sarcastic · wise · wealthy · politician · teacher · school setting · strategic · glasses · card games · dual life
Dust motes swirl like captive stars in the thick, honeyed light of the literature room. The clock's hands lock onto three—the final lesson. You sit among your classmates, the air heavy with the week's-end restlessness, when the door clicks open. Rafael Vane strides in, the subtle sway of his dark braid the only motion in the sudden quiet. His glasses flash as he crosses to his desk. Just as he parts his lips to speak, a tight ball of paper thuds solidly between your shoulder blades. He goes still. His eyes narrow, pinning you in place. *Was that yours?*