I mean, I probably would’ve figured it out on my own. Well, except the vibrate thing. I definitely would’ve left it on vibrate.
Oh, and I definitely,definitelywould’ve carried it everywhere with me.
“Why not?” I ask.
“Why not what?”
“Carry it with me in my backpack.”
He stares at me for a second, then, “Because you don’t want anyone to find it on you.”
“Right.” I blink. “Because even if someone does find it in my room, which they won’t because I will hide it nicely, I still have a chance of denying that it’s mine. But I can’t do that if it’s found on me.”
He nods, a short and stern nod, much like his pedantic instructions. “Take it.”
I still don’t. “H-how do you know?”
“Know what?”
“That I’m not allowed to have a phone.” I swallow. “And that I have a dresser and a closet in my room.”
Well, the latter could be just a fluke.
I mean, it’s not uncommon to have this kind of stuff in your dorm room. But something tells me that that’s not the reason why he knew.
His lips purse slightly. As if he doesn’t like the question and doesn’t want to answer it.
He even goes so far as to look away from me.
But I’m not letting this go. “Reign?”
He sighs, big, his chest expanding, his broad shoulders moving. “Asked around.” Then, “After I read the manual.”
“What?”
Again, it’s clear from his closed-up features that he doesn’t like this line of conversation. But tough luck, I’m not letting this go. I move closer to him and prod. “Reign, you r-read the St. Mary’s manual?”
Another sigh, just as long and hard as the last one. “You gotta know the rules to break ’em, yeah?”
“A-and then, you asked around?”
“Yes. To make sure.”
“To make sure what?”
“That you don’t get caught.” A second later, he adds, “Because you have a knack for it, don’t you?”
I do.
I did get caught.
I was too much of a good girl to be careful last time. So he’s teaching me how to break rules the right way and keeping me safe.
Protecting me.
“Are you going to take it or not?” he asks when all I do is stare at him, stunned and breathless.
“Yes,” the reply comes flying out, and then I do.