"Haynes, you should wipe the rain off your face first."


    But Haynes shook his head. "Give the towel to Ste first-I''m fine."


    Rachel''s smile froze for a split second.


    She quickly handed the towel to Ste. "Ms. Cameron, here, dry off a bit. You don''t want to catch a cold."


    Ste didn''t bother with false modesty; she took the towel and murmured, "Thank you."


    Her clothes were soaked through, and the towel only managed to dab away some of the water.


    As soon as she slid into the car, a chill crept over her. She couldn''t hold back a sneeze.


    From the front passenger seat, Rachel nced back. "Ms. Cameron, would you like to borrow my coat?"


    Ste''s brow twitched. If she remembered correctly, Rachel had been wearing a dress earlier-no coat in sight.


    Which meant the coat could only be-


    Ste''s gaze drifted over Rachel, and sure enough, she spotted a man''s suit jacket draped around her shoulders.


    A slight, cold smirk tugged at Ste''s lips.


    The downpour outside was relentless, and her own car had broken down. When


    she first saw Haynes, she hadn''t stopped to wonder why he was here.


    Now it was obvious: he was either dropping Rachel and Mr. Walden off for registration or picking them up.


    Whatever the reason, Ste didn''t care to find out.


    She looked at Rachel''s feigned concern and replied, "That would be nice."


    Rachel''s eyes shed with something dark as Ste epted every offer without resistance.


    She slipped off the jacket and turned to Haynes. "Haynes, Ms. Cameron''s soaked to the bone. I''m giving her your coat-hope you don''t mind?"


    "Not at all," Haynes replied easily.


    Rachel handed the coat to Ste with a bright smile. "Ms. Cameron, what brings you out in this weather? Are you here to see your teacher again?"


    tom


    "If you want to meet him, you can just ask me. We know each other, after all-can always pass along a message. I''d hate for you to get sick over this. If something happened, Mr. Walden and I would never forgive ourselves."


    At that, Mr. Walden nced over at Ste, but he stayed silent.


    Ste''s voice was cool. "Rachel, do you really think every time Mr. Walden and I


    are in the same ce, I must be here for him?"


    She let out a soft


    made it clear he''s not taking any more students. I wouldn''t try to force the issue. You don''t have to guard your teacher so closely, Ms.


    Pearce-no one''s trying to steal him."  s?novel


    Rachel''s smile faltered. "...I misunderstood you, Ms. Cameron."


    The awkward air was finally broken by Haynes. “Ste, what are you doing here, anyway?"


    Ste pulled on the jacket, feeling the warmth return to her limbs. "I''m here for the preliminaries."


    Rachel''s eyes widened in surprise. "You''repeting in this round, Ms. Cameron?"


    Ste met her gaze. "Why not? If you can enter, why shouldn''t I?"


    Rachel hurried to exin, “No, no,


    that''s not what I meant. I just


    thought with your skills, surely


    someone would''ve rmended you straight into the main


    Ste''s reply was calm and sharp. "If you know how good I am, then you should


    also know that I don''t need anyone''s rmendation to beat you."