RA

I still hadn't si

book, my fingers brushed against the envelope. Every time I opened my bag, the corner peeked out, reminding me a decision was waiting. Ac

each other on their way to class, conversations blending into meaningless noise about weekend parties an

ring it. I just couldn't stop looking at it, the number at the bottom growing heavier every time I read it. A month's worth of medicat

ounting

se I recognized the laughter that followed. Victoria stood near the staircase with Mila and Jenna flanki

If you stare at the bill long enou

rs laugh

It was exhaustion. Months ago, this would have ruined my entir

ker and adjuste

blinked

ocking the

pression darkened. I didn't wait around for her response. I walked past th

ne else could feel u

***

static, and I carried my tray toward the far corner of the courtyard, h

nd I didn't need to look up to know who it was. My body

id

omplicated than either. Ever since the hospital parking lot, he'd been acting strange. S

ning my drink, h

st the pavement, and he sat, tray in hand, like t

him. "What a

iefly from his pho

ly dropped their tray watching this unfold. The entire courtyard had noticed. Of course

y hundreds of plac

et I'm

atingly calm, and I was one sentence

you want?

ontract hidden inside it, and my stomach tightened.

fer," h

ot your

oticeable movement, but I caught

uestion

follow me around profess

amusement flickered in his eyes before disappea

leaned back in

it's a

not an

nough o

t and humorless

y stopped pretending not to listen. Everyone was watching, waiting, probably hoping for a fig

remained frustra

belong ther

se they were cruel, but because they sounded sincere i

exactly is that s

wavering. "It means Blackthorne P

e chill down my spine, and I hated that immediately

some kind of haun

dea what you'r

n laughed again, lou

narrowe

hear y

y silent, and I didn't care anym

was beneath you," I said. "Now suddenl

w tigh

r. "You don't g

" His gaz

my choic

itting right behind them, months of humiliation, months of silence

I said. "So stop pr

omething flashe

lization hit me so hard I almost missed it before

ne brief second, I thought I'd s

is time he didn't stop me, but I could feel his eyes on my

ctant greeting me the moment I stepped inside my mother's room. She was sitting upright, a

the way it always did lately. She looked thinner. Tired. Sma

late," s

hoo

softened.

ietly. "When

. Instead, I sat beside her bed, the contract resting heavy in my bag, an

ing about it

familiar, the kind that never felt awkward even when i

yr

going to be an ordinary conversation. Her e

ave to do th

y head. "

e stayed gentl

"Mom." My throat tightened as I gestured around

lled instan

much as it needed to. "I've spent months pretending

of her, but I couldn't stop it this time,

Then she reached for my hand, her

this for you,"

completely. She wasn't asking me to stay because she didn't care. She w

er hand. "We

her lips. "I was s

of us spoke. Then I reached into my bag, pulled out the contr

iet around me. Maybe it was knowing I wouldn't be living there much lon

osed my eyes, only to regret it

the screen. I almost ignored it.

el

breathing. My

finally broke t

id

dangerously controlled. "Don't

in my body te

. Then, again: "Dec

e my head. "Kaiden, what

mfortable in a way that carried meaning I could

you telling

he finally spoke, his voice sounded diffe

move into Blackt

he silence stretched between us. I hel

exhale

nsible for wha

ne wen

ammered against the windows. Inside, my apartme

g the contract, I wondered if Kaide

sav