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Against my better judgement, and desire, I actually decide to go to class after my little... breakdown.

My throat feels like it's on fire, but it felt good to scream everything out and get it off my chest.

I'm also afraid if I miss many more classes they may actually not let me graduate, number one or not. And after skipping out on yet another interview... I could use the brownie points. Whew.

"Hey, you okay?" Marie asks, coming to a stop beside me just outside the classroom. Oh shit—

"Oh, yeah, perfectly fine, why?" I turn to her, mustering up a small smile.

She looks at me, forehead creasing in concern. "I- uh, just checking."

I nod slowly. "Thanks..." I trail off. Probably one of the nicest things anyone's done for me all day, or week. Shocking. I blow out a breath, sending strands of hair from my slicked back bun flying. I clear my throat. "I'm... sorry. I couldn't find Emma. I, uh, ran into a problem."

To my surprise, she doesn't seem mad or upset. "Oh, it's fine. At least you tried."

I snort out a laugh. "Oh, believe me, I did."

"Thank you." She nods, taking a pause. "I, uh, I came to that Rufus guys dorm after asking around where it was to check on you." She admits. She seemed pretty concerned after I told her he's hit on me multiple times and was a slimeball— I was right! "And I unfortunately ran into Jordan and they, rather abruptly, told me he tried messing with you."

"Oh, yeah, well," I wave it off, "That was quite handled, no thanks to them." She laughs. "Shall we?" I motion towards the door, knowing we can't stay out here forever, though I would actually prefer that over going in.

We walk in, both going our separate ways to sit in the back, just as Jordan walks in and takes their seat in their girl form. Mmm, that'll show me.

I sigh seeing Dean Shetty at the podium. I forgot she's taking over for Brink. Ugh. She hurries over to Marie before she can even sit down as I loudly plop myself down in a chair. It feels weird sitting in a class after being gone for an entire year, and then some.

Doesn't help that I can feel Jordan staring at me with a kicked-puppy dog look on their face. I try desperately
to ignore them as I listen in on the end of Marie and Shetty's conversation.

"I'm just checking she's okay. She missed a few classes." Shetty tells Marie. Oh shit. I bet that's about Emma... WHICH I WOULD KNOW IF SOMEBODY
WOULD STOP STARING AT ME! "It's no big deal." She assures before walking back to the front of the room.

Marie looks over at me as she turns around to take her seat, looking guilty as ever. She definitely needs to work on that. I send her a smile as my eyes tell a different story, as in 'oh fuck, we need to find Emma asap.'

"Okay, everyone, listen up." Shetty claps her hands together. "So, I have a surprise for you." I don't think I can take anymore goddamn surprises this week, little long today. And I can't help but notice Andre isn't here, sitting next to me. Though he's texted me about twenty times. "We are fortunate to have a guest lecturer who revolutionized the field in superhero crimefighting." I raise a brow. "So, please, welcome a son of God U—" She raises her hand up, "Tek Knight."

My teeth grind as everyone else in the room claps. I fucking knew I should've skipped class today.

Two camera men come around the corner as Knight strolls in right behind them. What a fucking joke.

"My journey to four blockbusters and six People's Choice began in this very class 20 years ago." He points to the front of the room. "Now, I am eager to pass on my knowledge to the next generation." He begins slowly down the steps. "Today, we will focus on interrogation techniques that I developed." He turns to us once he makes it to the front. "And for that, I will need... a volunteer."

My hands remain glued to my side as majority of the class raises their's. But I have no doubt that I won't get ridiculed and called out for running out of my interview.

Knight scans the room, pointing from student to student. "Yeah. Um..." He exhales through his teeth. He, to my surprise, passes over me and lands on Marie. "Marie Moreau. One of the Guardians of Godolkin." She sighs before standing sheepishly, and makes her way to the front of the room. "We'll start with you first." His gaze makes its way over to me as he squints confidently, as if to say I'm next. I hold my head up high, daring him to challenge me.

He's already ruined my day, what more can he do?

