Reading Online Novel

Enraptured(3)



"Yup." I sighed. "I work every night this week."

"Seriously?" She sounded stressed. "You're going to burn out."

"I have to work." I reminded gently. "If I don't work, I don't have a place to live."

"You could live with me." Dee grinned and waggled her brows. "You know you want to."

"There's no way three of us could live in your dorm room." I rolled my eyes. "But you can always live with me."

She shook her head. "You know I can't. I've been sentenced to dorm life - it's the only way my dad will pay my tuition. He thinks I'll get into less trouble that way."

"He knows nothing." I muttered.

Dee was trouble wherever she went. With her addiction to the gym and her easy grin, she was a boy magnet and she loved every minute of it. Too bad for her admirers, she was completely and head over heels in love with her boyfriend Kyle. They were high school sweethearts in college. Dee had been my best friend since the first orientation three years ago. Neither of us could navigate the large buildings and we figured out the map of the school we'd been given together. We met for lunch that day and exchanged cell phone numbers and we've been inseparable ever since.

"I gotta head to class," she pouted. "Let me know when you're free and we'll go do something in the land of the living."

"Will do." I replied as we split up. Dee didn't look smart, but she was. She wanted to be a pediatrician so we were shit-out-of-luck on having any classes together. I was going for my bachelors in English.

I'd been back to school for three weeks and I now had complete sympathy for the students who had to pay their way. Thankfully, my current year was paid for and so was my car. But my eleven hundred dollar rent bill and the fact that I was saving for my next and final year of university was killing me. I was stressed out of my mind and my grades were suffering. They were still above average - but they were below my average. That was frustrating as all hell.

As I sat through my classes I tried to devise a budget plan. So far I wasn't doing a very good job of managing my money. I'd gotten a job at a tanning salon near my apartment despite the fact I'd never tanned a day in my life. But it was quiet and I was allowed to study while on shift so it worked. The only problem was my wage. It barely kept me afloat. My rent was killing me but the school year had started and there weren't many apartments left for rent. I was in an awkward position with my apartment because I couldn't find a roommate, being as it was a studio apartment and only one big room. I'd crunched every number I could and still didn't have enough to make my groceries - never mind indulge in something as trivial as a social life.

By the end of this month I was certain I would either die of starvation or the dimly flickering light inside of me would simply burn out. Either way, if I continued travelling the path I was on I was doomed.

***

"Ella Grayson," Professor Carl called out when class was over. It was my last class of the day and I'd allotted myself just enough time between class and my shift at the tanning salon. I didn't have time for pleasantries - or whatever she wanted. "Please see me before you leave."

I frowned at Professor. Carl and wondered what in the world she could want with me. I didn't even know she knew my name. Never before had she approached me and I had no idea what she wanted to discuss now. I wasn't failing her class and I always attended so I was left clueless.

Quickly, I piled my papers into my text before slamming it closed. I scooped the books into my arms and glanced down at my watch. "Shit." I breathed. It was already 2:45pm. If she didn't make this quick I would be late for work - again.

"What can I do for you, Professor Carl?" I tried and failed to mask the impatience in my voice.

Her brow raised and her lips pursed. "Are you struggling with the content of my lectures Miss. Grayson?"

I frowned. My heart kick started in my chest and I was almost certain I was perspiring. My nerves were touchy. "I don't think so."

"Your grades have taken a significant drop since you returned from your vacation." She cocked her head to the side. "Clearly you're struggling with something?"

Did she not know my parents were killed in a car accident? Was she so unaware as to believe the time I'd taken off from school was a vacation? I felt my cheeks sting with offence but I bit back my lashing words. I didn't have time for this. "I'm sorry. I'll put more time and effort into learning the material."

She narrowed her eyes. "You do that, Miss Grayson. I don't have time for slackers in my class and I've seen your potential. I know what you're capable of and I will accept nothing less."