I lounge for a good ten minutes in perfect comfort, letting my mind turn where it will, brushing my fingers through my hair and wishing for a proper brush instead of the scanty little combs that the Academy provides to its boys, who apparently have no real need for hair care. I’m passively wonderi
But Luca – either he doesn’t notice the question in my eyes or he ignores it. Because he just shrugs and turns back to the room. “Come on,” he calls back to me, heading for his corner of the couch. “Let’s eat.” I just stare as I watch him – because this was our moment. No one was going to notice i
“Sorry,” Jackson says, frowning a little at me as he continues to hold the plate out, his own dinner plate in his hand. “You…said to come for dinner. Should I…not have come?” “N-no,” I stammer, taking the plate from him and shaking my head. “Of course, Jackson. Forgive me…I just…lost track of time
“Ready,” I say, holding out my hand to Jackson. When he doesn’t take it, I turn to him, surprised – because…I mean, Alvez said we had to have body contact to do this… Jackson lifts his eyes from my hand to meet my gaze. “I mean,” he says, soft enough to not be overheard, “what if the…thing happens
“It’s not a waste of time,” I counter, glaring at Jackson. “It’s the assignment.” “The assignment was to get the marble to do something. If your powers aren’t telekinesis, why would you try to lift it?” I stare at him, confused. “Well, how do you know my powers aren’t telekinesis?” He smirks a
“Hey,” Luca calls from the couch, drawing both of our gaze to him. “How much longer is this little homework session going to last? Getting a little…loud. Over there.” Jesse, his eyes still on his book, smirks at Luca’s clear jealousy. “Fifteen more minutes,” Jackson calls back. Luca narrows his
“Well,” Jackson whispers, half to himself, “I guess we don’t need to go outside anymore to try to talk to any birds.” “Not unless we want them to melt,” I say, grabbing my knife off of my dinner plate and leaning forward to prod at the glass. There’s a tiny moment of silence before Jackson burst
“Jackson,” I respond, staring up at him, meaning every word, “I promise. Never, not Alvez, not Jesse, not Rafe – nobody.” “And not fucking Grant?” he growls, his expression suddenly harsh. And something about it…I don’t know. I can’t help the grin that twists my lips. “Especially not Grant,” I p