Page 8 of Havenfall Harbor
“It was worth it to see you shoot cream puff out your nose,” I retort. Alice dabs a napkin under her nose, her eyes dancing with mirth.
After the table settles, I gaze around the room. “Thanks for the dinner invite, guys. I appreciate it, but I’m going to head up to my room, unpack, and hose myself off.” I tug at my shirt a few times.
“You’re welcome to sit with us anytime,” Rob replies kindly.
“Are you sure? I’ll probably take you up on that,” I warn.
“Anytime,” Alice reiterates. “Do you need me to take you back up?”
“No, I have a pretty good sense of direction, I think I’ll be okay. Thank you though. See you guys tomorrow.” I rise, taking my tray with me. “Where do I put this?” I mutter absently. As I look around, I spy the trash bin and a slot for the tray. “Got it,” I state, before anyone can respond. I wave over my shoulder again once my hands are empty and head out of the cafeteria to the hallway.
Chapter 3
Quinn
My shoulders slumpa little when I step out into the empty hallway. At twenty-four, it’s hard to be the new kid. Even with Alice and her friends inviting me to sit with them, I still felt like there were lots of eyes on me.
I make my way back toward where I think the front lobby is, passing a few rooms that Alice pointed out to me on the way to the dining room, so I know I’m somewhat on the right path. When I reach the door labeledSecurity, I know I’ve almost made it.
Taking a chance, I knock on the door. It makes a hollow pang sound in answer, telling me that while all of the other doors I’ve encountered are wood, this one is metal.
Within seconds, the door is ripped open and a sour-faced man is looming over me. I take a step back. “Sorry to disturb you, but I was hoping I might get my badge. I’m Quinn Shaw.”
“I know who you are, everyone knows who you are,” the man grumbles at me.
“Okay then, do you have a badge for me, or should I go back to the front desk?” I give him my most polite expression, the one I reserve for my mother and her friends. What I really want to do is ask this guy who pissed in his Wheaties, but I don’t.
“Well, I don’t have it.” The man opens his arms and spreads them in a display.
I tighten my smile even more. “Is Wes—never mind.” I lift my hands in surrender. This guy obviously doesn’t want to deal with me.
I turn to walk away, intending to head back to the lobby where I should have just gone in the first place, but it’s been a little while since I came in, so I’m not sure Wes will still be at the front desk.
I hear the heavy door slam, and I can’t help the little startle I get from the sound. “Scared?” is sneered near my shoulder. My back goes rigid. I’d assumed he went back into the security office, but I was wrong.
I stop in my tracks and turn around to face the man. “Startled, yes,” I admit without any shame. The man crosses his arms over his chest. It makes his biceps flare out larger. He’s not huge, not in the same way Mr. Winters is, but he’s a very fit man, and he’s looking at me as if I’m scum on the bottom of his shoe. So I’m a little intimidated, but I’m fighting really hard not to show it.
“Why did you ask about Westly?” He tilts his head to the side, studying me.
“Why do you want to know?” I cross my arms over my own chest, and stare right back at him.
“Because it’s my job to know,” he counters.
I drop my arms and take a deep breath. I have no idea if this guy is a jerk to everyone, or if I’m just special, but I don’t need to let his asshole-ish-ness rub off on me. “I’m just looking for my badge and schedule. Maybe even some info on the Wi-Fi so I can check my emails. Wes was working the front security desk when I came in. I thought he might be able to help me, that’s all.”
The man’s light eyes narrow a bit as he watches me like he’s waiting for me to add more. I lift my arm and wave it behind me. “Do you mind if I go see if he’s still there?” I ask him slowly.
“He is, but he doesn’t have your badge.”
I roll my lips in and bite the inside of my cheek. “All right, I think I’ll just head up to my room. I appreciate your time.” I start to walk back in the direction I came from, which means I’ll have to pass him, but he doesn’t move an inch out of my way, so I have to go completely around him. His head follows me until he has to turn his body to keep his eyes on me.
“Stay away from Westly,” he breathes after I pass him. I almost think I didn’t hear what I thought I did until I turn around and see he’s still standing there watching me, his arms crossed over his chest, feet spread wide, even his chin is tipped up as if he’s challenging me.
I don’t respond to him. I don’t even know how I would reply, so I just resume walking to the elevator. I knew being the only human in a school full of supernaturals would be a challenge, but I might not have prepared myself for just how hard it’s going to be. Before the self-pitying thoughts can go any further, I remind myself that this is what supernaturals have to deal with every day, and worse. The world is full of people like my parents, rampant with mistrust from both sides.
I round the alcove where the elevator is, moving on autopilot. My mind is occupied, but there’s some part of me that knew right where to go. I tap the up arrow and the doors retract almost immediately to allow me entrance. As I lean back against the polished metal wall, I see a hand with a few thick rings on a couple of fingers snap forward and grab the door to keep it from closing. Pushing off the wall, I reach for the button to stop the doors, but the pressure on the doors is enough to have them retreating back into the slots.
A man comes into view, his head is lowered, and a few longer pieces of pitch-black hair tease his cheek. With a well-practiced move, as if he does it all the time, he reaches up and pushes his hair back, tangling his fingers into the thick, dark mop. I notice the short, dark scruff on his jaw as he brings his arm back down, and then I catch a glimpse of his full lips.
