The Cursed Series, Parts 3 & 4 (Cursed #3-4) - Rebecca Donovan Page 0,30

read or heard a single word.

“Sorry,” I say. “I’m here. Just got lost for a minute.”

“Or five.”

I look at the clock on the mantel. “Oh. Um … yeah, I’m out of it. But I only have three hours to understand this or else I’ll fail the test.”

“You know the material. Trust me. How about some fresh air? Want to go for a walk in the Court? Maybe find a quiet spot.”

I grin suggestively.

“I didn’t mean it like that.” He smiles back.

“Why not?” I tease.

He laughs. “There she is.”

Neither of us has mentioned the texts I sent last night. He’s waiting for me to open up, to tell him why I need him. I’m … nervous. And I’m almost never nervous. But I’m about to expose all of my secrets, and I don’t want to lose him. Then again, if he can’t handle this, then he can’t handle me. So here goes Honesty.

Today may be the day my curse destroys me.

I take the tablet from Grant and stuff it and my notebook into my messenger bag. Grant stands and offers me his hand, pulling me to my feet. I leave the bag in the corner of the room, not wanting to bring it with us, but too lazy to walk up the four flights of stairs to my room.

I know I’m in a school of liars, thieves and mentally questionables, but if they really want Blackwood’s tablet, they can have it. Even if it were stolen, I have a feeling Blackwood would know exactly where to find it.

“So … about yesterday,” I begin, walking through the foyer. “I really do need you. I’ve just never done this before.”

“Done what, exactly?”

“Been honest. I mean, I am honest, but … this is different.” I cringe at my awkwardness.

“I get it … I think.” Grant squeezes my hand. “I told you, I’m here. Not going anywhere.”

I release a deep breath, hoping that’s true after I share the dumpster fire that is my life. “Okay. But we can’t talk on campus. We need to go somewhere no one will hear us.”

“Lead the way.”

We leave through the main entrance, pausing on the front steps to stash my Blackwood phone beneath the hedges. I may miss a random check-in, but I’ll risk it.

Joey’s phone is currently wrapped in aluminum foil and hidden in the bottom of my Narnia closet. I spent the morning researching cell phone signals in the computer lab and read about the Faraday cage. I hope it’s not some sci-fi bullshit and the foil really works.

While walking through the halls today, I found myself scanning every corner for anything that might resemble a camera. I can feel the paranoia creeping in, slithering over my skin. I’m so on edge, I’m driving myself crazy. Which is why I lead Grant to the edge of Blackwood to keep from being overheard. If no one can hear Ashton and me screaming from this cliff, then our conversation should be held within the confidence of the lake and the wind.

Grant steps down onto the ledge and admires the view. “It’s beautiful here.”

“We call this Screaming Point,” I tell him, sitting on the slab with my knees bent and my arms wrapped around them.

“We?” Grant lowers next to me so that his arm brushes against my shoulder.

“Ashton brought me here when I first arrived. It’s a place we can, well … scream when the world gets to be too much and … sucks.”

Grant grins. “Do you come here a lot?”

“Should probably come here more,” I admit, making him laugh. “So … I have a lot to tell you. And some … well, most is going to challenge your integrity. I don’t expect you to promise not to say anything. I know you can’t. But at least hear me out before you decide what to do with it?”

Grant studies the seriousness etched on my face and nods. “Want to start with this?” He removes a folded piece of paper from his back pocket and hands it to me. “Morgan Wolfe. He’s from Sherling, where you’re from. Says he was murdered during a mugging in New York a while back.” When I don’t react, he adds, “But you already knew that, didn’t you?”

I accept the paper but keep it folded, not ready to see Morgan’s face.

“Yeah.” I take a deep breath and meet Grant’s expectant blue eyes. “Morgan was my neighbor. Lived downstairs from us with his mother. My grandmother trusted him to watch me when she and my mother had