Chapter Eight

I wanted to see it all, but I was also tired, so we confined our exploration to the library on the second floor and gym on the fifth. My parents were filled with energy all the time, and I'd always assumed it was because they were shifters, and I was not. My new roommate excused herself to study, but maybe also tired? She was only half shifter, after all, and did not have the ability to bring out her wolf, if she had one. At least not yet. She could also have been a latent, I supposed, but she seemed so sure she'd never shift.

Not that I didn't feel the same.

The gym was pretty awesome, huge and high ceilinged with one of those ultra-gloss floors that nobody was allowed to set foot on without the proper footwear. So…typical of every school gym in that way, even if it was much better. The seating was also wood, and nice! "I have ‘training' tomorrow. Will it be in here?"

The guys snickered. "No, not unless it's storming or something. Want to go to the library?"

I shrugged and tried not to look as excited as I truly was. If anyone learned what a true book-loving nerd I was, none of them would want any part of me. "Sure, if you feel like showing it to me. I suppose I'll need it for studying."

I got three doubtful looks and remembered I'd already told them I was a reader…and Grim had said, All of us love to read. I'm a mystery guy, Bodhi reads science fiction, and Theron likes romantasy.

"Or for fun," I admitted. "Is there a big selection?"

"Come on and find out." Bodhi took my arm and led me out of the gym and off to the elevator again.

"Aren't there any stairs around here?" Everyone was always saying take a flight or two to stay in shape. "I'm going to end up feeling lazy."

All three burst into laughter. "Tell me you're lazy after training in the morning."

We rode down to the second floor and emerged into a hallway, but Bodhi stepped out and headed directly across to a set of double doors. I might have let them know I loved reading, but if they found out how my heart pounded in anticipation of seeing what was on offer behind those doors, I'd graduate to super nerd. I'd been a library lover since my dad started taking me to story time at our local branch at about age two. Settling on that cabbage-rose patterned rug, criss-cross applesauce, waiting for Miss Terley to sit on her fuzzy pink easy chair and open one of those oversized books with bright, colorful illustrations and take us on a magical journey.

"Minx?" Bodhi tugged me toward the doors the other two held open. "You okay?"

I shrugged. "Just remembering other libraries I have known. Would you judge me if I said I am an afficionado?"

"Not in a bad way," Theron said. "It's easy to get lost in here. You'll see."

If the gym was nice, in a sporty way, the library was its classy cousin. Also high-ceilinged, but the wood was darker, and shelves filled with volumes of all kinds soared above my head. "It has those cool ladders like in the movies," I crooned. "And an upper gallery. I don't think I need a dorm room because I live here now."

Slipping free of Bodhi's light hold, I drifted forward and lost myself in the beauty of the world of books.

In the morning, I woke from a restful sleep to find Stevie staring down at me. "W-what?"

"We are so late!" She grabbed my hand and dragged me toward the side of the bed. "My alarm didn't go off."

"I didn't even set one," I breathed. "Usually I wake up early."

"You had a busy day yesterday, and I take the blame for not making sure we were both on time, but if you aren't on that roof in about five minutes, you'll be marked absent." She was struggling into shorts and a T-shirt, shoving her feet into sneakers.

"Not on the first day!" I was on my feet and digging out clothes to wear as well. No time for a shower. "Is there coffee on the way?"

"Even if there was, we wouldn't have time to stop. Hurry!"

Her frantic tones told me I'd better get my butt in gear. After the shortest toothbrushing in history, we raced out the door and to the elevators. "Are we going to be able to get one? Aren't they busy at this time of day?"

"No…they were a little bit ago, but pretty much everyone is where they need to be by now. Hopping from one foot to the other, Stevie watched the numbers of the floors light up above the doors. "Argh!"

"Stairs?"

"No, it's on the roof."

Oh hell, she'd said that, hadn't she? And I let it get right past me. "Really the roof?"

"Even if we did try the stairs, we'd be too tired for training when we got there." Fortunately, the doors slid open just then and we piled on. I couldn't believe I was getting in trouble on the very first day.