The Scumbag's Guide To Heroism novel Chapter 230

Chapter 230: 230 | An Introduction by Way of Apology

We rounded a corner and the dormitories came into view, separate buildings for the different tracks and programs. Sloane’s was further up the hill, closer to the Advanced Track facilities. Mine was lower, sharing space with the standard Combat Operations housing. The physical distance wasn’t significant, maybe five minutes walking, but the symbolism of it sat heavy in the air between us.

"I’ll make the administration regret putting me in 1-B," I said.

"Don’t be stupid. They put you there for a reason."

"The reason is paperwork and bureaucracy."

"The reason is that Steele requested you specifically after seeing your entrance exam footage." Sloane delivered this information like it was obvious, like everyone already knew. "She’s one of the only instructors who can request specific student assignments. She saw something in your performance and wanted you in her cohort instead of Hale’s."

I hadn’t known that. The System hadn’t mentioned it. Diane hadn’t mentioned it either, though she might not have known.

"How do you figure that out?"

"Because it’s obvious." Sloane’s expression suggested that asking should have been obvious. "The moment I saw you in 1-B instead of 1-A, I figured that the answer is that Steele wanted you. Which means she sees something worth developing, which means you should stop complaining about cohort assignments and start proving her right."

She stopped walking at the point where our paths diverged, her dorm up the hill and mine down the other branch. The sunset had shifted into purple and deep orange, the last of the light clinging to the sky like it didn’t want to leave. "Goodnight, Lukas."

"That’s it? Goodnight?"

Her eyes narrowed. "What else were you expecting?"

"Something more memorable."

"I gave you memorable this morning."

"That was hours ago. My memory’s not that good."

She laughed, the real one that broke through her guard, and then she grabbed the front of my new blue shirt and pulled me down to her level. The kiss wasn’t gentle. Sloane didn’t do gentle unless she had to. Her mouth moved against mine with the same intensity she brought to everything else, confident and claiming and leaving absolutely no room for misinterpretation about what she wanted or who she wanted it from.

When she pulled back, her lipstick had migrated to the corner of my mouth and her cheeks had flushed with warmth that had nothing to do with her Aspect.

"Memorable enough?"

"I’ll manage."

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