<b>Chapter </b><b>50 </b>
<b>Briar </b>didn’t feel the least bit awkward. She nced at Thomas but kept her thoughts to herself.
Abbie was Abbie, and Thomas was Thomas. She wasn’t the type to take out her frustration with one person on someone else.
Still, the way Thomas looked at her suggested he was holding a bit of a grudge.
Mason, relieved to hear from Briar that Frank wasn’t getting a beating, pulled out his phone and shot Frank a quick message, asking when
he’d show up since ss was about to start.
Their afternoon sses were with Jewell Morphew, a younger professor with a much shorter fuse than Joshua.
Jewell’s sses were no joke–he took attendance every session and loved piling on assignments that were way beyond their skill level<b>. </b>You had to take meticulous notes just to have a shot at finishing his brutal homework. It was a nightmare.
Frank replied almost instantly, saying he was on his way.
Sure enough, less than five minutester, Frank walked in, trailed by a sulky Mia, her head down and her face sour.
Ted and Mason greeted him, with Mason shing a cheeky grin. “Well, well, Prince Frankie! You in one piece? Any bruises I need to check<b>?</b><b>” </b>
Frank shoved Mason’s teasing face away, rolling his eyes. “Get lost. Can’t you wish me well for once?”
“It’s just that Ashton’s rep is too terrifying!” Masonughed, unfazed by the push.
Ted, more perceptive than the boisterous Mason, jerked his chin toward Mia, who had her back to them, silently asking Frank what was up
with her.
Frank shot them a look that screamed, Don’t ask. He walked over to Briar, fishing two pieces of candy from his pocket and holding them out to her. “Here, Briar, have some candy on me.”
Briar blinked, caught off guard by his tant attempt to butter her up. “Uh, thanks?”
room to hear. “No problem. Ashton told me to look out for you, so I’m not Frank winked, lowering his voice just enough for everyone in the letting anyone give you grief. From now on, you’ve got a problem? Youe to me, got it?”
Briar’s lips curved into a faint smile, her cool,manding posture slipping just a bit. “Got it. Thanks, Frank.”
Seeing her so agreeable, Frank suddenly got why Ashton had called her “polite.” But he wasn’t about to pat her head like Ashton did.
Growing up in a cutthroat elite family, Frank knew how to read people,
Briar might seem easygoing, but he’d heard about her roommate’s ordeal.
A few shoves, and she’d left someone’s back a mess of bruises? Yeah, Frank was a little intimidated now.
“Time’s ticking. We better grab seats,” Charle piped up. “Both afternoon sses are with Jewell Bombhew<b>.</b><b>” </b>
Jewell had earned the nickname “Bombhew” for his habit of dropping impossibly tough assignments and chewing out students <b>at </b><b>the </b><b>drop </b>
of a hat.
His sses were like navigating a minefield.
“Right, Thomas, you’re the fastest–go save us some spots!” Mason said, eager to keep <b>the </b>vibe <b>from </b><b>getting </b><b>awkward </b><b>again</b>.
<b>10:49 </b><b>Mon</b><b>, </b><b>11 </b><b>Aug </b>
Thomas nodded. “Got it. I’ll head to the third floor and hold seats. You guys hurry up; don’t bete.”
“Will do.”
As the only freshman in theb group, Briar didn’t have to join them for ss. Soon, the small office emptied out, leaving just her<i>, </i><b>Mia </b><b>and </b>Joseph.
Their sses didn’t start until two–thirty, so they were in no rush to leave.