Chapter 16

Graham didn’t say anything to Rachael until they were almost to the lounge. She assumed he wasn’t sure whether or not to bring up what had happened in front of Jazz’s room. As far as she was concerned, there was nothing to talk about; she’d said something to tease him, and he’d reacted the way most guys would. But something about the situation seemed to be bothering him, and Rachael wasn’t sure if she should start asking more questions or just give him some time. When the door that led out of the building came into view in front of them, he said, “Sorry about all the joking around back there. I hope… it didn’t bother you.

“What?” Rachael asked, making a sound in the back of her throat sort of like she was choking. “Nah, not at all. I mean, I started it.

“I know.” He seemed relieved that she wasn’t offended. “But… I may have taken it too far.” Graham ran a hand through his hair. “It’s just… I feel like I’ve known you a lot longer than just a few hours.

“Right?” Rachael said, turning to look at him and stopping right in front of the door. Doing her best to act like the situation was baffling to her, she held up her arms and shook her head. “It’s so weird!

“Yeah. I’ve talked to a lot of new recruits over the years--thousands--and… I’ve never felt like anyone belonged here more than you, Rach. It’s a little… scary, if I’m honest.

“Well, I’m a little scary. Especially before I put my makeup on.

“No, you're not. And that's not what I meant.” He shook his head at her and acted like he was considering bumping her again, but he thought better of it, to her disappointment. “I don’t know. I can’t really explain it. But I feel like… Silverwood wants you here. Like you should’ve been here a long time ago.

Hiding a smile, Rachael said, “I feel like I belong here--more than I’ve ever felt like I’ve belonged anywhere before.

With that smile that could melt a girl’s heart, Graham nodded and said, “Well, then, let’s go make it official.” He pushed the door open and held it for her, and Rachael breezed through, thinking the universe was truly smiling upon her for some reason, even though she had no idea why. The idea that potentially thousands of people may now be in danger due to the large vampire population she’d just unleashed on the world was also in the back of her mind, but she hadn’t quite accepted that part of the new reality yet.

Graham had a small office in the front of the school. She followed him through the reception area, saying hello to Ms. Post, a character so minor she couldn’t even remember her first name without looking back through the story. An older woman who mainly answered the phone, she sat behind the main desk and spent much of the day chatting with the secretary, Ms. Keiser, whose first name was Francis, Rachael remembered, but she was on a break, so Ms. Post was filing her nails.

Voices were audible behind some of the other office doors, but Rachael didn’t really care to meet any of the other administrative staff. These people had never been too interesting to her, not even the current school president, Rod Overbranch, who had retired from vampire hunting ten years ago to take over running the campus. He was mostly a talking head behind a desk, and while Rachael had intended to make him a good leader, he often came across as two-dimensional and boring. Thankfully, they made it into Graham’s cozy space without any interruptions.

The office was about the size of a large closet. She’d figured he wouldn’t need much space since he was either on the road recruiting or out fighting vampires most of the time, but now, seeing his tall frame squeeze behind the desk, she wished she’d been a bit more generous. He wiggled his mouse, and the desktop computer came to life. “You can have a seat.” Distracted by the computer and finding the proper paperwork, he didn’t notice Rachael’s eyes were glued to the picture on the corner of the desk as she dropped into one of two chairs across the desk from him. Green cushions matched the accent color of the room which was otherwise white.

Chell was as beautiful in the picture as she had been on the cover image Rachael had approved for her publisher years ago. Her blonde hair was shoulder length in the photo, caught in an ocean breeze as she stood with a surfboard in one arm, the other around Graham’s waist. It had been taken on their first vacation together, two years ago, in the Bahamas. Chell had been a natural at surfing, and Graham had struggled slightly, which had been a little embarrassing for him, putting him in a foul mood. They’d had an argument, but the making up had been worth it. Rachael shook her head. That wasn’t her business. In the picture, which had been taken by a friendly tourist before they even hit the surf, they were both smiling, and it was easy to see how much they loved each other--how much they had loved each other.

“Rach?

She turned to see Graham staring at her inquisitively and got the impression he’d been speaking to her. “Sorry,” she muttered. “I, uh… she’s beautiful.

His eyes flickered to the picture for a moment, and a small sigh escaped his lips. “Thanks.” Graham cleared his throat and then turned back to her. Again, she could see he was struggling with the decision about what to say and what to let go. Tapping the paperwork he must’ve slid in front of her while she was lost in the photograph, he said, “You might want to read over this while I pull up the rest of the forms.

