Chapter 84 Chapter Eighty-four

Chapter 84 Chapter Eighty-four
Bella

For two days, no one bothered me. It was strange and relieving at the same time. I mean, no more drama and chaos? That was exactly how things used to be before the Owens came into the picture.

“Hey, we’re supposed to be using this theatre for our next lecture too, but the History seniors are already taking all the good seats,” Nina grumbled beside me, taking a dramatic sip from her oversized water bottle. “Did our class rep not book it first or what?”

I shrugged, my mind completely elsewhere. I had this strange feeling that something was off, but I was too lazy to give it any serious thought.

Nina handed me her bottle absentmindedly. “Hold this. I’m going to ask someone what’s going on. We’re literally the only English and Literature students here.”

She disappeared into the growing crowd before I could respond. I stood there awkwardly, scanning the theatre as more History students poured in.

Okay. Something was really off. The usual chatter was muted, and every time a guy’s eyes landed on me, they widened slightly before he quickly looked away.

I squeezed past a group of them, trying to reach our classmates on the other side. As I moved, every male within touching distance either turned away or suddenly found something very interesting on their phones.

By the time I reached Devon, a coursemate of ours who only ever spoke to me when he wanted intel on Nina, I was already frowning.

I tapped his shoulder. He turned, and the moment he saw it was me, his eyes went wide with panic.

“No, no, no, I don’t want to be skewered, man,” he rambled, already backing away.

“What?” I choked out, completely confused.

He didn’t explain. He just grabbed his bag and practically fled, along with the rest of the guys in that row, even Flores, the broad-shouldered athletic quarterback who hardly ever looked my way in class.

Now I was really confused. I turned to the girls instead and finally got the information I needed.

When I went back to find Nina, she was chatting with a History senior. The second I approached, the guy’s face paled and he mumbled something before practically running away.

He ran like I was the grim reaper and I'd shown up with his name on my scythe.

“Richie, where are you going?” Nina called after him, bewildered. “He likes me but can’t even man up to ask me out? Look at how fast he disappeared!”

She grabbed her water bottle from my arms rather aggressively, clearly annoyed.

“I don’t think it has anything to do with manhood,” I said slowly, a sinking feeling settling in my stomach. “All the guys are running from me. At least… that’s what it feels like.”

Nina snorted. “Girl, that cannot be. Running from you? As the powerful, wicked witch you are?”

I frowned. “You know what? I’m going to test this theory. Watch that guy with the headset.” I subtly pointed to him so she could find him easily.

Nina’s eyes lit up with mischief. “Social experiment? I’m invested.”

I snatched her water bottle and took a long sip from it for courage and walked over to the guy.

The moment I touched his arm, he looked up and nearly dropped his phone.

“No, no, no—” He scrambled backward, his eyes wide with fear, then turned and practically sprinted out of the theatre.

I let out a tired sigh and turned to face Nina whose jaw was on the floor. I walked back to her slowly, my heart sinking deeper with every step.

“See? I wasn't spouting nonsense.” I sighed when I reached her.

She finally packed her jaw off the floor and closed her mouth. She rolled her eyes but still asked, “Have you tried to know why? You know for a fact all the boys are running away from you—”

I cut in quickly. “Not all the boys!”

“—but have you wondered why? They're running for a reason.”

I gave her my flattest grin. “No shit, Sherlock.”

“I’ll go check why,” Nina said, squeezing my arm lightly. “If they run from me too, then it could just mean we’re too hot for them to handle.” She winked, trying to lighten my mood, before walking over to four guys who had just entered the theatre.

I turned my face away, pretending to be interested in something on my phone so they wouldn’t suspect why Nina had approached them.

A minute later, she was back, grabbing my arm with surprising strength. “To the restroom. Now.”

“Okaaaay, but slow down,” I protested, nearly tripping over my own feet as she dragged me through the crowd.

She didn’t slow down. The moment we burst into the restroom, Nina checked every stall to make sure we were alone before locking the main door.

“Gray issued a campus-wide threat last night,” she said in a low whisper. “According to Pete, the guy who did most of the talking, whoever touches you or even looks at you the wrong way will be ‘skewered’ by him. Given his suspected involvement in Professor Kelvin's death… no one wants to test how serious he is.”

I saw red. Not the color of my hair, actual, burning red. Gray was behaving like a caveman. A madman. He couldn’t just put out a threat like that, claiming ownership over me like I was territory to be guarded.

As if I didn’t already have enough people trying to control my life.

“Thanks a lot,” I muttered, already turning toward the door. “I’m going to his faculty right now to find him.”

“And?” Nina asked, pulling me back.

Her eyebrows were nearly sitting on her hairline.

“Hear him deny it… or admit it.” I shrugged.

Nina looked like she wanted to argue, but she just sighed and nodded.

“I know I can't talk you out of it, but be careful.” She warned.

I didn’t respond. I was already walking out of the restroom.

I was going to find Gray and ask him to stop whatever the hell he was doing. The message I sent him days ago was meant to keep him away, but it seemed nothing ever really kept Gray away.