Read Winter (Four Seasons #1) for Free Online Page B

to
explain. Something happened to a friend of mine when I was younger
and the press…they were like vultures. They printed all these lies
and made her family’s life hell. I want to become a journalist so
there will be at least one person out there telling the truth. To
set the record straight.”
    Professor
Lang’s shoulders stiffen. “And that’s why you enjoy my class so
much. I tell you, there aren’t many people too concerned in the law
or the ethics behind news reporting these days. Everyone’s too
preoccupied with finding the next big story to worry about whether
it might be true or not.” He turns away from the window and walks
to his office door. “I commend your drive, Miss Patterson, I really
do. But you should know…there’s a big difference between a
determination to be successful at something, even if it is for the
right reasons, and wanting to change something that happened in the
past. You won’t get any justice for your friend or her family by
pursuing this goal. You’re a smart girl. You realize that, don’t
you?”
    I swallow the
tight lump in my throat and walk out of the door he holds open for
me, ignoring his comment. “I’m sorry, Professor Lang. I won’t let
it happen again.”
    He peers over
his glasses at me, the lenses scuffed from where he habitually puts
them down the wrong way. “I know you won’t. You’re too stubborn for
that.”
     
    ******
     
    Noah Richards
doesn’t sound like an Irish name. He doesn’t look Irish either; no
ginger hair; not a single freckle in sight. Slightly wavy locks of
dark brown hair poke out from beneath a beanie pulled down tight
over his ears. Light grey eyes and a wicked smile. He looks cramped
folded up into his desk, so he’s probably quite tall. I recognize
two other guys from class talking animatedly with him, sitting on
top of their desks as I unwillingly trudge over toward them. Noah
stops talking when he sees me heading over and the others quickly
followed his gaze. I know how guys look at me sometimes, but I can
usually avoid acknowledging it. Mostly, it happens in the hallways
and I can keep my head down and pretend I don’t notice. It’s much
harder to ignore when I have to approach them and talk to them
directly, however.
    Noah sits up
straighter as I arrive, tugging on his beanie. I look at the other
two guys, wondering if they’re going to continue sitting there when
it’s obvious I want to talk to Noah. Yes. Yes, apparently they
are.
    “ Uh…” I
swallow and do my best to meet Noah’s eyes. “You’re the exchange
student, right?”
    “ Yeah, Ah am.”
His accent isn’t what I was expecting. It isn’t strong or over
pronounced, just a faint lilt. He flashes me that wicked reprobate
smile, but his eyes seem kind. He isn’t picking me apart like the
other two are. “Ah’m Noah. This is Freddie and Kyle. They’re the
lucky bastards putting me up this semester.”
    I know who
they are. I saw them at the party the other night with Morgan. The
guy on the left, Freddie, was the make-out guy I kept getting
shoved up against. “Right. You’re in the same frat as Tate,” I say.
“The ceilidh.” The whole Irish party thing makes more sense now.
They must have held it in Noah’s honor.
    Noah’s eyes
shine a little and his smile grows wider. “Good pronunciation.” He
holds out his hand. “And you are?”
    “ Avery,” I
blurt out, kicking myself for not introducing myself. I am Avery, queen of Columbia University!
Everyone surely already knows my fake ass name! Such an idiot. “I’m Avery Patterson.” He gives me a firm
handshake, which is nice considering most guys think they’ll crush
your bones if they squeeze too hard. Dad always warned me never to
trust a guy with a limp handshake. If he were around, he would have
approved of Noah’s.
    “ Nice to meet
you, Avery.”
    “ Likewise.” Get to the point, Avery.
Get to the point . “I…Professor Lang said
you might need some company. I just wanted to offer