11. What is this guy's deal?
Tuesday, Spring 24
It usually took Seth Turner less than a minute to figure out if he cared what you thought about him. He tended to base that decision on the answer to one question: What can this person do for me? Regardless of the answer, Seth pretty much treated you any way he pleased.
Seth was a student at the University of Britechester. He would have much preferred to attend Foxbury Institute, because he wanted to major in Villainy, and Foxbury had a Distinguished Degree program in that field. Seth was undoubtedly bright enough for Distinguished work. However, because he had been, at best, an indifferent student, he could only gain admittance to the regular program at UBrite.
Largely for that reason, Seth decided on Day One that he didn’t like UBrite very much and, even if he didn’t choose to say that in so many words, he had other ways to get his point across.
https://i.imgur.com/ZYdT6OH.jpg
Wearing Foxbury shorts when he jogged across campus was one way. So was joining a rowdy bunch of Foxbury students for a late-night visit to the iconic statue that stood in the middle of UBrite's main quad.
https://i.imgur.com/HIP7cMc.jpg
Seth did have to admit there were some gorgeous girls on the UBrite campus. There was a petite blonde named Wren Covington whom he’d seen around a few times. Seth thought Wren was cute enough for him to find out her name.
One beautiful Spring afternoon, Seth was heading toward the UBrite commons for a bite to eat when he spotted Wren, heading for the entrance to Drake Hall. Seth quickly changed direction so his path would intersect hers. As he approached, his gait became much more casual.
“Well, hello there. It’s Wren, isn’t it?”
Wren paused, turned, and looked at the guy who had addressed her. She didn’t place him right away.
“Umm, yes…have we met?”
“If we haven’t, it’s time to fix that.” I’m Seth Turner.”
Wren felt a shiver, and it wasn’t the pleasant kind. Still, she was a well-mannered girl, and Seth had been at least somewhat polite, even though she was a bit creeped out by the fact he already knew her name.
So she smiled slightly and greeted him. “Pleased to meet you, Seth.” She chose not to offer a handshake.
Seth had already figured out Wren was worth his most charming self. He was a skilled conversationalist, and as they chatted, he could tell she was beginning to relax a bit more. Wren asked him one of the questions university students nearly always ask when they’re getting to know someone.
“So, Seth…what are you majoring in?”
He smirked. “Villainy.”
https://i.imgur.com/EqRq53t.jpg
“That’s…interesting.” Wren was clearly unnerved by this response, and Seth liked it.
“And how about you? I hope you’re not about to tell me Psychology, or something mundane like that.”
“Language and Literature,” Wren replied.
“I suppose that’s a little bit better. You’re one of those Distinguished Degree professors’ pets.” He smiled, and Wren couldn’t tell if he was teasing or not.
“What’s wrong with Psychology majors?” One of Wren’s best friends, Daniel Robinson, was studying Psych.
“Nothing, I suppose,” Seth said with a shrug. “I, however, would rather put my knowledge of how people work to more practical uses.”
Wren’s brow wrinkled. What is this guy’s deal?, she asked herself. She couldn’t help fidgeting a bit, and Seth noticed.
“Are you in a hurry to meet your boyfriend? I’m sure he won’t mind if you’re a few minutes late.”
Wren’s cheeks reddened. “Whether or not I have a boyfriend is no business of yours,” Wren snapped, all pretense of politeness gone.
https://i.imgur.com/amoyfuR.jpg
“That means you don’t have one,” Seth concluded. Not that I'll ever let that stop me, he thought, smiling to himself. In fact, Seth rather enjoyed trying to break couples up.
Wren’s phone buzzed. She tapped her screen and a picture of a girl with long brown hair and a bright smile appeared. Before Wren could tap out a reply, she felt Seth pluck her phone from her hand.
https://i.imgur.com/jKu0FQF.jpg
“What the plum…” she gasped.
Seth smiled rakishly as he leered at the selfie Wren’s friend had texted to her.
https://i.imgur.com/PQ1Vdwu.jpg
“Your friend Halle is pretty hot,” he told Wren as he handed her phone back to her.
Wren snatched the phone out of his hand. “And she’s too young for you.”
Maybe now, he thought, but she won’t always be…
“She also has a very protective older brother.”
Seth shrugged again. “Like that bothers me.”