I can't help but feel my heart pounding in my ears and throat though, knowing Tek Knight has something up his sleeve. He always does.

"So, Ms. Moreau." He starts. "You stopped Golden Boy's rampage." I grip the sides of my seat, plastic threatening to melt in my hands.

"Not just me. There were others." Marie answers coolly.

"Golden Girl, who is sitting back there." He holds out his hand towards me. "Who happened to miss her interview. Golden Boy's beloved twin sister." He grins before turning back to Marie. "And Andre Anderson." He states. "Golden Boy's best friend. Whom I notice, uh, has skipped class today." He chuckles looking around the room. My nostrils flare. Don't blast the room, Iliana. "The two of you make a good-looking couple."

I almost choke on air as Marie is quick to dismiss that statement. "We're not together."

"When you start out, you want to establish a baseline and build a rapport." Tek turns to tell the class. "Ms. Moreau's body language is open," He opens his arm towards her and Marie smiles to the class, "And she's maintaining good eye contact." Marie holds out both hands and I try not to laugh how she's handling this.

I take a deep breath, in through my nose, and out. I let go of the now charred chair and clear my mind. She's doing good.

He fully turns back to her, pushing himself off the table he was sitting on. "Walk me through that day." My stomach drops.

"I went to see Professor Brink." She sighs, adjusting her position in the chair. "Luke had already killed him." My stomach churns. "We fought. He killed himself. I've told this story a lot." She shrugs, seemingly grown tired of it.

"But, uh... not the whole story." Tek says, looking up at her. Say what? "Why were you going to see Brink?" He questions her.

My brows knit together as I sit up straighter, intrigued to hear more.

"I wanted to discuss my class schedule." Marie tells him.

Tek paces back and fourth, zeroing in on her. "Lie. Pupil dilatation." He points at her. "See it? It's a classic sign."

Marie shifts nervously, her body language growing less confident than before. Great.

"Why were you really there?" He asks her. "Was it to talk about his distaste for you?" He pauses. I snort to myself. Brink barely knew the girl. "Bull's-eye. Heart rate just elevated." Oh, Marie. She looks down as Tek continues. "Professor Brink only admitted students with impeccable qualifications into Crimefighting." Marie crosses her arms. "Your powers are, um... nasty." Now she looks pissed, I would be too. "There's no way he would admit you." He points out.

Hmm. Well, I did think that. Multiple times actually. But that was before Marie chose not to piss me off today, when she so very could have.

"And yet here I am." Marie states strongly. Mmm! Couldn't have done that better myself. Well, I could have- but that's not the point...

"Ah." Tek relishes. "So, not being good enough is a sore spot. What are you hiding?" He furthers. "What do you know?"

"Nothing." Marie tries to play it cool again. I move further and further to the edge of my seat, bringing my nail up to my teeth.

"He was gonna expel you, wasn't he?" Tek pushes.

"No." Marie quickly interjects.

"Pretty convenient that he was deep-fried that very same day." He accuses. And yet, no one seemed to think this when my brother was being ridiculed left and right, did they? "Were you in on it with Luke?"

"No." Marie rushes out. "I didn't do anything."

"Now or then?" Tek is quick to comeback.

"Then. Now. Both." Ohhh, she's beginning to panic. "I-I-"

Jordan's words begin to ring through my mind.

'Like you were thinking of anyone but yourself.'

Before I can even think otherwise I'm suddenly on my feet and my mouth moves faster than my brain.

"I'm ready for my interview." The words slip off my tongue.

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𝟶ʙᴜᴛᴛᴇʀʙɪsᴄᴜɪᴛ𝟽 sᴘᴇᴀᴋs!

Cliffhanger... dun, dun, dun...

Okay, I am SO happy with how this chapter turned out!! Marie & Iliana are finally getting alonggg! Ugh, I'm loving their duo!!

Anddd... Iliana is stepping uppp!! Ahhh!! Jordan's words have finally gotten to her! Eekk, okay I'll shut up! Please comment your thoughts, questions, & reactions & I'll see you in the next part, byeee <3