Another wave of guilt cycled through me. I was hosting Group B’s presentations this upcoming Sunday, but I had skipped out on the Group A ones at the beginning of the week.

Mainly to hang out with Victor. But also because I hadn’t wanted to put myself in a situation where Asher could corner me and ask me what was up with Victor. You know, a situation like this one.

Shifting uncomfortably, I answered, “I was planning on watching the recorded Group A presentations this afternoon. I’ll send you and everyone else my notes this weekend, okay?”

“Or maybe you could come over to my place and watch it with me. We’ll order takeout, and you could give me feedback. You know how much I value your opinion, Dawn.”

He took another step forward and touched my wrist. In a way that could have been friendly but felt way too intimate.

Victor and I were pretending, just pretending. But my stomach rolled at Asher’s touch, and I snatched my arm away. “You know, I am so behind on this project that I’m a little scared I won’t be ready for the soft presentation if I don’t jam on it. I’ve gotta go.”

The intimate look fell off of Asher’s face.

“Dawn…” he started to say. Then suddenly, he stopped, his eyes refocusing on something over my shoulder.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. And I almost wasn’t surprised to see who he was looking at when I turned to follow the direction of his gaze.

Victor. Victor stood at the place where the paths to our grad building and the one that led to the parking lot intersected.

Without another word to Asher, I rushed away from him and towards Victor.

“Hey, Victor!” I called out, waving at him happily as I approached. He was dressed in the same suit as this morning. Black-on-black. It made me feel like a raven had just set down on our arty campus.

A very serious raven.

“What were you talking to that guy about?” he asked without smiling or waving back.

“I’m hosting the Group B soft thesis presentations this Sunday,” I answered, the lie seamlessly flowing from my hands and mouth. “He needed the address since he’s never been over to the house.”

Victor paused, looking somewhat mollified. “He’s never been to the house?”

“No, never,” I answered quickly, so happy to be able to tell him the truth for once. “I was actually planning to ask you about Sunday. I don’t know what your situation is with big groups. And I didn’t want to surprise you with everyone from my grad program suddenly showing up on Sunday at 1 PM., for like, six hours’ worth of presentations.”