Finally, it was time to get serious. Ryvan nervously fidgeted with his clothes as he entered the same lecture theatre he had been to for the welcome lecture. This time, he was here for MA2071 Interpreting Management and the atmosphere was markedly different. 

Ryvan glanced around the room, avoiding making eye contact with anyone. The other students were still chatting but their voices were much more subdued. Some were visibly hungover while others seemed to be as nervous as him, playing around with their utensils or looking stiff and uncomfortable.

He couldn’t see Taren or his friends. On one hand, Ryvan felt slightly disappointed but on the other hand, he was glad to be safe for now. Who knew what Colton and Leander would do when they saw him again?

Sitting in the first row, he found Wren and Milun, the latter enthusiastically waving at him. “Come join us! Wren insisted on sitting in the front row, so I need help with dispersing the nerd aura. Bet we’ll all get a first-class degree like this!”

Ryvan gave a polite smile as he sat down. The bench was wooden with only a thin fabric covering—how did people manage to sit on this for an hour?—and the polished table in front of him reflected the overly bright light from the luminaires uncomfortably. “I don’t plan to graduate with anything less than 100% anyway.” Fairlight was an utterly average educational institution, so being the top student shouldn’t be a challenge for him. 

The heavy doors of the lecture theatre opened again and Ryvan gulped when he saw three not-so-ordinary students entering. He now regretted his front-row seat which made him little more than a sitting duck for the bullies. And of course, Colton and Leander walked straight towards him. 

“If it isn’t our favourite fuckface,” Leander greeted him. His large figure obstructed the glaring light but Ryvan would much prefer to stare at the naked sun than the brute’s face. 

Taren briefly flashed a smirk but appeared to be otherwise uninterested in their conversion, showing no intent to help him. Even though it was inappropriate given the impending danger, Ryvan felt his face redden when their eyes met.

“Isn’t that cute? This pussy has a crush on me,” Leander mocked. “In that case, you’ll love my proposal: I allow you to take notes for us—and do all of our coursework, too.” 

“Bet the rich brat isn’t very smart though.” Colton nodded towards Wren. “Let’s have his nerd friend do it. Listen up, Glasses,” he then addressed Wren. “Put some effort into our notes; if we fail this year, I’ll fucking kill you.”

Ryvan felt helpless as he watched. If only he was fearless like Averie, he could intervene and save his friend from the trouble he had brought over him. But no words came over his lips, not even as Leander turned back to him. “Now that’s done, why don’t we continue where we left off?” 

“Leave it for another time, the lecturer is here.” Expressionless as usual, Taren walked towards the back row and leisurely sat down.

Ryvan sighed with relief, although he still felt a knot in his stomach. Taking notes and doing extra coursework wasn’t difficult—if he wanted he could just pay someone to do the job. The shame lied in being someone’s pet, having to jump at its owner’s demands and whims like he had no will of his own. It was a humiliation he wasn’t used to—and didn’t want to be, especially not in front of Taren.  

“I am sorry, Wren,” Ryvan said finally. No matter how he felt, it was him who had dragged his two coursemates into this. “It is my fault, so I’ll write their notes and do their assignments.” 

“Don’t sweat it, man,” Milun replied in his friend’s stead. “I’m as guilty as you for not saying anything, but those three are just too scary. Rumour has it they beat up someone really badly and he ended up in hospital—I don’t wanna end up like that.” 

“I don’t blame you guys.” Wren’s voice was still unsteady. “I look weak, that’s why people prey on me, it’s always the same...” He clenched his fists and steadied his voice. “But I promise, I’ll make them pay for this. This will be the first and last time I’m writing their notes.”

There was no time for anyone to reply as the lecturer, a middle-aged man without any distinguishing features, started talking and demanded their attention.

Soon the sound of students typing rhythmically and writing filled the lecture theatre, only disturbed by the nasal voice of the professor. Ryvan had brought a tablet with a small portable keyboard to take notes on; other students used their laptops or wrote by hand. Wren was using pen and paper and Milun didn’t even pay attention to the lecture. Instead, he wrote down word for word whatever Wren scribbled down so they had a copy to give to Colton.   

Throughout the lecture, the mood of the group resembled that of a funeral and Wren was even paler than usual when he passed his notes to Taren’s friends afterwards. 

“At least this lecture was easy, right? We only went over stuff we already did in school so that’s good, isn’t it? We can ace this module easily.” Milun tried to brighten the mood but his words failed to elicit a reaction. 

Ryvan was smiling at Milun’s positive attitude when his phone distracted him. “Angel 07843476xxx, Veronica 079307231xxx,” a message flashed up.

Girls’ names and phone numbers? Dismissing the message as a scam, Ryvan almost pressed the delete button—until he saw the sender. Taren. Why did the Crow have his number and what was the purpose of this message? Confused, Ryvan replied with a single question mark.  

The explanation came promptly. “The girls you wanted... Have fun.”

Ryvan was sure he had not asked to be connected with other girls. He would never do anything that could jeopardise Averie’s reputation, even if he was drunk. Nor was he interested in indecent girls. Taren must have misunderstood something. Taren of all people! Ryvan hid his face in his hand, all he ever did when the Crow was involved was embarrass himself... 

“Thank you but I’m not interested,” Ryvan messaged back, hoping to save what probably wasn’t savable anymore. He would forever be brandmarked as a desperate creep. 

But to his surprise Taren texted back immediately, changing the topic completely. “You still want to learn how to fight?”

Perhaps the Crow didn’t think of him as a desperate creep after all. Or he simply didn’t care. Ryvan didn’t know what motivated Taren but he was grateful for getting a second chance. “Of course, if it isn’t too much trouble.”

“See you later then.”

Unsure what to make of this, Ryvan stared at his phone. He didn’t know what he was happier about, learning how to fight or being able to spend time with Taren again.