“Sure.” The packet was familiar. It contained the rules for attending Silverwood, the agreement not to discuss her studies or the confidential information she’d be given as a student there with anyone, including family members. About fifty pages worth of rules, regulations, and explanations, it would take her a good hour to read it closely, which she didn’t need to do at the moment in order to sign the forms Grant was printing off. Most students didn’t ever read all of it, but if they did, it was later, after they’d signed their contract and filled out all the other paperwork that went along with enrolling. Still, Rachael flipped through it while Graham filled out some forms and printed them out. When he was done, he swiveled his chair around, papers in hand, and Rachael gave him her attention.

He still looked solemn from her comment about Chell. She probably shouldn’t have said anything at all, but in fairness, this version of Rachael shouldn’t have known Chell was dead. Any other new student wouldn’t know, so it just seemed like a genuine comment a person would make. And it was true. The woman was beautiful. He handed her a pen and started going over all of the forms, showing her where to sign and initial, and letting her fill out the ones that asked for more information.

“I put your move in date as tomorrow, but it doesn’t matter when you want to bring your stuff over, so long as you’re ready to start classes on the first.

“Great.” She signed that form, noting he’d added an exception to the no pet policy for her.

After about six more forms, they got to the last one, the page where she had to swear never to discuss Silverwood with anyone. The fact that she’d already literally told the entire world was stuck in her mind. Remembering the comment she’d made earlier about Ebony, she asked, “What about people I’ve already told--like my friend Ebony? I didn’t realize I was telling her anything that was true at the time.” That was an understatement.

“That’s why we ask for the date,” Graham assured her with a smile.

Assuming that meant the agreement wasn’t retroactive, Rachael nodded and signed her name. In the current version of the world, her book didn’t seem to exist anyway, but the glares she’d gotten from Sammi earlier made her want to cover her ass, just in case it all came back to bite her.

“That’s that,” Graham said, stacking it all up. “I’ll make you a copy.” He stood, taking the papers with him, and Rachael knew he’d have to go down the hall to use the copy room since there wasn’t a copier in the room.

Once he was gone, she couldn’t help but grab the photograph off of the desk, careful not to smudge the glass. “You sure were beautiful, Chell Knight,” she whispered, staring at the athletically built blond. It was almost as hard to believe the woman was dead as it was to believe she’d apparently been alive at one point. Graham looked much more relaxed in the picture than he did now, though he did hide his grief fairly well considering how fresh the wound was.

Hearing his voice nearby in the hall, and another male she supposed had to be President Overbranch, Rachael set the frame back where it had been and pulled out her phone, pretending to check social media, though anxiety about Graham coming back in the room and noticing she’d been looking at his personal item kept her eyes from focusing.

“I think she will,” Graham was saying as he pushed the door open, and Rachael immediately assumed he had to be talking about her, which was ridiculous. He could’ve been talking about anyone.

Whether or not the comment had been in reference to her, she might never find out as Graham said nothing about the conversation when he came back to his desk. “All right.” He sat down and opened a desk drawer, pulling out a manilla envelope and sliding her copy inside. “This is yours.” Rolling his chair back slightly, he produced a manilla folder from another drawer, dropped it on his desk, hastily wrote her name on the tab, shoved his copy inside, and filed her information in a different desk drawer. “I keep all the new students where I can find them. Best way to keep an eye on you guys.” He grinned at her, and she smiled, even though she’d written that joke herself, and he said it to everyone. “Any more questions?

“No, I….” Rachael stopped. He wasn’t listening to her. Graham reached over and moved the picture a fraction of an inch to the right, his eyes narrowed for a moment, before he turned back to face her. The accusatory look was gone, but Rachael felt bad. How had he noticed she'd moved it so slightly? Should she apologize? “No, I’m good.

“Great. Then, I’ll give you a ride back home, and you can take care of whatever you need to, and then let me know when you think you might be back.

“Sounds good,” she said, but the feeling that he was upset about the picture kept her from standing when he did. “Graham… I’m sorry. I just… uh… is that your girlfriend? I mean, I know it isn’t my business. I just… got the impression maybe you didn’t have one, but then it looks like you do.” She shouldn’t have asked, should’ve never opened her mouth, but now that it was out, there wasn’t anything she could do to take it back.

He hesitated, and for a moment, Rachael thought he might sit back down and tell her the entire story. Instead, he glanced at the picture and then back at her. “She was my fiancee, but she isn’t now.

“Oh.” Rachael’s forehead crinkled as she contemplated whether or not she should ask more. But she didn’t. She should just assume they broke up then? Even though she knew that wasn’t the case. Unless… was it possible in this bizarro world, Chell wasn’t dead?

“Ready?

“Yep.” She stood this time and followed him to the door. Graham opened it for her but didn’t say anything, didn’t even look her way, and Rachael exited, thinking it was going to be a long--silent--ride home.

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