a's

sary-arched, silver-flecked, and glinting in the cris

pale. The academy loomed in the distance, its stone buildings old and perfectly

ne. Not

students filtering in-some with parents helping with luggage, others already deep in

walk in and pr

d his throat gent

was me now. "Yes.

oon breeze tugged at my sweater, and for a brief second, I felt like myself again-plain me, nervous about walking int

e makeup, the expensive bag lo

porter through the stone archway, my f

17. We

oft lights and old portraits. My room was

ust outside

braid, not a strand out of place. She was organizing her shelf by color.

ed, awkwardly

, studying me like a scan. Then her expression flick

" Not a

d. "Yea

Roommate. Obviously." She gestured at the side of

id, wheeling i

myself with unpacking, opening drawers, ar

carefully, "You

. "Diff

... more approachable than last year." She didn't soun

s I just-changed

houghtful. "P

I kept glancing sideways, trying to figure her out. Noa didn't seem unfriendly-just observ

n Noa that steadied me a little. If a

ide whether to fake a stomach ache and hide

nne

ked. "

er? Together?" She looked

vous edge softened. I smile

buildings framed us like quiet monuments. The air was cooler now, and students flowed past in relax

en. I didn't look around too much. I was

edges when a figure turned the corn

live-toned, with messy curls tucked under a beanie, hi

stinct kickin

ou remember me, right? Luca. From last year. Lit class. I sat two rows behin

learly not mine. "Right," I s

us without asking. "Y

oa repli

nced back at me with a crooked

I didn't say

hing disarming about him-effortlessly social, clearly ob

oups, long lines at the food stations, the unmistakable buzz of students

veered off briefly to grab a

re

a table, talking to someone-but his

eyes

rrowed. Jus

instantly, h

Not

re close. His eyebrows shot up at the contact, but to his credit, he didn't say a word. J

n as I laughed at something Luca said. Even as Noa r

ough the meal. Jared was still standin

sion was u

fus

hing wasn'

y and forced myself to

mach was c

oticed s

was onl