“Fine,” he says. “I’ll make it happen. I’ll ask Maggie to give you everything you need.”
“You’re a good man, Allan,” I say.
Allan snorts. “Save it, Giles. Please. You got what you want, now leave.”
I do as he asks. By the time I get to Maggie’s desk—she isn’t happy with me and offers me a pinched look—she has the forms ready for me.
I fill them out on Raina’s behalf. I don’t know a lot about her, but I can do enough to get it on the system. I put my address down in her residential address field. She’s in the dorm, so it doesn’t matter. When the time comes, she can change it.
When I’ve filled out everything I can, I walk to Maggie and offer her the papers. I call the bank and arrange a payment into the college account directly from my trust fund.
Before I turn around and walk away, I think of one last thing.
“Will you do me a favor?”
Maggie looks like she’d rather die, but I know the answer will be yes. I’m Stone Giles, and I get what I want.
When I’m done and Maggie has detailed instructions to pass on to the RA, I walk out of the office.
Chapter 17
Raina
When I get back to my room, the dorm RA is next to my bed, talking to Lacey. They both look up from their giggling conversation at me.
My stomach drops when I see the RA. When I first got here, I bribed her with my mom’s leftover drugs to get me into the room. For all I know, she’s here to kick me out again.
“Hi,” I say warily. My mind is spinning. Maybe I can work something out with her. I don’t have any more drugs, but I can figure something out. We just need to get rid of Lacey…
“Are you here to see me?” I ask.
“You bet,” she says brightly.
I glance at Lacey, trying to figure out how to get rid of her without being rude.
“We have exciting news!” Lacey says, and she looks like she’s going to burst with excitement.
We?
“You’re being moved,” the RA breaks the news.
I frown. “What? No, that can’t be right.”
“Absolutely, I got the papers from the office this morning.” She holds them out to me. I still have no idea what’s going on. “As soon as you’re packed, we can get you moved.”
Lacey looks so excited, she might pass out. Was it that bad to have me as a roommate? I guess she deserves someone more her speed. But I’m still confused. Saying so will just make me look like an idiot, so I start packing.
Lacey happily gossips to the RA while I work, but I don’t concentrate on what’s being said. I’m trying to figure out what’s going on. How do they know my name to move me? Am I in trouble? The RA doesn’t look like something’s up, and there’s not an official here who might tell me I’m supposed to leave altogether. They’re justmovingme.
It doesn’t take me long to pack. I hoist my bag over my shoulder and grab my pile of books. Lacey offers me a half-hug.
“I’ll still see you around campus, okay?” she says as if this is some sentimental goodbye.
When I leave the room, I follow the RA across campus. I don’t know what to say to her, and I’m not Lacey with oodles of gossip. We walk in an awkward silence all the way to the dorm.
I’ve been here a lot. Kat stays in this dorm in the same hallway we turn into…and then at the same door we stop.
The RA knocks. “Delivery!” She giggles and winks at me as if it’s an inside joke.