed in the ground.Scary.I did not do any of that.Instead, I crossed my legs. Again, I found myself wishing I wasn’t wearing these cursed leggings. The short hem of my cute gown hiked up my legs.His eyes moved to it, I felt the heat of his gaze as they moved again, drinking in the sight of my body. If he could see my bare legs...would the look in his eyes change to unbridled lust?Why did I desperately want to see that?Of course. He may seem cold and composed, but at the end of the day he’s just a man. Which man would resist a beautiful, pliant, young, innocent girl thrown at him?No one.Feeling even bolder, I leaned closer to him.“You seem a bit lost,” I said, “I’ll throw out a couple of ideas.”U

EVANGELINE How dare he? Brush me off like I was nothing but a pest? He's playing hard to get. It's fun, but a tad annoying. Why won't he just come clear with what he wants? I watched Professor Arthur and that strange man talking. They weren't that far away, but for whatever reason, I couldn't hear a peep of what Professor Arthur was talking about. The other man, however, was extremely loud. He had peculiar looks. For one, he had face tattoos. Smooth lines on his jaw and chin, trailing down his neck and vanishing into his collar. He had two scars on his face. But despite the tattoos and scars, his face had an almost boyish look. Like the scars and tattoos were intentional, an attempt at making him look more intimidating. He was good looking too, though not as much as professor Arthur. I've honestly not seen a man more handsome than professor Arthur.I am thinking too much about him and he's barely ten feet away. "There's nothing to be afraid of, Niko. It's fine, I promise." The