looking for ans

nt to

spoke. Nodded at the right moments. Even answered a quest

side, nothin

as the

silent. She didn't need to check it to

lanations she hadn't asked

ger holding

loud. Unpr

that. Colder. Precise. It did

udents moved in clusters, laughing, arguing about assignments, m

g her bag on her shoulder, and

stop

ed,but because she r

red walking anyway. Prete

ll had the power to make h

away, like he hadn't

together. Not controlled. The

she th

n avoiding

e. "That implies

ven her voice was. "I've been t

ust... ignori

ded cleanly

a hand through his hair

fused about

not what

y what y

y, glancing at them briefly.

e like this was something private. Lik

d," he said. "It

cond. Not his words him.

I'm j

is," she cut

n't supposed to get to tha

dn't

, almost invisible told h

t stop it,

Aria said quiet

ed. Not awkward

her arms. "I'm not interested in half-t

ed, but di

want to k

e it

st it. No room

a second just a second he

once. "Oka

" she said. "It

oice edged wit

ps h

ething in her head. "Because now I don't have to sit th

ng him off again. "And you k

st smile

"You don't get to us

ice lower, more urgent. "I care

react. Not e

a strange way

that simpl

ng through now. "You're shutting me o

im for a long mo

nal. Just.

you kissed my bes

mouth, but s

that she kis

ression

nd that neither

. Controlled. That wa

do you think

wer. "Right," A

ightly, ready

t." She st

she didn't

hing you don't

d her eye

e it

part where he tried to make it sound li

ways is,"

e continued. "It's about-" Don'

gh to cut through whate

went

ck, her eyes l

to turn this into something bigger so

o make it complicated so you don't ha

ple version?" he as

esitate. "You

No emotion attached. N

d barely but

ded, quieter now, "

hit h

ched it

ization settle i

n't get bot

felt like everything h

ly, his voice strained, "you're not as

eld hi

re ri

urpris

there for a mom

him to think he'

ontinued, "I'm not the one who

else she'd said, She saw it in his

d and wal