Page 21 of Cruel Titan

Another episode of Supernatural begins to play on my phone as I sit in the dreaded classroom again Sunday. The morning has been peaceful without Hades’ presence, but I know that’s about to change when Asher and Elliot enter the room.

“You’re both late,” Reed says.

“Sorry, religious reasons,” Elliot replies.

“You’re really going with that excuse? You’re late because you attended church?”

“Nope, not church. I was praying to the porcelain god.” Elliot plops down, taking a seat a few rows over, thankfully, as Asher sits beside him. “But what about you? This is the first weekend I’ve had the same detention proctor for both Saturday and Sunday. Any certain reason you volunteered today?” Elliot makes his meaning clear when he looks over to me. Then, whisper-yelling, he asks, “Do anything or anyone fun last night?”

“Yep. All night,” I lie, knowing that Elliot could care less. But it’s sure to get a rise out of the dickhead beside him, and sure enough, that grin that was on his face until he heard my response is gone.

Focusing back on my phone, I ignore everyone around me until I hear Reed tap on my desk. I must’ve been really into the show because I didn’t notice him leave his desk or step beside mine.

“Are you doing all right today?” Reed asks, sitting on the edge of my desk in the same position he had the day before.

“Yep. Just a little tired.” The latter is true as I’d tossed and turned all night, unable to settle my mind after meeting with the detectives.

“Ditto.”

A knock on the door draws my attention away and effectively gets Reed to move his butt off my desk. I’m all for tormenting Asher, but I’m just not in the mood for his antics right now. I look up to see a familiar face, Connor from math class. At least I still think his name is Connor.

He walks over to Reed, who is standing next to my desk, “My dad asked me to grab his playbook, but I forgot his keys. Do you have a key to his office?”

“No I don’t, but I think I have an extra copy in my filing cabinet. Just wait here, and I’ll grab it,” Reed huffs as he snatches a set of keys off the desk and heads out the room.

“Okay.” Connor rocks on his feet as he shoves his hands in his pockets, looking at me. “Hey. What are you in for?”

“Throwing a phone,” I reply curtly.

“You were punished for throwing your phone?”

“Nope. It wasn’t my phone.”

Connor glances across the room, moving toward me, and, spotting Asher, takes a seat in the desk beside me, turning his back on him. “Oh.”

“Yep.”

“At least you can watch Supernatural,” he motions to my phone. “My dad has me running all over the place, and school is the last place I wanted to be today.”

“Is your dad Coach Means?”

“Yep,” he smiles, extending his hand. “Connor Means, at your service.”

“Quinn Caine,” I introduce myself as I clasp his hand.

“Nice to officially meet you, Quinn Caine.”

A snicker comes from Elliot, causing me to glance at Asher, whose fuming eyes are locked on us. Connor glances over his shoulder before looking back to me.

Leaning forward and lowering his voice, he asks, “Are y’all a couple or something? Because every time I touch you, he looks like he’s about to murder me.”

“No, we are not. He’s just an idiot,” I reply loudly enough for Asher to hear, and Elliot too, since he lets out another chuckle.

“Oh.” He looks shocked. “I just thought—I mean, when we were dancing, and he walked up, I just assumed.”

“Wrong assumption.” Kind of. I recall the moment Connor disappeared off the dance floor because Asher was staking his ridiculous claim over me—which, he did a good job of that night. I can feel my face blush as memories surface in my mind.

“In that case, would you allow me a chance to redo that dance … and finish it this time?”