Continued...
Yeah?" He stepped closer, his face nearly brushing against hers, voice low and venomous. "Well, at least I'm not some desperate little skank, throwing herself at every guy within a ten-foot radius."
Rose saw red.
"What the hell did you just say to me?" Her voice dropped, sharp as a blade, and she barely registered that she was now on her tiptoes to meet him at eye level.
"You? Talking about me? You, who was all over that blonde disaster this morning—probably weren't even together until an hour ago, or maybe still aren't. You don't get to throw that accusation at me, you hypocritical jackass."
Dracken scoffed. "I can say whatever the hell I want. And don't flatter yourself thinking you have anything to do with me. Girls like you? I don't even give a second glance."
Rose smirked. "Oh really? Because it sure didn't look like that this morning."
The way his jaw ticked, the way his fingers curled into fists at his sides—it was downright delicious. Finally, a hit that landed.
He looked ready to strangle her.
"You—"
"Enough, both of you!" Aspen's voice cracked through the air like a whip. He stood abruptly, his presence alone snuffing out whatever insult Dracken was about to launch. "You seem to have forgotten that this is my office, not some back alley where you two can duke it out with your egos."
Neither Rose nor Dracken spoke, but neither looked away from each other either. If looks could kill, they'd both be dead ten times over.
He's so insufferable.
"I don't care what personal feud the two of you have going on," Aspen continued, his sharp gaze flicking between them. "What I do care about is that this arrangement is final. No amount of whining, arguing, or petty back-and-forth will change that."
Rose clenched her jaw. No way was she letting this slide without a fight.
"And what if I refuse?" she challenged. "I can catch up on my own. I don't need—"
Aspen cut her off without hesitation. "You don't have a choice, Gabrielle. It's not my fault you transferred late. Now, you'll have to make do with the situation as it is."
That shut her up.
"She doesn't have a choice?" Dracken scoffed. "What about me? Why am I being dragged into her mess? I don't have time to babysit her."
Aspen stood so fast it was nearly a blur. "You know exactly why, Dracken."
That had Dracken shutting up real quick. But the silent coversation between the two male gazes was vocal enough to keep Dracken from saying anything else.
But Rose wasn't done.
"Actually, yeah," she cut in, exasperated. "Why him? There's literally a whole class full of students. I'm sure anyone else could do the job just fine. Why do I have to get stuck in hell with his insufferable ass?"
Dracken scoffed. "Believe me, this is not my idea of paradise either, milaya."
Rose narrowed her eyes. "Did you just call me 'darling' in Russian?"
"No," he deadpanned. "I called you a nuisance."
She nearly lunged at him.
"Enough!" Aspen boomed again. "If either of you continues with this childish behavior, I will suspend both of you for three months."
That got them both to shut up.
"As for why him, Gabrielle," Aspen continued, regaining his composure, "because he's the top of my class—though at this rate, I'm starting to question how."
After a disappointed look thrown Rome's way, which Rose enjoyed plenty, Charles continued.
"He's the best substitute for me. He'll ensure you actually learn something instead of wasting time floundering through material you don't understand."
Rose's scowl deepened.
Dracken' arms still crossed, looked equally unimpressed.
"And to ensure that you two actually work instead of bicker like unsupervised children," Charles added, "there will be a test every weekend. Rose, you are expected to pass with flying colors. If you don't, I will assume neither of you is taking this arrangement seriously, and you will both be suspended from this class."
Rose's jaw dropped. Dracken visibly tensed.
His teeth must be getting a workout from how hard he kept clenching them.
Not that she noticed his teeth. Or how perfect they were.
She definitely didn't notice that.
Charles sat back, looking satisfied with their mutual horror. "I trust we're all clear on the arrangement now? You're dismissed."
Rose and Dracken turned on their heels so fast they nearly tripped over each other, neither daring to risk another second in that cursed office. But just as they reached the door—
"Oh, and one more thing," Charles Aspen called.
They both froze.
"Any misconduct—whether toward each other or anyone else—will not be tolerated. Consider this your final warning."
Neither of them responded.
And then, without another word, they bolted.
This place was going to give Rose nightmares.