Chapter 32: Date time disaster
Craig’s locker door slammed shut with a satisfying thud. A silent, victorious laugh rumbled in his chest, the kind that came from knowing things were falling into place exactly as he planned. He’d been waiting for this moment, when Merlina found out he was going to be her student tutor.
He could already picture her face, the shock, the frustration, and maybe, just maybe, a bit of that sharp, fiery energy she always seemed to have when her world was upended. She hated him, and that was just perfect. The chaos that was about to unfold? Spectacular.
Leaning back against the cool metal, his thoughts drifted back to the moment the Dean had approached him. He hadn’t been expecting it. Hell, he hadn’t even been remotely interested. But there he was, sitting across from Dean Halbridge, the older man practically begging him to take on the role of student tutor.
"Craig, I need you to help us this year," the Dean had pleaded, his voice carrying a sense of urgency that Craig couldn’t relate to. "We need someone who not only understands the system but knows how to succeed in it. Someone like you. You’ve excelled here, and now it’s your turn to pass it on."
Craig had straightened in his chair, his arms crossed over his chest, resisting the pull of the conversation. "I’m good, thanks. I don’t need to play the hero here. I’ve got my own stuff to do."
The Dean had pushed harder. "I know it’s not your thing, but you’re one of the top students, Craig. You’re perfect for this. Some of these Freshers need a helping hand, and you’re the kind of person they’ll listen to. You’ve got a responsibility now."
Craig had been ready to shoot him down again when the Dean slid a piece of paper across the desk. It hit the wood with a sharp sound, and Craig’s gaze flicked down to the list. Just names. Nothing special.
Craig had glanced at the list, not expecting much. The names were a blur, all unfamiliar faces in the sea of freshmen. But then, his eyes had frozen on one name. His pulse had quickened, just for a moment.
Merlina Sanchez. There it was, bold and undeniable. Her name, nestled among the rest. The same name that had been a source of so much chaos in his mind, the one he couldn’t escape. A reluctant smile had tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Her," Craig had said, his voice low, but laced with something else, something sharper than mere casual interest. "I want her."
The Dean had blinked, surprised. "You... want her?" he had repeated, as if the idea of personally choosing a student wasn’t something that happened every day. "You want someone assigned specifically to you?"