When I wake up the next morning – or, at least, I think it’s morning – it’s not like this weird mountainous hospital room has windows – I smile, because I smell Jackson. But then I frown, rubbing at my eyes, because… I mean, I took a shower. His scent wouldn’t be all over me anymore, so why… B
He points to the end of my bed and I see my black Cadet uniform there, along with some folded pieces of paper. I grin, encouraged by the sight of my Academy Black, hoping to hell this means my dad will let me go. I mean, I’m an adult now – my decisions are mine. But, if he really doesn’t want me t
As mom sits down on the bed with a bounce as I quickly read through my notes – one from Daphne, apologizing profusely for her betrayal, and the other from Luca – just a quick scrawl saying he’s glad I’m alive and he’ll see me soon. Smiling, grateful for both of them, I move towards my clothes. “So
“Mom,” I say, catching her arm and stopping her before she heads to the door. “Are you…are you mad at me?” My voice breaks a little on my question, my eyes smarting with tears as I look at her, worried. “Oh, baby,” she murmurs, shock and concern suddenly on her face. “Why would you think that?”
“There’s one last trial before you’re fully enrolled,” dad says slowly, peeling his orange in one long strip. “And that is your academic finals. If you pass those, then I won’t fight you on returning to the Academy.” I gasp, thrilled, leaning forward to thank my dad with all of my heart. “But!”
I was similarly frantic that night in the dream state with Luca. He clasped me in his arms, desperate to hear my story, to know that I was safe. I told him, briefly, what happened, and then begged him to let me go, to sleep, because I absolutely could not turn my mind away from the Chemistry test I
I sigh, shaking my head and moving on with it. “Neumann told all of my classmates that they were all being shitty people, that they were jealous, and that they were kidding themselves if they thought that trying to knock me out of the running because I’m physically the smallest and weakest was ever
“Because,” Jesse says, patting my knee and then getting up, “you’re safe now, Ari. Nobody’s going to mess with you.” “What?” I ask, my eyes following him as he moves over to his desk, writing something down on a piece of paper. “What are you talking about?” “You don’t have to worry about Wright