Fallen Crest University (Fallen Crest High #5)(59)

A guy muttered under his breath behind me, “Damn.”

With that one request, the professor tainted me. Whatever her issue with Logan, it extended to me.

I’d done nothing wrong. Fuck that. I asked, “Why?”

She had forgotten me, gathering her papers, as everyone started to leave. At my question, they sat back down.

She looked around the room. “You can all go.”

They ignored her.

She pressed her lips together and pinned me down with a stare. “I can explain in private, Miss Strattan.”

Fine. My jaw was clenched shut, and I gritted my teeth, shoving up from my seat. I clutched my book, notebook, and bag in my hands. “I’ve not done a thing wrong. I want to make that clear for the rest of the students. I’ve not missed a day. I’ve never been late. All my assignments have been handed in and done well, if I might add, from the exemplary scores you’ve given me up until this point.”

Her head cocked to the side, and she came around, standing beside her podium with an arm resting on the side. “Are you challenging my request to meet with you in private?”

“I’m making my record known to the rest of the class.”

“Why?”

“Because, at the beginning of the hour, I was just another student. Logan came in, and he challenged you. He did that. Not me. Now, you’re requesting to see me after class. I don’t know why, but if you start downgrading my assignments, I want to make my history known to everyone else in case I might have to challenge you in the future.”

Her nostrils flared. “Based on what?”

“Based on discrimination.”

Her chest jerked up and held. Her fingers wrapped tighter on the podium, and her free hand pressed into her hip. “Discrimination of what?”

“Whatever feelings you have toward Logan. I don’t want them projected to me as well, not unless I’ve earned them.”

“I think you’re earning them right now.” Her lips were pressed tightly.

I had nothing more to say. I stated my case. I’d stood up for what I felt was coming my way, and I’d made it known. If she were going to paint me with the same disdain that she had for Logan, it wouldn’t be fair treatment. I’d been treated unfairly by classmates but never teachers, so I wasn’t going to let it start in college.

“Class dismissed.” She swung her head around, giving the entire group a pointed look.

They’d all remained, waiting for the end of our exchange, and when I didn’t say anything more, they began collecting their things and leaving the room.

A couple of girls walked by me, grinning at me over their shoulders. The professor noticed but didn’t move. She didn’t say a word. She stood in silence, just like me. A couple of guys walked by as well and nodded at me before slipping from the room.

Respect.

I earned theirs, and though it hadn’t been my intention, it felt good. It felt liberating.

Once the last student was about to leave the room, she said to him, “Close the door, Frederick.”

He paused and shot me a look, but he did as she’d said.

From the other side, he mouthed the words to me, Good luck, and he gave me his own thumbs-up sign before leaving.

I held my breath. I had a feeling I would need it.

“You think I’m going to treat you unfairly?” she clipped out.

“Yes.”

“Because of one person?”

“Because of Logan, yes.”

She paused, studying me. The disappointment and derision that I’d felt earlier seemed to fade. Her eyes swept me up and down. I raised my chin higher and felt like I was a chicken offering its neck for the slaughter. I lowered my chin but steadily gazed right back.

“Has that happened before?”

“Yes, but not by a teacher.”

Her eyes narrowed. She grew thoughtful. “You’ve had other students treat you unfairly?”

“Because of Logan and because of Mason, yes.”

The tension was gone. She dropped her attitude, and her tone softened as she said, “Well, I’m sorry to hear that.”

I—

Wait…

I frowned. “What?”

“The reason I asked to speak to you in private was because I’d finally put two and two together. You’re Garrett’s daughter, aren’t you?”

My head was swimming. “What?”

A low chuckle escaped her, and she grabbed the pile of books and papers from her podium. Gesturing to the door, she said, “Walk with me. And, no, Samantha, I’m not going to treat you unjustly because of your connection to Logan Kade or his brother.”

She reached for the door and held it open for me. I went past.

She said, falling in line beside me, “I know your biological father. I went to school with him. Garrett Brickshire, right? You were raised by David Strattan. Analise is your mother? Garrett told me last year Mason Kade was dating his biological daughter.”

I winced. I hadn’t talked about my mother in so long, but she’d been mentioned twice in the last three days. “Yeah. You know my dad?”

“I do.” She pointed down a hallway, and we turned.

Logan was waiting outside a room, sitting on the floor. He stood to his feet as he saw our approach. His eyes narrowed, taking in my face.