Chapter 3

Evelyn's POV

Everyone knew Elroy Vans, everyone in this city. But only a few families were affiliated with his and could have access to him.

His face was on billboards across the city, sharp jaw, perfect hair. The Vans family funded half the buildings at Crestwood. Their name was on everything, carved into stone and metal like a reminder that some people owned the world and the rest of us were just passing through it.

I expected him to be like the others.

He wasn't. And that was somehow worse. He was worse than others in ways that unsettled me.

Elroy sat in the third row. Always perfectly dressed, always early, always with a book open on his desk that had nothing to do with my class. Philosophy mostly. Sometimes economics. Once I walked past and caught the title and it was a first edition of something that probably cost more than my rent or even my entire earnings put together.

He listened more than the others. Really listened, the kind where you can feel someone actually processing what you're saying instead of just waiting for their turn to speak.

And he was brilliant. I'd ask a question about a passage and while everyone else fumbled through half formed answers Elroy would take it apart quietly and cleanly. He understood tone and context and subtext and sometimes explained things in a way that made me pause for just a second before I caught myself.

If he had stopped there I might have been okay with him, He might have been my favourite student.

But he never stopped there.

There was always that look. Not the careless entitled look the others gave me. This was different. More calculated. Like he was watching me the way you watch something you haven't figured out yet and aren't sure you want to.

It unsettled me more than the rudeness ever did. It challenged me to not make mistakes.

He sat like the room belonged to him, leaned back slightly, pen turning slowly between his fingers, and watched my lectures with an expression I couldn't read no matter how many times I tried.

I told myself he was just another rich kid with too much confidence.

I almost believed it.

One afternoon five minutes before the end of class I was wrapping up a discussion on modern tragedy when Elroy raised his hand.

"Yes Vans?"

He stood slowly. "Professor Reed I was just wondering, how exactly does this connect to the broader socio-economic structures of pre-industrial Europe?"

It was a random question that had absolutely nothing to do with the lesson.

Some students looked around at each other snickering.... waiting for me to answer or embarrass myself.

"That's not relevant to today's topic," I said. "If you'd like to explore it, put it in your essay."

"So you're saying it doesn't connect?"

Snickers from the back grow louder.

"I'm saying it's outside the scope of this lesson."

He tilted his head just slightly. "Or maybe it's difficult to connect?"

More laughter and whispers. Heat crawled up my neck.

"How does she not know the answer to a student's question... but she calls herself a professor" Someone whispered loud enough for me to hear.

I don't know if he was deliberately trying to make me an object of mockery but it was genuinely pissing me off.

"I assure you" I said, holding his gaze, "I have no difficulty connecting themes. It just doesn't relate to the topic. Sit down please."

For a second I thought he would sit but he smiled instead. Small, unhurried, like he had all the time in the world– but I did not.

"I'm just concerned," he said pleasantly, "that if we can't examine literature from multiple angles we might be limiting our understanding. Don't you think so Professor?"

He was doing it on purpose. Everyone could see it including me. I swallowed hard and kept my face straight.

"Mr Vans" I said evenly, "if you'd like to challenge my lesson plan I suggest you bring it up at the faculty meeting with Daddy's help perhaps. Afterall you rely on Daddy's influence"

Laughter spread across the room. This time not entirely at my expense.

Something moved across his face. Surprise maybe. Just for a second then the bell rang.

"Homework" I announced before anyone could stand. "Two page analysis of today's reading. Due tomorrow."

Groans everywhere.

I kept my eyes on Elroy as I said it. "No extensions."

He picked up his bag slowly, tucked his philosophy book under his arm and headed for the door without rushing. As he passed my desk he paused for just a half second, close enough that I caught the faint smell of something expensive.

"I'll see you later, Professor," he said quietly.

Low. Unhurried. Like a statement not a goodbye.

I watched him walk out.

When the room emptied I stood there for a second just breathing. Then I started gathering my papers and told myself the strange feeling sitting in my chest was just irritation.

Just irritation and nothing else. This new city was suppose to be my new start. Crestwood was supposed to be my escape not another place to be constantly on the edge of irritation.

I was almost at the door when my phone chimed. I stopped in my tack and glanced at the screen of my phone. There was a message from someone.

As I unlocked the phone, my heart immediately stopped when I saw the name.

Melvin.

Just the name made my hands go cold and my body shaky

I clicked on the message.

" You think you can just run Evie?. You think you're smart but I'm always one step ahead of you. You can run all you want but you can never hide from me. I know where you are and I'll come drag you back soon "

The room felt smaller.

I read it again and again standing there in the empty classroom holding my phone with both hands like it might do something else if I put it down.

He knew.... maybe or maybe not. I don't underestimate Melvin's ability to find me. Or maybe he just wanted me to think he knew where I was.