“Now, I want all of you to write me a one-thousand word essay on the best way to murder with a knife,” Nitkin says, eyes darting between each of us but lingering longer on Camilla, especially at the end.
My brow furrows as I notice Camilla’s cheeks redden and I remember her comment the other day in the cafeteria.
Perhaps I’ll try to bag Nitkin.
The girl is certifiably insane if she goes after that mess of a man. I’ve heard rumors enough to send most murdering mafia leaders running away. He’s not the kind of man you want to mess with or jump into bed with. A shudder races up my spine as I feel Elias’ arm brush against mine. He’s sitting too fucking close to me on the bench and I can feel the heat of him against me.
“Got it?” Nitkin asks.
I nod in response. “Yes, sir.”
“Sure thing,” Elias says.
Camilla just nods, her cheeks a deep red now.
I open my notebook and write, trying desperately to ignore the man sitting so close to me I can smell the intoxicating scent of his cologne. It lingers in the air and wraps around me like a cocoon.
Elias’ hand slips onto my thigh and he squeezes, forcing me to look at him for the first time since he moved. His eyes are full of desire and I clench my thighs together, my heart racing. It’s crazy what one glance from a guy I profess to hate can do to me.
“I’m going to have to punish you for getting me into detention,” he murmurs softly into my ear.
I shake my head. “You got yourself into it by being an ass and laughing at us. How is that my fault?”
His eyes narrow. “Don’t talk back to me.”
I clench my jaw, irritated that this is our first conversation since he walked out of the ladies’ bathroom at Jonquils Cafe during winter break. And yet I can’t say anything because then I’ll hand him power. If I make it clear to him I’m disappointed that he hasn’t spoken to me yet, then he’ll know that somewhere along the line, I started to crave his attention. And that’s the last thing I want. Instead, I focus on my notepad and ignore him.
He releases my leg, no doubt worried about being caught by Nitkin.
It helps me focus as I zone everything else out and write as fast as I can, desperate to get away from Elias. I don’t care if it’s a shit essay.
My heart is pounding harder and faster than usual as I scribble everything I can remember down about the best entry points when killing with a knife.
After half an hour, I’m done.
I stop writing and slide the lid on my pen, standing. “I’ve finished, sir.”
Nitkin looks up, eyes narrowing to slits. “That was fast, Natalya. I hope it’s good quality.”
I swallow hard, hoping it is good too as I rushed it.
“I’ve finished too, sir,” Elias says, also standing.
“What the hell?” Camilla asks, glaring at the two of us. “How did you write it that fast? I’m only just over half way.”
“Quiet, Morrone.” Nitkin nods. “Bring them to me.”
I swallow hard, struggling to believe that Elias wrote his essay as fast as I did.
“Sorry,” I mouth to Camilla and then walk to the front, setting my essay down on his desk.
He picks it up and scans the first few sentences before nodding. “Fine. You may go.”
Elias is next to approach as I walk back to the desk and grab my rucksack, stuffing my books into it.
“Do you always have to be so quick at everything?” Camilla whines.
I shrug. “Sorry, I just hate being sat next to him.”