Free Indelible by Lani Woodland Page B

look. “But that’s one of the most sought-after assignments. You’re lucky to have it. You’ll be able to rub elbows with our most successful and powerful alumni. A recommendation letter from them will be a huge boost to any college application. Only two students were lucky enough to get that internship.”
    “Right. Of course.” I knew it was true, but I didn’t like it.
    “I’m sure it’ll be fine,” Cherie whispered with forced cheer. “Thomas is trapped in the vial.”
    “I know.”
    “The curse is over.”
    “I know.” When I thought about it logically, I knew it wasn’t a big deal, but it felt like my vital organs were shutting down. I leaned heavily against the wall.
    Brent finally broke away from his conversation with Steve long enough to see my distress. He took the letter from my hand.
    “It can’t be that bad.” He read it and grinned. “That’s where I’m assigned too. Don’t worry. I’ll protect you from Sophia.”
    His words were like a burst of sun on a cloudy day and hope squished the sense of doom that had been building inside me. “You’ll be working there too? That’s the best news I’ve had all day.”
    “Brent, did you hear the receptionist explain where the new Alumni House is?” Cherie asked pointedly.
    “No, where?” Brent took my hand and guided me to a bench further down the marbled hall.
    “The old pool house.”
    Brent sucked in a breath of air and then slid onto the bench next to me. “Oh.”
    “Some luck, huh?” I sighed as a seedling of an idea pushed through my mind. “What are the odds that both of us were picked at random?”
    Brent closed his eyes. “Not very high.”
    “Do… do you think the alumni might know what happened last year?”
    Cherie slid down on my other side while Steve crouched down to our eye level.
    “How could they?” Cherie asked.
    Brent didn’t answer but loosened his tie.
    “Still . . .” I licked my lips. “Isn’t it odd that the summer after we get rid of Thomas, they somehow know to restore that particular building. Do you think this is what that DJ guy was trying to say?”
    Brent took my hand in his. “It could be a coincidence. Even if the alumni knew, why would they care? If anything, they’d be grateful.”
    My leg started to shake but I forced myself to at least feign optimism. “Okay, you’re probably right. I’m just a little paranoid these days.”
    “Yeah, well, dying will do that to you.” Brent snaked his arm around my waist and I leaned my head on his shoulder. “I hate that place as much as you do, but at least we’ll be together. Right?” He pressed a kiss to my temple.
    “Right.” Knowing Brent would be there really did help. But even then there was a feeling in my stomach that nothing was going to make the situation all right.
    v
    For the rest of the day, I kept thinking about Thomas and everything that had happened last year. I ached to drop into my bed and doze off into blissful unconsciousness, but that night, even sleep eluded me. I tossed and turned for an hour before I finally gave up.
    I snuck out of my dorm window and down the fire escape, then made my way to Brent and Steve’s dorm. I counted the windows on the fourth floor. The lights were still on so I climbed up the fire escape to their window. Before I knocked, I hazarded a peek through the window, hoping that no one was lying around in their underwear.
    Their room was pretty much like ours. They had posters of action movies, rock bands, and sports teams adorning their walls. A picture of Brent and me at prom stood framed on his dresser. Their beds weren’t made and their desks were pure chaos, of course: papers, schoolbooks, and empty soda cans. A large pile of dirty clothes sat in one corner. Brent was sprawled on his back, propping a textbook on his chest. Steve sat at his desk playing a game on his laptop. He grinned as he noticed me and shoved the window open. A classic rock song played on their sound system and it smelled