"What happened to you?"
Claire never expected Priscilla Hastings to end up in the campus infirmary.
"I sprained my ankle. How can I have such terrible luck?!"
Priscilla's ankle looked genuinely serious—the kind of injury that would take months to heal properly.
Even with Claire visiting her, there wasn't much to be done. The campus doctors were perfectly competent, after all.
"Just stay put for now. I'll come find you after my classes are done."
"Okay," Priscilla agreed readily, seizing the chance to complain. "You have no idea how awful my day has been."
"I went to the cafeteria first thing this morning, stepped on a banana peel, and wiped out completely."
"So many people saw me. I'm pretty sure I'm famous now."
Priscilla practically whimpered.
"I never want to show my face in that cafeteria again. That place is cursed!"
If it wasn't cursed, why would she have fallen in such an incredibly unflattering pose?
She was a perfectly gorgeous girl, and now she was socially dead on campus.
She probably wouldn't even be able to date anyone at this school anymore.
"Are you sure someone didn't throw that banana peel in your path on purpose?" Claire found the sudden appearance of the peel highly suspicious.
The university cafeteria was always kept spotless, and the students at The Cabinda University were generally decent people. Tossing garbage on the floor wasn't exactly common behavior.
"I don't think so. Who would be that sick?"
If it was intentional, she was going to curse their entire bloodline!
It was simply too malicious. Who even came up with a cartoonish trap like throwing a banana peel?
Claire didn't want to laugh at Priscilla, but the mental image was a bit too vivid. "Alright, I'll take good notes for you."
"Are you going to the hospital for an X-ray? I can take you after class."
Claire glanced at the photo Priscilla had sent her earlier; her ankle was swollen like a balloon.
"Please do. And bring two guys from our class. I don't think you can support my weight all by yourself."
Claire choked back a laugh. That was a fair point.
Because Priscilla was stuck in the infirmary, Claire didn't even stop for a bathroom break after her lecture! She packed up and headed straight there.
Felicity Frost had shown up to keep Howard Wade company during class again. As soon as the lecture ended, she spotted Claire hurrying Out of The room like she was being chased.
She wanted to follow her, but Howard grabbed her hand.
"Felicity, I'm treating my roommates to lunch today. Let's go."
Felicity's expression shifted slightly. "Why didn't you tell me beforehand?"
Howard gave a bashful smile. "I wanted it to be a surprise."
It was hardly a surprise-more like a massive annoyance.
Felicity frowned inwardly. What was she supposed to do now?
Time was running out, and she had already missed two perfect opportunities!
"I'm actually not feeling very well today. Why don't you guys head to the restaurant
first? I need to stop by the campus infirmary."
Howard blinked in surprise. "You're not feeling well? Why didn't you say something?"
"What's wrong? I'll take you straight to the hospital."
Howard might have been arrogant, but having such a stunning girlfriend gave him a huge ego boost. He had decided he was going to spoil her for a while.
They weren't even officially dating yet, after all.
Once they were official, if she started acting up, he could lay down the law then. It wouldn't be too late.
"I can go by myself. The restrooms in the academic building are always so crowded,
so I'll just use the one at the infirmary!"
Before Howard could protest, she was already hurrying away.
"Hey Howard, what's going on? Weren't we getting lunch?"
His roommates stepped out of the classroom, only to find Howard standing alone,
his little girlfriend already out of sight.
"She's not feeling well. She went to the infirmary."
Since he couldn't catch up to her, Howard decided to just let it go for the moment.
"Here's the plan. Let's head over to the restaurant and order. I'll come back and pick her up, or I'll just have her meet us there."
Howard didn't want his roommates thinking he was trying to back out of treating them.