Ceaseless (Existence Trilogy #3)(17)

I shoved my books into my bag and headed to the board to read the group assignments. Each person in our group had an email address beside their name so that we could contact each other once we’d read the first book, Ethan Frome. I was a step ahead. I’d already read it. The line was dwindling because several people left without looking. I walked up and scanned the list for my name.

Keith Fromer

Pagan Moore

Jessi Gilheart

Jackson Driver

Maddy McGowin

Dank Walker

I stopped reading the names and glanced behind me. How was Dank’s name on here? He wasn’t in this class. Was he? The girl behind me cleared her throat in an irritated manner. I took a quick picture of the people in my group and their email addresses with my iPhone and moved out of the way.

Had Dank skipped class?

Dank

By the time I was finished with souls, I was too late to go to literature class with Pagan. I hated I’d missed an opportunity to sit by her but I’d stayed late last night to sing her to sleep. That was something I missed. I couldn’t bring myself to leave until I knew she was sleeping peacefully.

The doors to the English building opened and Pagan came walking out with a frown on her face. I didn’t like for her to be unhappy. I walked out of my hiding spot and into her path.

“Oh! Dank. You’re here.” She seemed surprised.

“Yeah. Were you hoping I’d dropped out?” I asked teasingly.

Her frown faded and she beamed up at me. That was better. “I was curious as to why you missed your first day of literature.”

She’d seen the list. We’d be spending study time together too. The more time I could get with her the better. Now that I knew she wasn’t really impressed with Jay I could breathe a little easier.

“I was out late. I’ll catch up.”

“I’ve got notes. I have some time before I meet Miranda. If you want to go get some coffee or just go over to a picnic table I could give you everything that you missed,” she offered.

I would prefer we go somewhere more private but that wasn’t a possibility. I’d never be able to explain how it was I could sneak into her room so easily and I didn’t have a room for her to sneak into.

That was something I really needed to rectify. I needed a place to at least appear as if I lived there. She was going to be curious and until I knew she loved me I couldn’t tell her who I really was. I didn’t think she’d accept me if I explained my existence any sooner.

The library. It could be secluded if you went to the right places. “What about the library?” I asked. Her eyes lit up.

“Perfect. We need to get you a copy of Ethan Frome if you haven’t already read it.”

We could pretend I needed the copy of Ethan Frome. “Let’s go get that book,” I replied.

Pagan nodded and started to walk toward the library. I took her book bag. I hated seeing her carry it around. It looked so heavy on her shoulders. “I got this. Lead the way.” I told her when she looked back at me. She blushed and mumbled a thank you as she headed toward the large stone three-story building that I knew had a very quiet and secluded top floor. I’d checked it out already.

I opened one of the large double doors and let Pagan walk inside. “Go to the top floor,” I whispered to her and nodded toward the staircase to our left.

Pagan didn’t argue. She did as instructed and I followed behind her. The view of her cute little bottom in the shorts she had on today was making this idea an even better one. She reached the top floor and glanced back at me. “Where to?”

“There is a study area in the back that is usually empty so we can talk without disturbing anyone,” I explained.

No one was back here. If they were I’d been prepared to convince them to leave.

“Do you have another class today? This was it for me.” Pagan asked as she pulled out a chair and sat down.

“I’m done for the day too, so no need to hurry,” I replied. I wanted all the time I could get up here alone with her.

“Okay good,” she smiled and pulled out her literature book and a notebook. “My handwriting can be sloppy when I try to write fast. I’m supposed to be getting a laptop in the mail next week. Mom is sending it to me. Until then I have to scribble everything down.”

She had to go a week without a laptop. I knew it would be difficult for her. I wanted her to have something to type on. Pagan liked to take thorough notes. She wouldn’t be able to do that with a pen and paper. “I’ve got a lap top I’m not using. You’re welcome to borrow it until yours gets here.”

Her eyes lit up, “Really? You have an extra?”

I didn’t own a laptop but I’d go purchase one as soon as I left here. “It’s all yours.”

“Thank you. You’re a life-saver. That is such a sweet offer. I promise I’ll take care of it.”

The look on her face made me want to go buy her five lap tops and anything else she wanted.

“About the concert Friday night,” she began. Please don’t let her be backing out on me now. I wanted her there.

“What time do we need to be there? Do you go early and warm up?”

“Concert starts at eight but we’ll warm up around five. Then we relax and hang out backstage until show time.”

“Oh, wow. What time should we get there?”