. this life... it's part of me. I know where I fit. It might take

anced toward the mansion-the way th

cult," Claire

be easy. I need him to trust that I'm not going anywhere. And eventua

agreed or disagreed-just because th

rytale. I just want... something real. And Adrian? He's real. F

t. "Thanks for listening," she said, her tone li

a small nod.

fied. "You're easy to talk

h, and-don't read too much into what

almost imperceptibl

he fountain's trickle seemed louder in the quiet. She didn't know what exactly she was feeling-j

ause of

the certainty i

didn't leave roo

open, staring at the ceiling fan as it hummed in slow, lazy circles above her. The air w

nd persistent-back to campus. To

sed the

ndows. Even the chaos of last-minute lecture rushes and group project arguments seemed comforting now. Everything at Devereux Ma

erked her from

eside her bed. She reached for it quickly, hea

mi

h. Her roommate, her friend, her anchor i

the familiar chirp

ake her mother, who was already asleep in

energetic warmth that had first drawn Claire to her. "You're probably up there,

d softly. "You

'm not. I've

too," Clai

's the mansion?" Emily asked, her voice

's... something. Big. Cold. Quiet. Too many ru

er tongue. "Sou

e they're on stage. It's all appearance and manners.

?" Emily asked. "

.. I don't exist in the same world as them. I'm

y better not be stressing my Claire. W

't last two minutes here w

. And p

sound easing something

g again, teasing now. "Tell me. An

-Adrian's cold stare, his silence, the day she'd found

said quickly. "N

t's not c

ce was still light. "There's no one

id dramatically. "I'd break that cold boy synd

t laughing. "Yo

ou lov

d

one. One that stretched comfortably bet

a moment, her voice gent

nked. "Dif

u're folding into

whispered, "It's easy to disappear here.

u're the girl who made me believe in friendship again. The girl who c

closed

ly continued. "But don't shrink, Claire. Y

he lump in her thr

: "Now go to sleep before

ed softly. "

I'll call

for a long time, staring at the ceiling once

d in her mind, loud