“I don’t know what the Games are because nobody tells me!” I growl, smacking Jackson hard on the arm as I bare my teeth at him, pissed that apparently everyone knows what these ‘Games’ are except for me.“You have a handbook in your room, Ariel,” Jackson says, laughing at me, completely ignoring my
He laughs a little, nodding to me and running forward to catch up with the other boys as I do my very best to catch up. I mean, I fail…But hell, it’s good to try.About twenty minutes later my spirits are quiet a bit lower and my feet are dragging, a little, as I haul myself into the breakfast. I m
Luca sits down and we all lean forward as Rafe and Jackson take their folded notes and quickly open them, glancing through the contents. I lean over Jackson’s arm, trying to read it myself, but he laughs and pulls it out of my sight. “Confidential, Clark.”“Oh, you’re going to tell me anyway!”“Mayb
I end each of my days with Blaze, who finally begins to teach me how to deliver a blow instead of just dodging them. Luca diligently comes along to all of Blaze’s lessons, sitting quietly and studying while I work with my instructor and, afterwards, allowing me to practice on him in his incredibly d
But my ferocious snarling into Luca’s face only lasts a second, because I instantly shift back into my human form, shrieking my delight and throwing my hands in the air as I sit on Luca’s chest, my legs sloppily straddled to either side. “I did it!” I shout, laughing with joy. “I hit you and I knock
“Come on,” Luca says, that hungry little growl still deep in his voice as he puts a hand around my waist and pulls me flush to his side. “Let’s go to dinner. Daphne’s coming up tonight, right?”“Oh yeah!” I say, my face breaking out in a smile – because I’ve seen less of my friend than I wanted to i
“This is all very exciting, Ari,” Daphne says. “I’m happy for you.”“Yeah well, don’t go thinking it’s too exciting,” I sigh, reaching for my bookbag and hauling it closer to me, starting to take out my books. “I hope you won’t mind that tonight will be a little boring, Daphne, I have a great deal o
Luca glances up at me. “Nothing,” he murmurs, blushing a little bit as he gathers his book back up. As he does I realize that his actions were not performative or attention-seeking at all, but instead the very real result of very real frustrations.In a flash, I wonder how and why I didn’t feel that