Chapter 16

Zach’s POV.

Hands down, Ryder has got to be the most unreasonable person to walk this green earth.

Just when I thought the scumbag had grown a conscience, he goes ahead to show me just how much of a control freak he really is.

I mean, what was I even supposed to classify that behavior from last night if not arrant madness?

And I don’t even want to get started on how he knew how long I had been online and who I was texting. That was by far the freakiest shit I’ve seen in a while, right up on the list next to the strange figure who keeps appearing by my window lately.

But right now, all that could matter less because I was more focused on keeping Saks from noticing Ryder’s absence in class this morning.

God, when I get my hands on that selfish prick!

Somehow, I had managed to convince the man that he’d stepped out to the bathroom when he finally noticed some minutes ago but I wasn’t sure how long that lie would hold so I tactfully changed seats once his back was turned.

Out of sight, out of mind I hoped.

I had tried texting the asshole but his line had been dead all morning, leaving me to be playing theatrics when I should be learning.

As my eyes shot to the massive analog clock on the wall, the door beneath it pushed open and Ryder walked in, his eyes hidden behind a pair of dark shades as he propped himself up against the doorframe.

I would recognize that Ryder even if I had my head slammed against a fire hydrant.

A scoff escaped my lips as I watched him. The hypocritical fuck, he had the audacity to lecture me about fucking up his grades and then goes ahead to party on a school night? Lord, was I gonna rip the head off him.

“Well, that was an awfully long time in the bathroom, Ryder. Hope there’s nothing to be bothered about?”

“Huh?” Ryder asked, so obviously fazed.

Catch on, idiot.

It was pretty obvious to the whole class at this point as he stood with his thoughts for a moment before nodding like he’d just had a bright idea.

“Oh yeah! I mean- no.”

I ducked my face into my palms.

“I’m sorry?”

He pushed himself off the door, keeping to his feet with extreme effort. “Well, it did feel like I was passing out kidney stones at some point, but I’m fine,” he said, managing a charming smile while the rest of the class reeled with visible disgust.

It was all for show though, cause if Ryder had walked into this class with a platter of his own guts, half this class would pack a spoon.

There really must be a God in heaven because somehow Professor Saks bought the charade, turning back to the board as Ryder stumbled through the rest of the class, eyes finding me.

I watched with utter disdain as he made his way to the empty chair next to me and sat down with great effort.

“The bathroom? Seriously? Where did you learn to lie?” He groaned.

“Oh, don’t give me that you ungrateful prick. I can’t believe you’re still trying to play it cool when you’re obviously high as a kite.”

“I’m hungover, not high. Jesus, you need to go out more.”

I scoffed. “Yes, because you’ve laid such a grand example for why I should.”

He rolled his eyes. “What do you want, a thank you for a really bad lie?”

“I couldn’t care less what you did with your brain or your mouth, just try not to get my grades involved, will you?”

“Well, I certainly haven’t missed this part. How about you two reign it in for a bit?” Saks called from across the class, halting our bickering.

“Sorry, professor.” I shot Ryder a glare.

Ryder and I squeezed out of class with the rest of the students and I shot missiles his way the moment we stepped out.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” I started.

He groaned, snatching his shades before rubbing his temples, but just before he put the glasses back on, I noticed the purple bruise under his left eye and my chest tightened.

“What happened to you?” I stepped closer, then stopped myself.

“Nothing, just a bad fall,” He muttered, averting his gaze.

We remained silent for a moment.

“Well good for you,”

His head snapped back to me. “What?”

“I don’t know the full details of this fall but I’m sure you deserved it.”

“Wow, great show of concern, princess.”

“Now why on earth would I be concerned about you?” I grimaced.

“Because I’m your partner, and in the time being your responsibility.”

I scoffed. “I think you’ve got this whole project partner thing very twisted. Speaking off, you better go back home and get some water and rest, you’re all banged up, and I’d hate to deal with that later today.”

“Can you take me?”

I shook my head. “Once again, project partner, not life partner. Call your girlfriend,” I said, walking away.

After school, I headed straight back to my dorms to round up an assignment I had due the next day, but when I got to my room I found it in a complete mess.

Books shoved to the ground, bed upturned, study desk dragged to the center of the room, it was absolute chaos.

Trembling, I hurried back to the security post downstairs. “Excuse me, I think my room was broken into,” I complained to the first face I saw.

A man in his late fifties who always smiled at me when I passed by looked up at me and that’s when I realized he hadn’t been at his post, and there were also some stitches on his face.

“You’re the kid in 312?” I nodded. “God, some masked thieving fellow snuck in during the wee hours of the day, I heard some trashing while doing my rounds and went to check it out. I tried to grab him but he was stronger than me, the brawny fucker. Managed to scare him off with my bat though. Sure left a pretty wicked scar on his face.”

I paused, my mind railing. “You wouldn’t happen to know where exactly you hit him now, would you?” “Sure, I do. I was swinging and he was ducking but I managed to stub him right in the eye, sent him flying right through that window of yours. Bloke’s just lucky it’s the first floor.”

All the blood in my body froze up as Ryder’s words spun through my head.

A bad fall indeed.