Page 61 of Lessons in Touch

"What do you want, Cassandra?"

"I think you know exactly what I want, Gabriel."

The way she says my name makes my skin crawl. "If this is about grades or recommendations for your future…"

"You, Gabriel. I've always wanted you."

I've suspected as much. The way she manages to appear wherever I am on campus, and the fact that she tried to hit on me several times, but I said “no.” But hearing her say it so plainly is somehow worse than the video itself.

"That will never happen, Cassandra."

"You really don't have a choice. All I have to do is send one message to the headmistress. Then another one to the school board. And perhaps a third one to that political reporter who's been covering your Senate campaign so favorably. How long do you think it would take for this to destroy everything you've worked for?"

I feel the blood drain from my face as I look at her, speechless.

"And Rose,” she continues, “Would be expelled immediately. Lose her place here, her access to the Devereaux fortune. Honestly, it’s what she deserves. I always said she didn’t belong here, with us.”

The implications crash over me like a wave. My career, my political future, Rose's entire life, all depend on the whims of this vindictive girl.

“Cassandra, you do realize how insane this is, right? What exactly is the plan here? You want me to break up with Rose and what… be with you instead? But you know perfectly well I don’t want you.”

“You will. Men always fall in love with me sooner or later. And yes, I want you. In fact, my family wants you. I told you before, Gabriel, we would be the perfect match. We come from old, rich families. And we should be together.”

“Cassandra, you know I will say ‘no.’ How can you be so naive?”

“Think about it this way… Professor. If you do it, you save Rose. Not just yourself. So, if you’re not willing to do it for anything else, then do it for Rose.”

"I need time to think."

"Of course you do." She slips the phone back into her purse. "But don't take too long. I'm not known for my patience."

***

Hours later, I'm still shaking as I type a message to Rose.

Something's come up, Rose. I apologize, but I need to cancel dinner tonight. I feel like we might have taken this too far. I need to reconsider our entire relationship. I’m so sorry. I don’t mean to hurt you.

I stare at the words on my screen, and I know how much they will hurt her. I know she will read between the lines and assume the worst. But I can't tell her about the video. Not yet.

I don’t want her to panic and do something stupid, like leave Wolfswood.

I send her the message and immediately turn off my phone.

But what do I do now? How do I get out of this? Should I really leave Rose? I can’t do that… It would break both of us.

Upset and dejected, I head toward the old chapel. It’s the only place on campus that feels separate from everything else. I need some time on my own to process all this. Inside, someone has decorated it with simple white flowers and candles. Unknowingly, they've created an atmosphere of peace I desperately need.

I slide into a pew near the back. The wood is cold beneath me, and the silence is profound. It's broken only by the occasional settling of old stones. I try to process it all, but I can’t yet. Instead, I'm left with questions that have no good answers.

How do I protect Rose without losing her? How do I salvage my career without sacrificing her future? How do I live with myself if I give in to Cassandra's demands?

The chapel door opens with a soft creak. I turn, and I expect to see a maintenance worker or perhaps another faculty member. Instead, Rose appears in the doorway.

"The doorman told me you were here,” she explains.

"Rose, you got my message."

"I did. I don't understand, Gabriel. Yesterday we were so close, so in tune with each other. We even admitted that we have feelings for one another. What happened?"