The Order: Hit and Run by Emma Cole Page 0,18
for someone else to help me because this one has a few screws loose. “Wait, I didn’t mean to be weird. I suck at meeting new people. I study all the yearbooks from Mooreton, so I know who’s coming in, and you weren’t expected, but now you’re here, and you’ll be such an asset to the Order. It’s just brimming off you. It’s been decades since--”
“That’ll be enough, Kent.” I stifle a groan at Jag’s voice behind me. “I can help Cora collect what she needs from here. I’ll let you know when we’re ready to check out.”
Crazy Kent caves immediately. “Yes, yes, of course, Master Jaeger. Please accept my sincerest apologies if I overstepped.” He buttons up and disappears into the depths of the room behind the desk, leaving me alone with Jag.
“What the hell was that, Jaeger? And why was he calling you Master? That shit’s creepy.” In my tirade I conveniently forget I ditched him not even ten minutes ago. Some things curiosity trumps, and being annoyed with him is one of them.
“All staff other than the headmaster and the board are required to address the students as Master and Mistress. Even the student workers when they’re on the clock.” He’s nice enough while he explains, but it doesn’t last, and thunder settles over his features as he gets after me. “Care to explain why I had to chase you all over the grounds after I specifically told you me and the others are responsible for you?”
“What?" Blinking at him, I recount his words. "No, you said you had to help settle me in. That’s very different than being responsible for.” I don’t know what he’s getting at, but those five running my days isn’t happening. It's my life. “If you’re helping, then help. Otherwise, fuck off, Jag.” Arms crossed and glare fixed on his, I wait for Jaeger to respond.
His lips tighten, but he remains silent as he glances at my class roster and turns to walk stiffly to the shelves of books. After a short perusal, he’s quick to start pulling them down, moving back and forth then up and down the aisles handing me books until I’m nearly buried under the stack. Finally, he finishes, and I make my way to the desk to unload. Arms trembling with the effort, I barely make it and try to hide the wince of pain that wants to escape as my internal scars ache, reminding me that I'm too weak to carry them around. .
“I need all these? This is insane. Are they trying to make me fail or intimidate me into leaving?” Seriously, there have to be fifteen different books and workbooks in the pile.
“The textbooks are straightforward, but you’ll need the others for assignments. It’s not quite as bad as it appears, but yes, the administration culls the weak and unambitious right off. Better keep up, Cora. Slackers aren’t welcome here, and spreading your legs won’t work either.” Jaeger is back to being a dick, of course.
Pissed off, my mouth runs away with itself. “I’ve always earned my grades. I’m not the one that got caught fucking the lunch lady in a staff bathroom.” Jaeger turns red at the reminder even as he schools his features into indifference.
“She was hot, sue me.” I roll my eyes at him and move on to supplies, wanting to be done with his presence sooner rather than later.
Jaeger follows me, making grunting noises at the less expensive models of calculators so often that I give up reading the packaging and move on to the one that I really wanted but didn’t want to get in case I somehow ended up indebted for everything. I roll my eyes when he makes an approving hum at my choice. He even takes it up to the counter for me while I peruse the notebooks and pens and study materials.
By the time I’m done with the list and the extras I thought I’d need, Kent has the pile on the desk rung up. Hitting the total, Kent directs the screen at me, and the tally is in the thousands. Plural. With a nearly audible gulp and a quick prayer, I swipe my student ID in the card reader, sighing in relief when it accepts the purchase. Textbooks and class supplies are covered in the contract, but this is the first chance I’ve had to try out their stipulations.
“Thanks for the help.” I smile at Kent, being polite even if he has been weird,