Midnight Muse

“I really liked your project, Quinn,” Reid says when I stand from the water fountain, wiping the droplets from my chin with the back of my hand. Classy, I know, but a girls gotta hydrate. “That pose was impressive.”

I shrug, trailing slowly back to class. We still have a few minutes before we’re due back. “Eh, it’s nothing special.” It’s really not. Rory’s male form on his knees is better than the simple yoga pose I put mine in. I refrained from wondering if her form was based off of a similar pose she put Ace in. If so, she’s a lucky lady.

I should’ve recruited Slate to help me with mine. He has experience holding a pose for an extended amount of time and he would’ve happily done it if I offered him a few beers until I was done. My mind wanders to Knox, if he would’ve helped me if I asked. There are a thousand positions I’d love to see him in, namely, one with him?—

“Just take the compliment, Conroy,” Reid argues, slinging an arm over my shoulder and bumping my hip with his. I stumble, unprepared for the move but Rory’s flanking my other side and wrapping her arm around my waist. It’s more than a little comforting, like my friends know that I’m not feeling very cheery today.

I don’t deserve them.

I duck my head as we stalk back through the classroom doors.

“Thanks, Arlet.”

“I’ll be back late tonight,” I grouse with a hefty sigh. I’d actually love nothing more than to lie my ass in bed right now and bury myself in my phone on social media to avoid my own life for a bit, but, as a less than exemplary college student, I have things to do, classes to study for, et cetera, et cetera.

Except, the internet is fake anyway, and I’ll likely spend the time comparing myself to every photoshopped, filtered picture and video out there. Maybe I should take up reading instead. “I have study group for Art History tonight.”

“Bummer,” Rory wrinkles her nose. She knows exactly what I’m going through right now, having taken the class last year. Professor Doff, the literal bane of my fucking existence. He’s an ancient man with what I swear is the goal to fail the most students Vulcan University—or any university—has ever seen.

He’s winning by a fucking landslide. I know this, of course, because compared to two months ago when the class began, almost half of the hundred students have already dropped.

“I know,” I sigh, rubbing my tired eyes. It’s going to be a long fucking night.

Rory offered to help me study, but I want to do this on my own. And by on my own, I mean complaining with whatever students come to the study session tonight. Hopefully, one of them knows their shit. Otherwise, I might have to schedule a meeting with the TA or Doff himself, and I would rather one of those ancient buildings crumple on top of me than do that.

If none of that works, then I’ll ask Rory to help me.

“Ace and I are going to order in,” she says, and it’s adorable how she blushes when she says his name. They’re not officially dating yet, but they’ve been hanging out a lot more recently. I bet he’s going to ask her to be his girlfriend soon. “I’ll get you something.”

“You’re a real-life angel, Rory Wilson,” I grin, splitting off from her as I head towards the library. “Don’t forget to lock the door or Slate will sniff you down like a bloodhound.”

Rory’s laughter follows me for a few steps and my mood feels a little lighter because of my best friend. I’m happy for her; she seems smitten with Ace, and she deserves it after that asshole Max treated her like trash right before summer started. She’d been miserable and it hadn’t been a good start to break. She seemed down even when she left for the famous Wilson Family Vacation, but was in better spirits when she arrived home, more than ready to finish our summer with a bang.

A little TLC always helps, and I sure could use some of my own right now instead of lugging open the library doors and searching for the reserved study room.

When I arrive, there’s only one other student there. I can’t blame anyone, because who the hell wants to go to a study group on Monday nights of all nights? The weekend just ended and people are still getting over their Sunday Scaries.

The blond head looks up from his book and when he recognizes me, his grin grows wide.

“Quinn.”

“Odie,” I match his blank tone, and when he pulls out the chair next to him, I plop down into it with a defeated sigh. “Fancy seeing you here.”

He’s wearing a Vulcan University sports jacket and there’s a patch with two hockey sticks crossing over each other. I figured he was a jock by the way I have to hunch in my chair when I sit next to him in class. His shoulders take up two seats alone, but now that I know he plays hockey, the weary part of my can finally relax. Thank fuck he’s not on the football team. Rory would never forgive me for fraternizing with the enemy, even if all we’re doing is studying.

“Fancy? Me?” He teases, leaning back in his seat. “Not like those coffees you like, Quinn. Now those are fancy.”

I laugh, digging around in my bag for my book, but come up empty.

Fuck. Me.

“It seems like I’ve forgotten my textbook at my apartment,” I say bashfully, nervously glancing at my classmate. “Do you mind if we share?”

Odie shakes his head, chuckling. “First, you’re late to class, and now you forget your textbook? No wonder you’re coming to this study group, Quinn.” He slides the book between us and I stare down at it. The page is open to something that I can’t say I recall seeing before in class.

Oh, I’m so screwed.

“Hey,” I exclaim, like he’s not completely hit the nail on the head. “You’re here too.”