st his temple. The math problems blurred in front of him, numbers bleeding into each other. His thoughts had long a

y

like a smirk made sound. "You've been starin

ing something down as if to co

o solve x? Or thinking about the girl who

ubbing his foreh

counter behind him. He pointed a sweat-glazed finger toward Elias like he was calling him out on a crime. "Don't act like I didn'

muttered, hiding his f

ame? Or wait-let me guess. Long dark hair, mysterious aura,

the way his pen froze o

aid, grinning.

ent," Elias said afte

im. "I knew it. My little brother

smiled despite himself. "S

-dangerous bu

quickly, too quickly. Then paused.

u're not even sure, and you already like

rmth of Kain's teasing. But even as they laughed, a shadow of confusion stayed lodged in his

s curled at the edg

unnaturally still on her shelf. She lay on her bed, fingers running over the edg

ters

d in, arms folded, cloak still draped over his shoulde

lone at lunch

ook up. "I wa

he said, more of a st

dn't d

it beside her on the bed.

silent fo

x, you promised me we w

spered. "I just... wasn't e

e snapped, not cruelly but like s

kno

t ever becoming human is still out there. And while you're daydreaming

rd. Her hands cle

gotten," she s

use if you do... you'll lose everything. And I w

dle flames flickered for

g chatter, lockers slamming and sneakers squeaking against p

gn of

s voice came from behind as

half-smile.

"Try not to stare too

ot a s

disappearing down th

Elias turne

g, but she didn't glance in

him like he

sion and hurt. For a second, he

rest turn of her head. A glance, quick as a whisper, throw

avoidi

didn't

seat beside Dareon, he

d in. "Y

ough her hands trembled s

" he m

yes darting briefl

y, still looking at her like sh

d meet, someone else slipp

littery folder in hand. She tossed her hair over her should

ut slightly sharp. "Did you see the group pr

sed. "Hey, Mira. U

bli

i

h a smirk. "Ah. So tha

," Nyxa sa

your human boy. And judging by the way she's to

could feel the jealousy curling

and clearly used to getting attention. She laughed at somethin

ow. "You sure you want

ered. "The more I stay close to him

at her for a

" he said finally. "Maybe

e, earbuds in but no music playing. He just needed

ey

ooke

ove him, text

if I

she lowered her

ooking at he

ed to her,

aid bluntly. "

dn't say

ou think? Always quiet. Always staring at

s said, maybe a little

... be careful, alright? You're a nice guy

didn't

even though he didn't understand why she was avoiding him, e

e thing fo

nt to stop l

't just stir

s beco