a lot of terrifying

breakdow

miliation?

dan? Unfort

ial terror* of facing Mrs. Albright - the colleg

classroom auction. Mrs. Albright looked like she hadn't slept since the '90s. Her gray hair was in a frazzled bun, her eyes

o drop *Introduction to Modern Literature*, a required course fo

smile - the one she'd practiced in the mirror back in he

piritual awakening. A cosmic re-alignment. Mode

he way that said, *I've heard ever

has *nothing* to do with the fact that Dante El-Mise

Albright *did*

ocently. "Dante who?

en she was young. "You've completed your core requirements. If you insist, I can author

aperwork with a flourish that probably wasn't necessary, then stood and waved. "Thank y

ed slowly. "Close t

-

aded straight for the art history lecture hall. It was smaller than the big scary auditorium she used to p

ke old paper.

g called "chiaroscuro" that sounded like a fancy Italian dessert. She had a strict bun on her head

he back and opened her noteb

e lecture, somethi

used to, or drawing anime eyes in the margins. This guy was *actu

he didn't look up once. His hand moved like it was dancing

someone - and didn't immediately imagine herself

ght, *Huh. He

low-motion wind blowing her hair. Just a little

gre

ly doodles of badly-drawn angels). The guy was still packing up slo

o

quiet one. Like the s

smile that says "hey, I'm not scary," not "I wil

n he wa

nd longer, whispering to hers

-

on room, where Theodore was pretending to do hom

how, it made him look both rela

pping into the armc

Did you successfully escape Dan

w officially enrolled in 'Art History of the Renaissance.' Also, I may or may not

ce enhanced by a mysterious broodin

d. "How di

you. Your type has been painfull

she said. "This guy? Totally dif

dn't* immediately become the center of your world? Wh

that. I just noticed him. And then I moved on.

"Now all you need to do is become a Renaissance art expert,

on it,"

se. The kind where no one f

e straighter. "Actually

it's about the chemistry final, I sw

k. I wanted to ask... how's y

've been browsing commercial kitchens. Like, seriously. And I called Mrs. Hen

ookie that one time I cried over

or coffee. She might have some tips. Or

that's amazing! I'm so p

guess after our talk, something click

e. You were like a glitter pen

"Thanks, S

ecause of me. I want you to bake the world's fluffiest croi

, the real kind, the "I've got you

id. "I'd bake for you even if it meant

specific," she

a pla

a bit, comfortable and

e in forever - Drizella felt something sh

o

ly, wonde

little exc

t tangled up in a boy with too muc

d with color, and coffe

came next...