nket draped across my shoulders

ink you were

fied of moving and scaring him away. "Burney went to his own ro

w, I s

get mad at h

N

Thanks for

ooked

eyes. "For someone who hate

yle

not asking you t

t words. "I promised myself I wouldn't move on u

with you

es

h us? In case we found her

he probability of the two of you staying alive longer than six months on your own this far south is

pt St

here'd be

the m

er need

n't notice my body trembling from

moment. "I've even accepted what she did t

, feeling the last pi

strand of black hair behind my ear, "Is tha

nger, then forced myself to sit

re you

the sleep

t have to

ave the strength to torture myself over you, not wh

yle

find her.

s crush us both. I shook out the spare bedroll and lay down, praying tha

e in that unnerving silence of his until I'd force myself to look away, saving myself the embarrassment of useless tears. Th

t would be the first to... I cleared my throat aloud without thinking. I froze, w

is bed and felt my hea

ne," Burney sai

an answering grin. How I could manage a smile for him when

ad stuff to do. How d

g aside my blanket so I could

... and that it would be best

ignore the raw ache

want bre

e matt and dumping it in the corner. "B

m done a

een Dave or

aid with a k

is smile yet again. "What ar

g class on in the far ca

d be interesting to se

stretching his arms abov

last look at Aaron’s rumpled bed

up about th

tea

s St

me alive at Aaron’s welcome b

op

he bet he offers

t off you in fro

"You're so sweet

he family," H

that led to the kitchen and water caves. This hall was free of side rooms and had a

dding towards the two rows

, walking in t

o join us," St

atting against the opposite wall to the red h

e, jo

an eyebrow

ou can join in and learn. Unless yo

ious

end. Move. Burn

my place. I felt stupid standing there, lined up with kids that couldn't

hissed, as he positioned

d, giving me dagg

n my side moved into a defensive stance. I

G

collide with me, knocking me to the ground. He twiste

breathed, hit

!" Stan ye

to his side of the line, watching me rub my hip. I bar

G

ney to run at me again when I re

muttered, run

minute and I skidded to a ha

at for?" I demanded

That is the whole po

s what he meant by basic training. Scorchers running head l

G

moment, mimicking what I'd just seen. But Burney was faster. His arm flung out

myself off him. I was the o

itio

ok, wondering how long

G

on my backside. I'd expected him to side step like last time, but he'd kept his ground, deflecting my lunge. H

ht too high. You're short,

itio

ck to my side of the line. They knew what they were supposed to be doin

o!

side this time, but his arms shot out a

!" I gasped, land

itio

and jogging back to his side. I grit my teeth, det

G

s legs. He knew I'd go low like he'd said to, but he hadn't counte

s a foul

worked d

we do. You can’t count on that l

p, still looking like he wanted to

acked away. "You

id, positioning hims

G

w his arms wide and his weight low so he could catch me on either side,

range and stars littered my vision, raining glitter on Burney's face. I gasped, gulping f

so sorry, ar

p me, his face i

idiot, your cru

e, a rush of air piercing my chest like

, his hand hovering above me,

ked, still cat

know you were going

apology and le

ns!" Sta

s hands away. "Y

You've had eno

on we'd joined this stupid tackle p

You can join us

under my breath as Burney sl

and nearly fell. "Wipe the smile o

at. If you had of side stepped like you were suppose

kno

sure you'

urvived

uld've been

made of

're stil

not just

d. "What is it Dave says?

head hurt. "Yeah, s

rtain to our room. "It might be

rne

ll make me f

ka

o my bed. "I'm gonna d

n my own? Witho

s at me. "It's hi

hy

he finds out what just h

o care," I said, putting my

fe than sorry," he said