6. Quinn

6

QUINN

" I have an exciting proposition." Professor Fitzgerald paced up and down at the front of the classroom. "I know several of you are planning to incorporate history into your degrees and even your future careers." He beamed at us. "I have an unprecedented opportunity for you. One that no other Hatherley Hall history student has had before. How would you like a chance to write an extra-credit paper?" Pausing dramatically, he hit a button on his laptop, and the screen at the front of the classroom lit up. I sucked in a breath as I took in the words in front of me. This really was unprecedented.

Our history teacher went through the details. We could choose to write a paper on a history subject of our choice, and after he'd looked through all the entries, our best efforts would be judged by a panel of academics. If we managed to impress them, our paper would have a chance of being published in The Historical Review , a prestigious academic journal. If that wasn't incentive enough, the winner would be in the running for a summer internship at the National Archives. It was an incredible opportunity.

All I wanted for a career was to do something with history. Nothing else had ever caught my interest in that way. There was no other subject I was so passionate about. This opportunity…it was everything.

Glancing to my left, I saw Tristan narrowing his gaze at me. I shot him a glare. Yes, Roman's best friend happened to be in my A-level history class, but there was no reason why I should interact with him. In fact, once Professor Fitzgerald had given us the details of the paper, I had a feeling that only a few of us would actually be interested in completing it, considering all the extra work it would entail.

I was right. The class drew to a close, and those of us who were interested in the extra-credit assignment were asked to stay behind. Tristan sailed out of the door with a salute to our history professor, and the room gradually emptied.

When there were only a few of us left, Professor Fitzgerald strode to the projector screen, tapping it with the tip of his pen.

"I'm assuming you're here because you want to complete the extra-credit paper. Once you've chosen your subject, you need to research, research, research. The academics viewing your work will be looking for you to cite your sources. If you have a strong subject and the sources to back it up, then you will have done your best. No matter what happens, you can hold your head high. Remember, you've done all you can."

I exchanged glances with Penelope. It was clear she was feeling just as excited as I was at our history teacher's words. While his back was turned, I scooted across the rows between us until I was next to her.

"Hi."

She gave me a bright smile. "Hi."

"This is an amazing opportunity. Do you…do you want to study together? We can do this. We're good at research, Pen." It didn't matter that we hadn't studied together for a while—thanks to me being away—it was still the truth.

"You're right, and I'd love to study together." Straightening up in her seat, she tapped her notebook. "What are you planning to focus on for your paper?"

I smiled, happy that she'd accepted me straightaway. "I was thinking…"

The sun peeked out from behind the clouds, soft rays making the normally murky river shimmer in different shades of blues, greens, and greys. I couldn't help smiling because I'd missed this. The benefit of attending an insanely expensive school meant that we got to do a whole range of extracurricular activities, and kayaking down the river was my favourite of those activities.

My shoes sank into the mix of mud and pebbles as my group headed down to the point on the river shore where we were launching the kayaks. Up ahead of me, Harriet nudged her friend and subtly indicated to our left. I followed the line of her gaze to see Roman and a group of guys—mostly his former teammates from the swimming and diving clubs—heading in the direction of the lake where the windsurfing activities were taking place. They were wearing wetsuits, but the top part hung from their waists so that their torsos were displayed, and they were clearly loving the attention they were getting, based on the expressions on their faces.

When they drew level with our group of kayakers, Roman's disinterested gaze passed over us, then stopped and homed in on me. His eyes darkened, his brows lowering as he studied me. Just as I managed to tear my gaze away from his, his lips kicked up at the corners in what I could only describe as a malicious smile.

My stomach flipped, and not in a good way. Moving to the other side of the group, I picked up my pace. As I reached the area where the kayaks were stored, I couldn't help glancing back. A guy from my group was handing Roman a life jacket…then he picked up Roman's windsurfing board and crossed over to Roman's group. Penelope and Freya were part of the other group, watching as Roman switched to my group, and although the sun was in my eyes, making me squint, I caught the savage glare Freya directed my way. As if this had anything to do with me.

I dived for my kayak, pulling it into the water. Gripping the paddle, I straddled the kayak and then lowered myself carefully. The need to get away from Roman was strong, but I'd learnt the hard way that rushing only ended up with the kayak tipping me out. Once I was seated, I used my paddle to propel the kayak out of the shallows towards our guide, who was waiting farther out in the wider part of the river.

Getting away from Roman was wishful thinking. I'd barely even made it to the guide before he drew alongside me, his paddle cutting through the water with smooth, powerful strokes.

"You didn't think you could escape from me that easily, did you?"

"Leave me alone, Roman." Shooting him a glare, I paddled around to the other side of the guide, and we were soon surrounded by the rest of our group. Roman kept his gaze on me as the guide reminded us of where we could and couldn't paddle and the fact that we would stop for lunch in a small inlet farther down the river.

This is so hard . His presence was so magnetic, and it hurt to be so close to him and have to act like I was unaffected, like he meant nothing to me. At the same time, I was so angry with him that I couldn't even breathe every time I remembered the way he'd thrown me in the lake and left me, stealing my hoodie, phone, and headphones.

Bastard . Of course, he'd roped someone innocent into his twisted scheme—Aria had given me my phone back, saying Blaine had given it to her. The way she'd described it, he was almost panicked. It was clear who was behind it all, especially because it had gone missing at the same time as my other items.

Thankfully, because we were kayaking and the guide was there making sure we kept enough space between the boats, Roman didn't bother me again, and I almost managed to relax, enjoying the gentle swell of the water and the sun sparkling on the surface.

Everything changed when we stopped in the inlet.

We'd just finished pulling our kayaks up the muddy beach when the clouds rolled in, all deep, heavy greys, and then the first drops of rain began to fall. Everyone scrambled to shelter under the huge overhanging rocks at the back of the inlet, waiting for the rain clouds to pass.

"Scared of a bit of rain?"

The low voice in my ear made me shiver.

"Leave me alone, Roman," I hissed.

"Hmm. I don't think I can." His body was hot next to mine, a contrast against the chill of the rain.

Spinning to face him, I let my annoyance come to the surface. It didn't matter that we'd meant something to each other once. The fact was, he was an asshole now.

"Leave me alone," I said again, pushing at his chest. "I mean it."

Caught off guard, he staggered backwards across the muddy shoreline, his lips curving into a snarl. "Fuck you."

I straightened my shoulders, determined to remain composed in front of him. "I want you to stay away from me."

Glancing between me and the river, he seemed to come to a decision. His lips flattened, his jaw clenching, and then he deliberately turned his back to me.

"You got your wish," he ground out, and then he was gone.