The Ruby Riot Series: Box Set Part 78

"I don't know. Look into his history, talk to other people, and dig up more evidence to prove I didn't plagiarise."

"Isn't my way easier? Get the sleaze kicked off campus and arrested. Even if you prove the plagiarism part is wrong, how will it prove his other behaviour."

"I'll speak to the Women's Officer at the Student Union. The Union will support me."

"Surely, the university wouldn't kick you out over one thing? Not with your academic record."

I swallow. "I don't know. It's arbitrary"

Anne reaches over and squeezes my hand. "I'm sure everything will work out. I'll help. You're not in this on your own."

"I hope so." But I'm stuck. I don't know what to do and I'm not confident I'll win.

WILL.

Fleur once again fails to laugh at what I'm convinced is a witty one-liner, picking at her sandwich instead. I dip my head to look at her face partially covered by her curtain of blonde hair.

"Something's wrong."

She pulls her hair over her shoulder and gives a feeble smile. "I'm good. How was your day?"

"Yeah. Jem's finally agreed to the trip to the States. How f.u.c.king awesome is that!" Fleur's drifting again. "Did you get a bad mark on your paper? I know you were worried about this one. Is that why you're upset?"

She picks salad from her plate and shakes her head as she eats. "I don't want to talk about this. Not yet."

Wow. Has the stress impacted so much that she's failing? I close my hand over Fleur's. Distract her. "We still going out tonight?"

"I'm not sure. Not in the mood, Will. I'm behind on a couple of things."

As she avoids my eyes, an uncomfortable sensation grips my chest. She forgot our meeting earlier today. She doesn't want to see me tonight. We've been apart a lot the last few weeks, has she moved on?

This can't be about Shaun still, the last few weeks, following the flower incident, she mentioned him once and only to say she'd not seen or spoken to him. I'm b.l.o.o.d.y glad because I have a few choice words for Shaun and am looking for an excuse to say them.

"Right. Tomorrow?" I ask.

"I guess."

"You guess." Huh. I throw down my sandwich. "Thanks."

"I have important things to do too!" she replies. "You often cancel for the band, and I'm never s.h.i.tty with you. Some girls would be."

"Yeah. Sorry."

Fleur leans across the table and places her lips on mine, stroking my cheek. "Gives you a chance to have a shave."

"Was gonna grow a beard."

"Ugh." Fleur screw her face up. "Please don't."

"Next you'll be telling me to take my piercings out."

"Why would I do that?"

"So I look more normal. Like the kind of guy you'd take to meet your parents."

She sits back. "You want to meet my parents? Seriously?"

"No! You know what I mean."

"I love you the way you are, that's all I mean. Piercings and everything." She pokes me. "I won't try to take your piercings out if you don't try to get me to have a tattoo."

I grin. "Just one? My name? Ruby Riot logo?"

Fleur rolls her eyes. "Sure. Just as soon as you tattoo my name on you."

"Is that a promise?"

She stiffens. "No, Will. I'm joking. Don't tattoo my name anywhere."

"I'm joking too, don't stress."

When she smiles and the distance retreats, my heart lifts. I'm imagining things because of my insecurity. It's b.l.o.o.d.y weird when the fear I'll lose her grips. Who knew I could feel this for a girl? But I have, and I can't help comparing myself to her type, the ones Fleur dated before I finally won her over. Nate's words nag, not just the part about being young and heading in different directions, but over how she'll replace me.

No. If she intended to, Fleur wouldn't spend time around the band and integrate with the other side of my life. Instead, I should count myself b.l.o.o.d.y lucky she isn't the over the top, jealous type. When we're together, there's a peace around us. Maybe that's what I crave, the girl who loves and trusts me. How many other people are lucky to have a best friend and lover rolled into one?

38.

FLEUR.

I have a week before the tribunal and spend the next few days attempting to find more information about Shaun's past. He studied at Oxford and moved on to Manchester to do his MA and PhD. Two years in, he switched to UCL when the professor he was researching under moved across here too.

I contact a Student Officer at Manchester, unsure what my first step should be. The way Shaun spoke in the library hinted he's done something like this before; and until he moved from Oxford to Manchester, he was an undergraduate with no influence. The girl I spoke to agreed to look into complaints or plagiarisms charges around the time Shaun attended. Disheartened when I don't hear back after a couple of days, I look at other avenues.

I collate dated doc.u.ments, bookmarks on my laptop, anything and everything to prove I researched too. I've no idea what my chances are; but if I keep calm, I can do this.

