Ms. Epistola’s eyes flashed with that unmistakable intensity of a woman scorned. “This is the lesson your teacher left me,” she said, her voice wavering for a fraction of a second before regaining her calm, cool composure. She smoothed out her blouse, tossed her hair and smiled, her white teeth in sharp contrast against her dark red lips. It all only reminded me of how goofy I looked whenever I tried to wear cosmetics, like a doll a little girl tried to crayon her mother’s makeup on.

The lesson continued from there, but I hardly paid attention. She was going on and on about archaeological stuff, some old tribal things that happened down in Louisiana or something and then some blather about ships disappearing and sailors losing their minds in the South Pacific. I only caught tidbits; I had to force myself not to stare at the clock, willing it to move. It was bad enough to feel so uncertain about Riley, but sitting through Ms. Epistola’s lectures, watching every guy in the class drool over her?

Ugh.

Thirty-five torturous minutes later, I was finally saved by the bell.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, class,” said Ms. Epistola. Somehow it felt more like a threat than a promise. “Provided Mr. Cho is still feeling unwell.” She sashayed out of the room.

“I’ll meet you guys in the cafeteria,” said Vik, his bag already packed as he dashed out of his chair to follow Ms. Epistola. “I need to ask Scarlett some questions.”

“About what?” I inquisitioned him, but he was gone in a flash. “Scarlett?”

My heart did a little flip, my blood starting to simmer. There was something I really didn’t trust about Ms. Epistola, and I really didn’t like Vik going after her like that.

“She’s really into this whole Atlantean deep sea archaeology stuff!” said Bree, oblivious as always. “Even if it really has nothing to do with marine biology.”

“Yeah,” I said, shoving my notebooks into my bag as quick as I could. I was still really anxious about Vik, but thoughts of Riley soon butted their way back in, demanding my attention. He hadn’t been at school for two days now. The slight thrill of relief I had felt at first yesterday was now replaced with dread; what if, in confronting him about Travis’s madness, I had driven him away? What if he never came back?

There were so many questions left unanswered, so much I still desired to know of him. After what had happened at the pool party and then those things he’d said to me Monday? There was something very fishy about Riley Bay.

Wednesday passed.