Free Letters of Love (Lessons in Love) by Clarissa Carlyle Page B

can’t be the only one getting in trouble around here.” Ashley laughed.
    “Okay, okay, I’ll go.”
    “So how much trouble did you get into last night?”
    “Stop it.” Alex raised a warning finger, citing that she wouldn’t disclose any details of the previous night.
    “Just give me ballpark. Was it mild misdemeanor or a felony?”
    Alex was silent.
    “A felony, then. That good?” Ashley giggled.
    “I didn’t say anything!”
    “You didn’t have to!”
    “Is that the time?” Alex glanced at the pink neon clock on the bedroom wall.
    “Nice try changing the subject.” Ashley pursed her lips in mocking disapproval.
    “No, seriously , Ash, I’m late for class again. Dammit!” Alex began racing around her room, shoving items she’d need into her backpack.
    A few minutes later she bustled out the door, her hair still wet from her shower, and almost knocked over Cindy Mayhew, a fellow sorority sister.
    “Sorry, Cindy!” Alex called back to her, already running down the central staircase of the house.
    “What’s her hurry?” Cindy directed her question to Alex’s roommate , who was back on her own bed, picking up a magazine to browse through.
    “Late for class.”
    “Again? Isn’t she already on probation?” Cindy enquired, leaning against the door frame, her eyes regarding Ashley with interest.
    “She’ll be fine .” Ashley waved a dismissive hand at the nosey sister. “Alex is a smart girl. She’ll sort it out.”
    “She’d better,” Cindy chirped.
     
    ****
     
    Alex ran across the main courtyard, desperately trying to make up lost time. She was already half an hour late for her morning class. She’d overslept following her rooftop encounter with Oscar, coming in late and forgetting to set her alarm.
    Shaking her head as she ran, Alex berated herself for the hundredth time for not being organized. Since she’d met him, it was like her head was up with the stars she’d been gazing at, no longer present in the moment. She struggled to think straight, to focus. Though she doubted the academic board would appreciate her explanation.
    “Sorry I’ve been late so much, I fell in love.”
    She resented herself for letting her feelings get in the way of her studies. Determined to turn a corner, she finally arrived at her classroom and let herself in as stealthily as possible. Miss Dunne was in full flow at the front of the room, and thankfully there was a desk near the door that Alex could ease herself in to.
    A few heads turned to look her way , but most people were disinterested in her late arrival. It had become a regular occurrence and lost the element of spectacle. Laying out her textbooks, Alex suddenly felt self-conscious about her disheveled appearance. Her hair was still wet and sat flatly on her head, her clothes thrown on in a state of panic. Looking down, Alex groaned inwardly when she spotted her sweater label sticking out at the front. In her haste she’d put it on back to front and inside out. Lowering herself into her chair, Alex wanted the ground to just swallow her up.
     
    ****
     
    The class concluded, and Alex thought she had safely redeemed her tardiness, so she collected her things together and prepared to leave, but Miss Dunne made her way over to her desk and stood before it forebodingly.
    “You were late again.” Her voice was cold.
    “I’m so, so sorry,” Alex groveled. “My alarm didn’t go off, and I was running late.”
    “You’re a mess.”
    “Yeah, I didn’t get a chance to get myself together,” Alex explained her shabby attire and ran a regretful hand through her still-damp hair.
    “Well , I suggest you get yourself together and quickly,” Miss Dunne warned. “You’re better than this, Alex.”
    “Yeah, yes , I know.”
    “Start being the woman you want to become.”
    Miss Dunne’s instructions resonated in Alex, and she found herself thinking of Mark. Remembering how much he’d believed in her, how he’d risked everything to get her to