A day later, I'm surprised to receive a response from Maria, the girl I've been in contact with from Manchester. She's found a couple of claims of plagiarism in the history department involving girls, both of which were dropped before they came to tribunal. Maria can't give me details but has explained my situation to both girls and pa.s.sed on my details. She hints at her unorthodox methods of finding the information because she believes my concerns are real, and I'm in relieved tears when Maria tells me she's asked the girls to contact me.

Unable to focus on anything else, I spend the next two days constantly connected to my email account, jumping on every message alert within seconds.

None appear. Why would anybody want to dredge up something like this? If the claims against them were dropped, and Shaun's actions were the same as with me, I hate to imagine what he did. If I were one of those girls, I wouldn't want to revisit what happened. Disappointment edges in again, joining the anger and revulsion.

I'm out of options and the hearing is next week.

Then the email comes through from a girl named Jo, and light shines into my dark days.

WILL.

Nate sits next to me in the Union, picking at a plate of nachos. He settles his feet onto the chair opposite and leans back.

"How's Fleur?"

"Yeah. Good."

"You sure?" He bites down on a chip and scrutinises my face. "She wasn't with you last night. Thought you two were joined at the hip when we're in London. Or is she p.i.s.sed off with you not being around much?"

The intensive promotion continues; weekends and occasional midweek trips to play small gigs, attend interviews, the works. Ruby has persuaded Jem to forge ahead with a US tour. That's where we need to focus on preparing for. We're planning summer next year. I've given up studying, but we hang around campus since there's little else to do on free days. Cheaper beer, for starters. I also see more of Fleur this way, or I did because she's made excuses for the last couple of days and I haven't seen her.

"Why the sudden interest in Fleur again? I thought you'd backed off."

Nate sucks salt from his fingers. "I'm not sure she's interested in you anymore."

"Why?"

My scalp p.r.i.c.kles. Fleur's preoccupation recently increases as does her excuses to cancel. Is she pushing me away? Nate chews the corner of his lip, a gesture I recognise.

"Nate?"

"I saw her with another guy, Will."

"She's friends with a few guys."

"No, with a guy. In the library, couple of days ago. They were hidden in the middle of shelves and looked very cosy."

"Bulls.h.i.t!"

"Fine, don't believe me. He looked more her type than you do. Maybe she's had her bit of rough and scratched the itch."

I straighten my face, hide the fact I believe him. Ethan?

"A dude from our department?"

"I couldn't see his face. Tall guy, curly hair." He side glances me. "Sorry, man."

"What do you mean 'cosy'?"

"Y'know, bodies close. Heads almost touching, low voices. I'm pretty sure they weren't discussing books."

I drain my can of c.o.ke. "Yeah, well, maybe you saw wrong."

"Really? Are you that blind? 'Cause I'm not."

"I'll ask her." I pause. "What the h.e.l.l were you doing in the library? Are you still studying?"

"Yeah, right! Nah, I was looking for Jake. I heard he hangs out in there a lot recently and I needed the cash he owes me."

"Soon we'll have a c.r.a.pload of cash," I say to myself as much as him.

"And we can kiss goodbye to this boring degree without getting s.h.i.t from mum and dad."

"We already have kissed goodbye to it."

"Your efforts with your study group have been a waste of time, man. And now, as predicted, it's gonna break your heart."

I am not thinking along these lines again. I trust Fleur.

The topic is dropped as Nate finishes his meal, before heading off. I immediately pull my phone out.

I text No reply.

If I was a smart guy, I'd know her timetable; but as I drift around with my head full of Ruby Riot all the time, I don't. She could be in a lecture theatre. A seminar. Anywhere.

is my eventual reply.

<6?>.

Six. What is she doing for two hours?

At 4p.m, I invoke my best stalking skills and loiter on a bench close to the department, out of sight. When she doesn't appear, I question my sanity. Why the h.e.l.l am I doing this? If Fleur has found somebody else, what can I do about it, apart from accept the situation was always inevitable and move on?

The b.l.o.o.d.y flowers. Did she lie to me all along?

What's the point in sitting here? May as well grab a beer instead.

FLEUR.

Shaun guest lectures today and I can't face seeing him without wanting to claw his eyes out, so I don't go. Violence has never crossed my mind, against anyone, but this guy has pushed those b.u.t.tons. Even being around the department nauseates me. I'm convinced people are talking about me. The situation has leaked into rumour, but details are kept quiet so n.o.body knows for sure.

I brood in the library, planning my next move. I could be making a huge mistake confronting him, but this man will not ruin my life.

Armed with my evidence, I head to Shaun's office.

Five minutes later, he appears, a pretty first year at his side hanging onto Shaun's every word. Is this what I was like? I gag and when Shaun sees me, he whispers something to her. She nods and walks past me, eyes shining, with a big smile.

My anger kicks up a couple of notches, but I pull on my act.