Gadeth was standing behind me with a towel wrapped around him. He met my gaze in the mirror. "You look terrible."
"You should see the other guy," I said, which was pure unadulterated bullshit. I mean bravado. Whatever.
"Ya-huh. You tried cold compresses?"
"Yeah, I did. That's why I don't have two black eyes." I swiped at the fogged mirror.
It's hard to tell, but I think my eye is even blacker than yesterday. Well, damn. My cheek is definitely green. And purple. Yellow in there, too. Sheesh! Is there actually a giant handprint on my face? Wonder if that means that if he'd hit me with his fist that he'd have broken my jaw. Hmmm. I rather think Dad's earned himself a practical joke. Maybe I'll have Tandy mail him a dead squirrel from Basram. Giftwrapped for sure.
"Um, Dryden, do you need any help with the snotty little Caeli or... uh, whoever did this to you?"
"It wasn't Allen," I said. Which was true. And like I'm going to tell this yahoo to go beat up my dad for me. As if. "It's all under control," I said. Well, it is. Just not mine.
Gadeth didn't look convinced. "Uh-huh."
"Thanks, though."
"Sure, kid. ...I hope you feel better than you look."
"Yeah. Yeah, I feel okay. I feel grand!"
"Well, take it easy today. Stay out of trouble," he said.
"No. Today I'm kicking some ass."
Gadeth takes his RA responsibilities seriously."Greeeeeeeattt," he said and leaned against the sink, clearly intending to talk some sense into me.
I cut him off before he could start. "Ha! Not bravado, here! I am going to ace these exams! As an emperor knows each member of his harem thoroughly, completely and with no mercy, so shall I make my way through the cute little exams they'll set before me today. I'll take it all on and like it!"
Gadeth bit his lip trying not to smile. "Oh. Have fun."
I made faces at the mirror. "You damn betcha. Grrrrrr!"
Gadeth gave it up and laughed openly at me.
"You shut up. Bet you a billion dollars your psyche-up is equally stupid."
He grinned. "True." Gadeth clapped me on the shoulder and left me to it. I finished getting ready and started my exam day from hell with the thought of my entire dorm beating up Allen. A pleasant fantasy. I think it helped......
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