Rachel Caine - Fall of Night

Odds were, most people on this tour would, at some point, be involved in a hack, or at least see a really good one.

But probably not her, Claire reflected, with another little burst of regret. She wasn’t here to be a freshman; she was here to study with Professor Anderson, on a Morganville-approved study course, and Amelie wasn’t likely to be in favour of anything that wasn’t strictly on the curriculum.

Escorted by the watchful eyes of campus security, they trudged back toward the centre of campus, where the dome of the Maclaurin Building dominated the landscape. Viva was still sticking close to Claire’s elbow. She looked small, and lost; the others in the group were laughing and happy, glowing with adventure and excitement. They seemed born to be here.

Viva didn’t. And Claire realised with a jolt that the kid was young – younger than her, or the others in the group. Not much younger, but enough to matter and cripple her with self-consciousness. ‘Hey,’ Claire said to her. ‘So, where are you from, Viva?’

‘Iowa,’ she said. ‘Rockwell City. You probably never heard of it.’

True, she hadn’t. ‘Is it nice?’

‘Not like this. I mean, this is—’ Viva flapped a hand around them, helpless to describe it. ‘Different. It’s great, and I thought I knew what I was getting into, but it’s so—’

‘Real,’ Claire said. She knew how it felt. ‘Bigger than you.’

‘Yeah.’ Viva clutched her binders closer, like a magic shield. ‘It’s a lot of pressure, and classes haven’t even started. I just feel—’

‘Alone?’

Viva nodded, looking ashamed. ‘They all seem so comfortable already.’

‘I wish I could help you, but I’m not living in the dorm. Wait – maybe I can help.’ Claire grabbed Viva’s arm and towed her sideways, aiming for a laughing mixed group of girls and boys; they seemed friendly, and she liked the T-shirt one of them was wearing. It meant he had a good sense of humour, at least. ‘Hey, guys? This is Viva. I’ve got to take off, but could you make sure she gets back to the dorm okay? I’m Claire, by the way. Claire Danvers.’

‘Hey,’ the boy in the T-shirt said. He had messy, curly hair that flopped in his eyes, and a million-dollar smile. ‘I’m Nick Salazar. This nutcase is Oded, that’s Jenny, Amanda, Trent …’ He reeled off names as if he’d known them all his life, though Claire was pretty sure he’d just met them. ‘Nice to meet you guys. Viva, right? Cool name.’

‘Thanks,’ she said. She looked scared, but determined.

‘Hey, you need a bag,’ Jenny said, and dug in her backpack to come up with a tote with the MIT logo. ‘Try this. What room are you in?’

‘Screw that, the question at hand is what’s your major?’ Oded said. ‘Because let me just tell you right now, any answer other than World of Warcraft or Advanced Ninja Studies will not be accepted.’

‘Fight Club,’ Viva said. Oded considered, and offered her a fist bump. She took it.

‘I stand corrected,’ he said. ‘She just levelled up.’

Claire wanted to stay with them – wanted it so badly she could taste it. The easy, silly friendship reminded her of what she’d left behind, and she craved it … but she really did need to talk to Shane. So she drifted off, and Viva – deep into the conversation now – hardly noticed her departure. Claire jogged off to a trail that led to Stratton Student Centre. It was, at this hour, not very busy; she found a quiet table, acquired mocha, and sat down with her phone.

Then she dialled Michael’s phone.

‘Hey.’ Shane’s voice was dark and warm and deep, and she sank into it as if it were a blanket. ‘You okay, tough girl?’

‘I am now,’ she said. It wasn’t quiet where he was; she heard a rumble, maybe wheels. ‘Are you driving?’

‘I’m mobile, yep. You know me, always moving, like a shark. I’m restless without you.’

‘I miss you,’ she said. She leant against the wall. ‘I really miss you, Shane.’

‘How much?’

She laughed. ‘Not enough to tell you in public, especially while you’re driving.’

‘Damn, there goes my chance for some hot sexy talk.’

His voice just did things to her, she realised … made her feel warm and liquid inside, made her think all kinds of things she probably shouldn’t be picturing out here in front of food court staff. ‘I hate my housemate,’ she said, to change the subject to something safer.

‘Elizabeth? I thought she was your best friend in high school.’

‘She was. In high school. But—’

‘She changed? Yeah, that happens. Look what happened to Michael.’

‘Shane!’

He laughed again, low in his throat. ‘Kidding, Claire. I’m just saying people change. If you’re not there for it, it’s not always easy to adjust to it, right? Which is why I hate this. I hate missing your life. I hate missing those little moments that change you. Because they’re going to change us .’

He was right, but … but also, not. ‘I need to change a little on my own,’ she said. ‘Shane, I love you, and I want to be with you, but I need to breathe, too. I need to fly a little and see how far I can go. That’s why I took this chance. It’s not forever. It’s just a while.’

‘Maybe a short while if your housemate drives you crazy. What’s she doing?’

‘Let me see … she’s a drama queen, and not in a fun way; she’s controlling; she’s OCD; she’s passive-aggressive …’

‘You had me at drama queen. I have got to meet this chick.’

‘No, you really don’t, trust me. She used to be fun and nerdy, but now – now she’s so self-consciously not , you know? She’s working so hard to be cool that she’s uncool. I think maybe she had a bad relationship.’

‘Roger that. Seen too many tragic examples. You know, the ones in the hipster hats who try looking like some unholy love child of Jack White and Ashton Kutcher?’

‘I learnt a new word today.’

‘Which is?’

‘Fidiot.’

‘Ah, you’re so cute. You didn’t know that word? You know what it stands for, right?’

She lowered her voice to a whisper. ‘Fucking idiot?’

‘I love that you have to make that much of an effort to curse. Like you’re worried you might scar somebody. Seriously, it’s adorable. So, been attacked by any vampires yet?’

‘Not a one.’

‘Zombies? Giant spiders? Water monsters?’

‘It’s been really quiet on the supernatural attack front.’

‘Too bad, ’cause I got attacked by a devil dog. It was not awesome.’

‘A what ?’

‘A big-ass dog with glowing red eyes. Trust me. You do not want to face a pack of these bad boys. Makes wolves look like teacup poodles.’

‘But you’re okay, right?’

‘Yeah,’ he said, altogether too lightly. ‘I’m okay. Nothing but bruises. The cops – and I guess, vampires – are taking care of our devil dog problem. Nothing to worry about, trust me. We’ll be okay. Aren’t we always?’

‘Almost always.’ She swallowed a lump in her throat, because the confidence in his voice had made her feel unexpectedly frightened. ‘Please, Shane – don’t get cocky, okay?’

‘Oh, now you want to do sexy talk?’

‘I’m serious! Please. Please .’ The image she most remembered right now was of him floating in a tank of murky water, bleeding … dying, at the hands of enemies of the vampires. And it terrified her. ‘I hate it that I’m safe here, and you’re …’

‘Swimming in an ocean of danger, with sharks? Hey, it’s what manly men do. That, and wrestle rabid badgers.’

He was being flippant, and it killed her. ‘Shane!’

He was quiet for a long moment, and then he said, ‘Are you okay, Claire?’