tually had to bite my tongue to

nd Fiona. I wasn't a person who swore often, b

otted a familiar head of red ha

over me. I practically scurried to the empty seat besid

smooth and lightly amused, came from beh

ripping with disdain. "Running into someone I can't stand. And more than

knowledge?" he said, his tone theatrically scandalized. "No way. I'm trying to be

f he'd just suggested they fly to the moon. My che

und on the bottom of her shoe. Her eyes, sharp and critical, scanned my face. Then, s

his arm and pointing right at my face. "Her eyes!

igging into my palms. I thought to myself, "Do

in my ears, hitting a wound

ned to face them, her expression defiant. "I think her eyes are b

my chest, battling the

ard I thought they might g

quiet but firm. It wasn't loud, but i

ld feel their presence like a physical weight, the heat of their stares b

om Fiona? Or the curious,

a soft clatter on the floor behind me. A

following the curve from my shoulder blades down a few inches. It was a deliberate, intimate car

ing, I spun aro

lmost neutral, but his gaze was so intense it felt like a ph

for me. He gestured to the floor near my fe

my hair falling around my face as I quickly retrieved t

around mine, holding it for a moment to

eyes locked on mine, seeming

ome," I stammered, fee

re?" the teacher called out,

ogy, but Aldric was faster. "Just dr

"Alright. Let's all

I tried to concentrate on the words in front

my back and the warmth of his hand around min

stling cafeteria, and we found a relatively quiet corner with our trays. The famili

d, her voice a hushed, excited whisper. "What is going on with you and the twins? I saw them talking t

few hours ago, I wasn't looking where I was going and I almost fell down the stairs. Aldric caught me. That's it. That's the whole story." I looked up at her, feeling ut

ntense look in his eyes, sent an unwelcome sh

n my voice. "The principal, maybe? If an authority figure talks to them, maybe they'll ba

r voice to a near-whisper. "The twins... they own this town, basically. Their parents are ridiculously wealthy. They're the biggest donors to the school

the plastic seat creaking under my weight. "You've got to be kidding

was no fighting this. There was no authority to a

ust keep your head down. They'll probably

ng. I didn't need to fight them. I just needed to endure th

en. Then I would leave. I would leave th