Page 19 of Lessons in Cruelty

“Spiritual retreat? Guru?”

The smell of old books and lemon-scented furniture polish hits my nose.

“Fucking sweat tent, Haven? Really?”

God, I’ve got to get better at lying. Maybe there’s something in the self-help section I can read.

Lying for Dummies.

The Subtle Art of Not Telling the Truth.

Maybe even How to Win Friends and Lie to Them.

Chapter 6

Haven

Times New Roman has never looked this terrifying.

FINANCIAL

RESPONSIBILITY

AGREEMENT

The smaller the print gets, the more horrified I become.

…agree to accept full financial responsibility…

…legally bound to pay all fees…

…failure to pay…

…signature of financially responsible party…

But the most gut-wrenching part of all is right under that.

The slot where my dad’s social security number and signature go.

I slump back in my cushioned seat and turn to stare out the tall, narrow-paned window beside me. I scored an amazing window seat in the library that overlooks another part of the college’s sprawling estate. There’s a stretch of lawn dappled with shade from a trio of ancient oak trees. The handful of students who chose this spot are seated at one of the concrete benches, or sitting on the grass.

One of them is even taking a nap under a tree.

Fuck. Why can’t I just enjoy this shit like that girl listening to music as she pages through a dense textbook and works her way through a bag of chips? Or the couple making out? I’d even swap places with the guy under the tree.

Instead, I have this form burning a hole in my head, and I keep having to look over my shoulder to make sure Kai doesn’t jump out of a bush and attack me.

I get it. I fucked up. But calling me names is just stupid and childish.

Which I’ll be sure to tell him the next time he’s choking me.

My life is such bullshit.

The willowy thirty-something librarian told me they didn’t have any spare copies of the textbooks listed in Professor Rooke’s coursework. There was a copy of The Lucifer Effect that should have been returned already, but it’s two days late. Then, the lovely Simone happily informed me that the books I needed for my other classes were available, and she’d find them for me while I waited.

Yay for that, I guess. And who knows? Maybe the idiot who forgot to return their books will get their shit together soon.

I’m one to talk.