I pocketed my phone and looked between the three women surrounding me. "I've got a meeting with Professor Reeves at seven. Research project."
Mera's tail stiffened. "The one who wants to study your body?"
"My abilities," I corrected, though the way Reeves had looked at me in her office made the distinction feel academic.
"Same thing with you," Mera muttered.
Cheon folded her arms. "I still think this arrangement is inappropriate."
"Everything about me is inappropriate," I said. "That's literally the point."
Cheon's mouth thinned into a line. She'd been trying to maintain her class representative persona all day, but I could see the cracks. Her composure slipped every time she looked at my bandaged ribs or the bruises spreading across my jaw. She wanted to fix me. Control the situation. Make sure I didn't do anything stupid.
Too late.
"You should come home first," she said. "Eat something. Change clothes."
