Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 94155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 471(@200wpm)___ 377(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 471(@200wpm)___ 377(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Instead, I find a message from the Dean of the English department, asking me to come to her office as soon as possible.
This doesn’t surprise me. I missed a week and a half of classes. I expected to pay the dean a visit upon my return. I’m sure she wants to check in and make sure I’m okay. It’s not like I could tell anyone where I was going. I said I was going on vacation, without any further details. If I’d admitted I was going to the conference, my professors would’ve been thrilled, but they would’ve been suspicious. I’m sure they would’ve asked about Mark and John, and I’m a terrible liar. If faced with a direct question, I’m not sure what I’ll do.
I’m still wearing my yoga clothes. I can’t very well visit the dean dressed like this.
But my closet is sparse because I haven’t had a chance to do laundry in a while. Most of my dressier clothes are still in my suitcase.
I manage to dig out a conservative top and a black skirt. It’s not ideal for the weather, but it’s better than showing up to the dean’s office wearing jeans and a t-shirt. Or worse, yoga pants.
I make my way to the dean’s office. She has a sweet receptionist who looks to be about thirty.
“Hi, I received an email about meeting with the dean,” I introduce myself. “My name is Mari Maple.”
“Oh, yes!” the young woman replies. “I’ll let Dr. Dryer know you’re here.”
She picks up the phone and announces my arrival. I haven’t been in the dean’s office since I started school here. It’s much nicer than I expected. The décor looks professionally done. There are NYU purple curtains up on the windows. The receptionist’s desk is a nice, polished wood. There’s even a couch off to the side for people to wait on.
I’m about to sit down when the dean opens the door. I met her during orientation when she gave a speech to all of the new English majors coming in. She shook all of our hands at the time, but I didn’t actually talk to her. I planned on coming to see her at some point to have a talk with her because I’ve heard that getting in with the dean is a good idea.
I guess today is as good a time as any.
I smile and hold out my hand to shake.
“Dr. Dryer, it’s so nice to meet you. I’m Mari Maple.”
Rachel Dryer is in her mid-fifties, and she looks it. She’s even got the bifocals to prove it. Her gray hair is coiffed neatly on her head.
“Ms. Maple. Thank you for coming on such short notice. Please, enter my office.”
She doesn’t even shake my hand. Wow, I heard the woman was cold, but this reception is unexpected.
Until I walk into the office and find Mark and John sitting there.
Oh shit. This is not going to be good.
At least this explains why they haven’t been responding to me all day. I tamp down my excitement at seeing them because I know something is very wrong.
There’s only one reason we’d all be in the dean’s office right now.
“Please, take a seat, Ms. Maple.”
“Can I ask what’s going on?”
“Sit down.”
There’s an empty seat right next to John, so I take it. I fold my hands on my lap after smoothing down my skirt.
Dr. Dryer is seated behind her desk. Her chair is higher than ours, so she can look down at us. I’m pretty sure that’s on purpose. She wants to make sure she’s above us.
My heart is racing. What have I gotten myself into? This isn’t about my missing a week and a half of school.
They’ve found out about us.
“Let’s cut to the chase. You all know why you’re here.”
“Please expand on that statement, Dr. Dryer,” John says. “You cannot operate under the assumption that all parties are aware of their offense.”
Dr. Dryer gives John a harsh look. He’s no lawyer, but he is a professor. He’s familiar with how these things have to go in order to be official. I know because he told me so. It was one of the assurances he gave when we started this relationship. They can’t just come after us. There is a proper way to do it.
“Dr. Boynton, Mr. Kingham, and Ms. Maple,” Dr. Dryer begins. “I have asked the three of you to join me in my office as part of an investigation into a tip we received that the three of you have entered into a romantic and sexual relationship. Do you verify this claim?”
Dr. Dryer stares at me. She wants the answer to come from me, not the guys.
I squeeze my hands together. This is what I’ve been afraid of! What
am I supposed to do?
When we talked about it a couple of months ago, Mark and John said I have to be honest if anyone asks me about our relationship. If I lie, the consequences will be much worse in the long run.