Page 26 of Saint Céline
“That would waste time for such a brilliant brain.”
Her face stayed composed, but colour touched the high line of her cheekbones. I turned back to the group. “Any questions?”
There were none. None of the students looked happy with their role after I offered Céline the highest one. They left slowly, gathering packets and bags, already beginning to understand that the lab was not going to be fair.
Céline remained seated. When the door closed behind the last student, she stood.
“You did that on purpose.”
“Yes.”
Her hand tightened around the strap of her bag. “They’re going to hate me.”
“Some of them.”
“That doesn’t bother you?”
“No, not at all.”
“Well, it bothers me.”
“No, it doesn’t,” I said. “Not as much as you want it to.”
Her eyes flashed. “Stop doing that.”
“What?”
“Acting like you know what I feel.”
I moved to the conference table and began collecting the extra packets. “I don’t know what you feel, but I know what you show. I can usually infer based on that.”
She watched me for a moment, breathing carefully through her nose. “You are making this harder for me.”
“I know.”
“Why?”
I looked at her then. “Because easy things have made you lazy.”
The words struck. I saw it immediately. She wasn’t offended, but some part of her believed me.
“Get out of my life,” she said softly. Almost calmly.
A lesser man would have heard hatred. I heard her fear.
“No.”
Her lips parted. “No?”
“No.”
“You really are insane.”
“You said that already.”
“And you’re still proving me right.”
I smiled. “Then perhaps you should be more careful around me.”
