Potent: Book 1

Chapter 30: Acclimation

She went to the carved wooden bench, pulled her trousers down, and plopped down over one of the holes. She placed her clean cloth where she wanted it and sat for a moment longer, leaning over on her knees while the flood started in earnest. She was losing great globs of it now.

As the cramps increased, she groaned softly to herself.

"Pinching one off, eh?"

Evin gasped and looked up just in time to see a young man round the corner.

"Excuse me!" she cried, putting all of the effrontery she felt into her voice. She scrambled up, pulling her trousers with her as she went.

He laughed and raised his hands in an expression of submission, saying, "Whoa, there—I didn't mean to upset you!"

But Evin noticed that he wasn't leaving in any hurry. Incensed, she walked right up to him. "Get out!" she yelled at him. "What do you mean by coming in here when I'm trying to—when I was..."

The student backed away from her, his hands still up. This time, his grinning face coloured a little. "I'm sorry, but I've just as much right to be here as you do. The washrooms, like the bedrooms, are co-ed."

Evin frowned. Was that true?

"I can tell you're new here," he said. "You're not the only one to find it strange, but our living situations are simply more effective that way."

The sounds of laughter and conversation echoed through the hall outside, and a girl about her age also entered the washroom, effectively interrupting them.

"Hullo, Jess," the young man said cheerfully to her as she padded on over and took the spot Evin had just vacated.

"Hullo," Jess replied without any hesitation.

Horrified, Evin looked from one of them to the other. Jess smiled cheerfully at her and then began to urinate.

"See?" the male student prodded. His gaze did not linger on the girl, but nor did he ignore her. Evin was the most uncomfortable with the situation she could ever remember being in the course of her life. "I'm Deryk, by the way," he said.

"Evin," she breathed.

"Jess!" called the girl with a grin. When she'd finished, she stood and strode over to one of the pumps to wash her hands.

Deryk took a step closer to Evin. "It's all right. I know it's strange at first, but you get used to it. That's just the way it is here." When she didn't answer, he continued. "It's almost time for supper. Why don't you come down and eat with us? You look like you could use some fortification. I hear it's rabbit tonight..."

Evin blinked at him. "Maybe," she said hesitantly.

"Oh, do come," said Jess. "We can introduce you to everyone. I heard there was a new student coming in—and now I get to meet you first!" Evin turned to study her. She had long, dark, glossy hair and sashayed her hips self-consciously when she walked. She looked precisely like one of those students who would never speak to Evin again after this moment.

Deryk was tall and lanky, with a fair, freckled complexion and a head of thick, dark hair. "I'm going down now," he offered. "Want to come?"

Evin knew if she said no, she'd huddle in her room all night, hungry and forlorn. She might occasionally sneak out to the washroom to change her cloth, and she'd probably sleep badly. They hadn't hurt her. Maybe she should just go.

"I want to stop by my room first," she said conditionally.

Deryk shrugged. "I'll walk you there."

When they arrived at Evin's door, he laughed. "You're my suitemate," he said. "I wondered how long that room was going to stay empty. I was worried it was haunted."