Spotlight

Chapter 26

News of Tristan and I's breakup has reached the whole school.

Everywhere I go, people are giving me looks ranging from pity to triumph. A disturbing number of people are happy to see me depressed.

A few days into the term, Arin walks up to me.

"Hey, princess," he greets softly.

"Hey." I don't stop walking to my next class.

"I heard. About you and Tristan. It's all over the school blog."

"That's great."

"I just wanted to ask if it was because of me."

I stop walking and face him. "What?"

He looks everywhere but at my face. "I feel like my presence affected you guys. That's what some people are saying."

I look around the hall. Some students are giving us suspicious glances. "I actually hate this fucking place."

He frowns. "This hallway or the whole school?"

"Everywhere in my shitty life."

His eyes widen. "You're cursing a lot more than I remember."

"Who honestly cares?"

He gives me a worried look. "Yeah. So um, if you need a friend. You can come to me."

My chest feels tight again.

"Thanks, Arin. That really means a lot to me. I don't have a lot of friends right now."

He looks the most sympathetic I've ever seen him. "Promise me you'll stop ignoring me?"

I fold my arms across my chest. "Do you?"

He nods. "Yes."

I can breathe freely again.

I glance at my phone. If I don't leave now, I'll be late for class. "I should leave."

He nods. "Call me. If you want to talk, or scream in the forest, or something."

A burst of white flames flashes through my eyes. "Yeah."

He smiles at me then walks away.

***

"Okay class. This weekend's assignment is to practice your breathing and do things that give you joy," Professor Cara says.

Derek rolls his eyes. "End me now."

My teacher beams. "Miss Harrington, a word?"

I walk up to her desk.

"How was your break?" She seems interested in the answer.

"It was...something."

She frowns. "I'm not one for gossip, but I heard about you and Mr. Oisin."

"Great. Now even the teachers know how pathetic I am."

"I don't think you're pathetic. I think you're very strong." I say nothing. "And I wanted to ask if you were still interested in helping me with my work."

"Sure." I exhale.

She claps her hands excitedly. "Perfect. What I need help with is actually for a personal research. It's why I took this job in the first place. And, I need your help to do it."

"That's fine."

She hisses. "Yes, but yours specifically. As a professor at Brimstone, I get certain privileges. Access to the Royal Archives for example."

I frown. "Okay."

"I'm researching an ancestor of yours. Delia Beltane."

My brains scramble for information on that name. "I think her brother was the last ruler of the House of Beltane. After them was the Griffords, then the Harringtons, I think."