gh something about the way she said it, slow and deliberate, like she was t

to say to someone you hav

ho had never once worried about arriving anywhere too late or too early. "You would be surprised

rst time since the courtyard, some of his

ened, cool and precise. "Room fourteen is just down the hall from min

l, and disappeared through the common room without another word. Layla watche

d quietly, though he did not sound e

ing you to explain it

greed. "Yo

climbing the stairs alone, aware of Scott watchi

e next morning, she had already decided that Dortmund Campus

moment she set her tray down at an empty tab

ned in the most coveted corner of the dining ha

She had not noticed the small brass plaque mounted discreetly at it

ence first. Then sh

ng entirely, watching her with the particular fascination peo

y, telling herself she had simply become

kfast when a voice cut across the

are sitting in

blazer standing over her table, flanked by two other

ement she had seen in Scott during their first conversati

rry?" La

she had missed entirely. "Founders' table. For legacy families

she realized every eye in the di

oice murmured something about scholarship students not know

keeping her voice level despite th

smiling now, clearly enjoying the audience he had gathered, "someone should explain

make, every sharp retort that might defend herself, but arguing would only extend

r tray instead, refusin

e a prob

ough the murmur of the dining hall with an authority th

mmediately from mockery to careful respect. "No problem.

erately across the small crowd that had gathered. "I do not recall table arrangements being

e of his confidence draining

which somehow made it more unsettling than if he had raised it. "And now I am saying tha

tudents. Layla stared at Scott, equally startled,

her," Prest

e you simply having trouble proc

, gathering his own tray and retreating with his two

e, conversations resuming, though Layla could feel

at down without asking, setting his own tray bes

" Layla said once the crowd's

m aw

why di

she expected, his usual easy charm briefly

barrass someone since the semester started, and I dec

not an

dmitted. "

den generosity, remembering the accusation he had leveled at her jus

d slowly. "Today you humiliate the son of, I assume, another important family, in front

quick and unguarded bef

ciding that my

she looked up to find Vanessa standing there, arms crossed, her earlie

voice tight with barely con

u have to say has to waitI I a

hall, less than one day after meeting her." Vanessa's eyes cut toward Layla, sharp enough to draw bloo