:: previous – Honey Grim
Misa
As I look around at our world, Iām in awe.
I slide my sleeves up to feel more of the sun. It licks my arm with gold warmth. Cold mountain whispers come next, lunging sweet wildflower scents as goosebumps come alive in its wake. I run my hand down my thigh to ease the chill and close my eyes, inhaling the air⦠Itās a stinging scent outside, tart like and sweet at the end. Like a gentle surprise.
Maybe this is why Emilian protects that table. He wants the view to himself, to feel natureās beauty⦠alone.
āHurry up.ā Emilian growls at me.
Iām walking behind him, trying to keep up. This isnāt a tour at all. Emilian is walking fast and rattling off the names of things with no context. Thereās no time to soak anything Iāve seen in.
After the placement test, I can explore the campus myself. I hopeā¦
If I score a 300 on it, the university will waive my school fees, and Iād be in honors class for the first time. My studies would be harder if I do, but Iām sure I can manage. Plus, Inga teaches the honors class. Sheās the nicest person Iāve met in Black Mountain so far.
āSeen enough yet?ā Emilian asks while walking away.
āYes.ā
I just want this over with.
āMisa?ā
I turn around, recognizing the dirty-blonde hair and dimples.
āTimothy?!ā
āHow are you?ā He plucks an orange flower from a patch of grass nearby and gives it to me. āIāve been texting and calling.ā
āUm.ā
Over my shoulder, Emilian lingers in the distance, waiting.
I want to scream at Timothy.
When his card got declined on our first date, I had to pay for our dinner. Since he didnāt pay me back, I didnāt have enough to pay my school fees.
If I donāt score a 300 on my placement test the school fees are due immediately⦠I start my new job in two weeks, but it would take two more to get my paycheck to even pay the fees. The university would kick me out before then, and Iād miss my trip to Synestia this summer because Iād be in class to make up for missing this semester!
This stress is too much. It canāt end like this when Iām so close to finishing⦠I could resolve it now if I confront Timothy.
Say it Misa! Whereās my money? Use a profanity at the end, too.
āIāve just been busy.ā I tell him. More lies.
āWhen can I see you again?ā
He takes my hand in his, kissing it with his gentle lips.
Good-looking guys like Timothy, with his charm, sexy cologne and hypnotic words make me nervous. Once those words take the shape of soft whispers and kisses, Iām done. Melted. Both heart and mind.
Thatās the start of my relationships, conjured by menās seductive word spells.
I imagine a secret society of them in a private forest wearing hooded robes and nothing on beneath, summoning all kinds of trouble beside a raging fire to manifest the woman or man they want.
Until the men get bored, and start toā¦
āMisa?ā Timothy asks, halting my fantasy. āDid I do something wrong?ā
āIāI donāt knowā¦ā
His hand slides up my arm, stroking it. Iām melting.
āYou donāt know?ā He looks past me. āWhoās this guy?ā
I turn. Emilian is back, inching closer to us.
āNo one. Gotta go.ā
āHeyā¦ā Timothy pulls my arm. Itās gentle but stops me from leaving. āYou didnāt answer me.ā
āMaybe I donāt want to.ā
āWhatās wrong? Are you mad at me?ā
āLet me go.ā
Emilian moves behind me. Heās so close I can feel the front of his slacks against the back of my bare legs.
Timothy drops my arm. āIāll text you, Misa.ā He stares at Emilian for a long moment and leaves.
Ugh! Where does he get off grabbing me like that? Of all the people on this campus, I run into Timothy. And why didnāt I mention the money?!
I throw the flower away and see Emilian walking behind staringāprobably just looking at my legs.
Whatever.
āHey there, welcome back.ā Instructor Inga says with her sing song voice. āIs everything okay?ā
āYes, maāam.ā I fake a smile.
Emilian says nothing as he bolts to his seat. That guy is weird. What did I do to make him hate me?
āGo on.ā Inga says. āSit beside Emilian.ā
Ugh…
I grab my things and head over.
At Emilianās beloved table, I pull the second chair out by the legs with my foot since he crushed my fingers last time. He scoots aside like Iām contagious when I sit.
āThis doesnāt happen tomorrow,ā he hisses.
I watch the volcano sitting beside me.
His eyes are bright brown behind his square glasses. His short black hair is wavy and parted to the right. Heās in a light blue dress shirt thatās rolled at the sleeves showing off his toned light brown arms scattered with thin, dark hairā¦
āYouāre drooling,ā he says.
I turn away embarrassed and look down at my hands, pretending I wasnāt staring at him like a weirdo.
Sigh.
One more hour of this torture and Iāll start fresh tomorrow. Iām gonna wear a hat and shades so Timothy canāt find me, getting a seat away from Emilian the evil, then straight to the library to study so I can ace the placement test.
I got this.
Note Drop