NATALYA
“Natalya, can you tell me the easiest access point to the spleen?”
Professor Nitkin saying my name snaps me out of a daze I’d fallen into, as I clear my throat, buying my time. The spleen. “On the left side, about three inches below the armpit.”
Nitkin nods in appreciation. “Exactly.” He walks over to the other side of the classroom, still droning on about body parts.
Eva nudges me. “Are you okay?”
I glance at her. “Yes, why wouldn’t I be?”
She shrugs. “You seem a little distracted, is all.”
I swallow hard as I am distracted. It’s been three days since we returned to the academy, and Elias has barely looked at me. He hasn’t said a word, and it’s making me nervous.
Right now, he’s sitting behind me in this class and I can’t bring myself to glance in his direction. He walked in and sat down without a word or a jibe — no silly comments or throwing things at me. It’s not what I’ve come to expect, and that makes me more nervous than anything else could.
Camilla sits on my other side and has hardly spoke as she stares at Professor Nitkin. She’s been oddly quiet even if we are in anatomy class and talking can get you in serious trouble with him. It doesn’t normally stop her from running her mouth off. “What you doing after class?” I ask her, knowing we both have a free period next.
She glances at me and shrugs. “Not sure, why?”
I shrug. “I’ve got a free period, thought we could hang out.”
She nods. “Sure.”
“Gurin,” Professor Nitkin growls, making me almost jump out of my skin. “I’ll tell you what you’re doing next period, and that’s detention.”
I swallow hard, meeting our professor’s gaze. “I’m sorry, sir.”
“Sorry doesn’t cut it. The two of you will be staying behind.”
I hear Elias sniggering with his friends behind me, which draws the professor’s attention. “And you can join them, Morales.”
“Sir?”
“You heard me. All three of you will stay behind after class.” He walks over the other side of the classroom, continuing his lecture.
“Thanks a lot, Gurin,” Elias says, throwing a ball of paper at me.
I glare at him, conflicting emotions swirling around inside of me. A part of me had been excited to see where Elias took this next, but now I’m unsure what he’s planning.
Instead of making a retort, I focus my attention on the professor and try to stay out of trouble for the rest of the hour. It’s unlike me to get pulled up for detention. Normally, I know when I can get away with talking in Nitkin’s class or not.
Once everyone gets up to leave, Camilla and I remain seated.
Nitkin ignores us at first until everyone else has left.
I can feel Elias’ gaze burning a hole in my back and it makes me feel uncomfortable. Camilla leans toward me. “I can’t believe we got detention.”
I give her an apologetic look. “I’m sorry.”
The snap of a ruler against the desk in front of me makes both of us jump out of our skin. “You two don’t seem to learn your lesson, do you?” Nitkin asks, hazel eyes as cold as any I’ve ever seen. They move between me and Camilla a few times, lingering on Camilla at the end.
“I apologize, sir,” I reply, knowing the only way to deal with this psycho is to play ball.
“Elias,” he barks, eyes moving to behind me. “Sit next to Gurin.”
A shudder races down my spine at the thought of being forced to sit next to him. I don’t dare look back as I hear him gathering his things and then his footsteps moving toward me. Even when he sits down, I can’t bring myself to look in his direction.