Chapter Twenty-One: Handling It | Part 2
“While I don’t agree with Benn’s phrasing, per se, he has a point about how obvious you two are being.” At Thirtyx’s glare, Rhea held her hands up as if in surrender. “Look, I know we’re clued in, so we see it more, but if anyone else catches on, Seerla could be in big trouble.”
“You could be, too,” Benn said. “Your deal with Azirenne is keeping a lot of your abuse at bay, but she may not be able to protect you from the outrage of you dating outside your social class.”
Thirtyx rested his elbows on the table and set his face in his hands. “You think I don’t know that? This is practically torture for me!”
“Five more weeks.” Benn patted him on the shoulder. “It’ll be over before you know it.”
Rhea jumped like she’d been electrified. “Five weeks?” she hissed. The terror in her eyes seemed more genuine than her typical dramatic affect, but before Thirtyx could study it further, she’d recomposed her expression. “What a relief. Petitioning the Selkie council will be a lot easier without homework getting in the way.”
Apart from Rhea’s shift in energy, there were also tell-tale signs of strain in her face—a tightness in her jaw, plus a dark puffiness he hadn’t noticed under her eyes. In his obsession with Seerla, had he ignored the pressure his friends were under?
Might Rhea even be afraid of returning to the palace with the attacks ongoing?
Thirtyx inhaled to probe further, but a specific cadence of heels clacking against the hard floor silenced him and heightened his defenses. Sure enough, Azirenne appeared by their table moments later. “Professor Bavarren is down by the carriage,” she said without preamble. “I thought we could walk down together. Are you ready to go, Mr. Grimmary?”
Benn stacked his papers to return them to his backpack, but not before Azirenne glimpsed their contents. She wrinkled her nose in displeasure. “You know, I read a lengthy article this morning about how service blockades are quite effective at getting demands met.”
Rhea glowered at her. “Wasn’t Benn supposed to meet you at the gates? How did you even know where to find—”
“Oh, it’s no problem,” Benn said with a smile that was respectful but stern. “Now, I have a few extra fractions to explain to the headmistress how service blockades can provoke an already frustrated population and cause far more problems. I have plenty of references I can show during the carriage ride.”
Azirenne’s mouth pinched like she’d tasted something bitter. While Thirtyx fought to mask his grin, Rhea chuckled and sent Azirenne off with a cheerful wave. “Have a nice trip, Headmistress!”
The notion of Benn spending three bars lecturing Azirenne about antidiscrimination laws got Thirtyx through his Capstone class, where Seerla had covertly resumed sitting beside him. While she spent most of the class pretending he didn’t exist, she slipped him the occasional note when no one was looking.
Today’s read: It’s nice that Benn gets to travel this weekend. I guess we have to wait for the senior trip. You’re going, right?
Thirtyx heaved a heavy sigh as he wrote back. With what coin? Reshelving every book in the library wouldn’t pay for that trip. Besides, I can’t exactly finish my apprenticeship applications from Vursanne.
It took her an uncomfortable amount of time to write back for how little she said. It really won’t be the same without you.
Thirtyx supposed it wouldn’t—especially since the off-world haven could have provided them a rare opportunity to spend some time together.
The final class of the day was lonely without Benn, but it passed quickly. Thirtyx had planned to meet Rhea in the library for more application filling and letter writing, respectively, before the projection of Benn’s ceremony during dinner. He settled at their usual table, but he’d almost completely finished the application he’d started earlier when Rhea finally joined him.
Abnormally frantic and out of breath, she threw herself and her things down with a huff. “Sorry. I was… sorry.”
