Chapter 250
It was a routine for Morwenna to rise early, too early for any of her roommates to join her for breakfast. She had their absence, so Keira’s refusal didn’t faze her.
grown
accustomed to
But it struck Morwenna then, Keira hardly ever said no to her. Whatever the situation, Keira was always the first to nod along, whether she was truly on board or not.
Feeling a bit grimy from the previous night’s neglect, Morwenna hurried to the shower, brushing her teeth twice for good measure. Only then did she feel somewhat presentable.
Without waking the others, she grabbed a quick breakfast at the cafeteria and headed to her usual spot for some French language practice.
Her pronunciation still carried a hint of an accent, but after listening to Stuart’s readings the night before, everything seemed to flow a bit smoother today.
Recalling Stuart’s voice, Morwenna blushed. When had she become so reliant on him?
Today, thankfully, saw no bullies coming her way to mock her French skills. Morwenna finished her morning reading in peace. Her schedule was packed as usual. After morning classes and a brief break, she tried reaching Keira, but Keira’s phone was off. They usually had lunch together. If Keira had plans, she’d have told Morwenna in advance. It was unlike her to just go off the radar. Worried, Morwenna wondered if something had happened. It didn’t cross her mind that Keira could be bullied; she feared Keira might have injured herself again and was too scared to seek help.
Remembering Keira’s timetable, Morwenna set off to find her.
She checked nearby classrooms to no avail; by now, most students had left for lunch, and there was no sign of Keira.
Morwenna started asking around.
“Hey, have you seen a sophomore named Keira today?”
“Excuse me, I’m looking for Keira from your class.”
“Oh, it’s you… never mind then.”
Lorna’s expression darkened. As if her presence was a nuisance.
In her frantic search, Morwenna had run into Lorna, someone neither she nor her roommates got along with. Morwenna had a particular disdain for Lorna, not for her bravado but for her lack of integrity. Lorna had backed out of an apology after losing the fight.
Turning to leave, Morwenna heard Lorna snap, “Hey, stop! Why do you walk away when you see me?”
Ignoring her, Morwenna kept walking.
Loma, her frustration evident, blurted out, “Morwenna, wait! I know you’re looking for Keira, right? I can help find her.” Morwenna stopped. “You know where she is?”
Lorna, fingers tangled in her short, disheveled hair, looking more androgynous than ever, said, “I’ve heard some idiots from the Economics department have been messing with someone from our dorm room. If you’re fine, then it must be that scaredy–cat.”
Morwenna’s expression shifted.
She remembered Dahlia’s warning about someone targeting her. Could her new role have accidentally put Keira in danger?