Hunter shrugged, looking bored. “Even if they did, who cares? You can swim, right?”
“That’s not the point!” I jabbed him again, and my voice rose an octave. “Seriously, what the fuck is wrong with you? What did I ever to do deserve any of this?”
His eyes narrowed. “You know what you did.”
“Don’t give me that copout bullshit. Tell me. Now!”
His face clouded over, and he opened his mouth. Before he could say anything, Coach Reilly approached us and lay a hand on my shoulder. “No time for chit-chat, Laney. We need to get you checked out.”
Hunter sneered and strode away.
“Prick,” I muttered.
When I arrived at the school nurse, she examined me thoroughly and decided I was fine. Apparently I just needed a hot shower, a big helping of warm food, and a long rest.
“Too bad I have an English paper to research,” I muttered to Adam and Trina as we finally trudged out. “I’ll probably be in the library all night, buried in books. Then I have to proofread an economics paper and hand it in.”
“We’ll come to the library so we can make sure nothing else happens to you,” Adam said.
I flashed him a grateful smile. “Thanks.”
“Laney?”
I turned to see Coach Reilly hurrying toward us. “I just wanted to apologize for today’s incident again,” he said. “I have no idea how it happened, but rest assured, I’ll be conducting a thorough investigation.”
I knew he wouldn’t find anything. My bullies would make sure of that.
“Also, it didn’t escape my attention that you were in first place before the problem arose,” he went on. “So despite the mishap, you’re still in the top position in your group, and you have a very good chance of moving up to the intermediate division by spring racing season.”
“Thank you, Coach,” I said, smiling faintly. At least the day hadn’t been a total loss.
Adam and Trina lounged on my bed while I had a long, steaming shower, and then we all headed down to the cafeteria for a big early dinner. After we’d stuffed ourselves full of veggie burgers and parmesan truffle fries, we went to the library and hit the books.
When the library finally closed at nine, we packed up and headed out to the parking lot. “Thanks for hanging with me tonight,” I said, giving Adam and Trina quick hugs.
“Anytime. See you tomorrow!” Trina said.
They headed to their respective cars and took off. I turned and walked back to Blair Hall.
When I reached my dorm, I froze. My door was ajar, propped open with one of my shoes.
I knew I closed it earlier. I had a crystal-clear memory of standing right in front of it with Adam and Trina as we discussed our plans for the evening, and there was no way I accidentally jammed a shoe in it at any stage.
“Oh, no…” I slapped my palm against my cheek as I realized how thoughtless I’d been.
After last Friday’s incident, I went to the boarding admin office and asked to get my locks reset along with a new keycard, because I was terrified Hunter would get in again. They allowed it, and I received a new keycard within a few hours.
The next day, just to be safe, I decided to go back and ask them if they could also install a second lock which required a proper metal key. Considering how easily the Princes had stolen and copied my keycard last time, it made sense to add that as a precaution.
However, I got caught up with something else before I could go to the office, and over the hustle and bustle of the next few days, it totally slipped my mind.
That meant Hunter and his minions still had full access to my room whenever they wanted, as long as they managed to copy my new keycard, which was as simple as getting someone with decent pick-pocketing skills to slip it out of my blazer and copy it for them during class.
Any number of students could’ve done that dirty work for them.
I tentatively stepped inside my dorm and looked around. There was no one in the main room or bathroom. No one hiding in the closet, either.
I was safe.