chapter 4

Erica

Erica was perplexed as she kept gazing at Xavier, why did she not want to this moment to end? She had just met this guy for Pete's sake. Also, why did she think of that Wolf?! As these questioned swirled in her mind, the prank seemed unimportant, thoughts of going back to the hostel had receded back. She wanted to just stand there, with him. Get a grip, Rica! she forced herself to gather her remnant sanity and dignity and avert her gaze.

"Uh...I think I can go from here", she mumbled. 

"No", he...growled? Her eyes snapped up to his. Did she just hear him growl? But his face remained impassive, his eyes intense. She furrowed her eyebrows and was about to say something when she heard-

"Ric!" Erica turned to see her brother jogging towards them. He came to an abrupt halt in front of them, his eyes widened whether in horror or surprise she couldn't say, when he saw Xavier with her. 

"Good evening, Al- Mr. Ravenwood", Drake greeted and bowed slightly. Now, it was Erica's turn to be shocked. Her eyes almost became like saucers. He was not only the trustee but this University belonged to him! Xavier nodded. 

"Did-did my sister cause any trouble?" he stuttered turning to throw a mild glare at his sister. Erica opened her mouth to protest but Xavier beat her to it, "Yes, she was coming to visit you at this hour. It's against the rules". Drake lowered his gaze and Erica just wanted to want to be swallowed by the ground. She was thankful that Xavier did not mention about the prank because honestly now it seemed so irrelevant that she felt childish and embarrassed, why did she have these sudden honest-to-God idiotic ideas that landed her in this kind of situation? 

"I will leave now. Escort her back to her hostel", he said, turning around and vanishing in the dark after some time, Erica's gaze trained on his retreating figure. Moments later she felt a harsh tug on her elbow, she turned to look at her brother who was looking very angry at the moment. 

"What. Was. That?" he hissed. Erica glanced over his shoulder to see that even at their hostel burly looking men guarding the entrance. She glanced back at Drake and muttered, "I wanted to give you. This", with that she pulled out the box from her pocket, "It's your belated birthday gift". 

She pouted at looked at him and it, as usual, worked on her brother, his eyes softened as she took the gift from her. But before he could open she stopped him and took a deep breath then confessed, "There's a gag gift as well, I wanted to prank you but well...that went well", she finished sarcastically, shifting her weight from one foot to another. 

She lowered her gaze, God, first day at a new place and look at what she did? Not only did she collide into the owner of the University but embarrassed herself, ogled him, and then suffered another embarrassment in front of Drake. She heard him groan, "Rica, c'mon, couldn't this wait", she peered at him, "Ric, this is a different Uni, you have to understand that", he said, more like pleaded, "You don't know the rules till now and punishment here is not lenient at all", Erica shivered at thought of being punished. Drake fished out his phone and looked at the time, "It's 11 now, let's go". 

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"Where have you been?" Lana asked anxiously, Erica felt another wave of remorse washing over being, "I went to meet my brother", she mumbled as in shuffled in. The guards in front of her hostel were somehow informed so this time she was let in with a warning. She noticed that two of her flatmates were alrea only Lana was