“And who are you? Scholarship kid? Seems they’ll let just anyone in these days.” The disgust in her expression looks like she smells something rancid as she attempts to get me to agree with her, which I do.
My eyes flip to Stone, repeating her words, but with a completely different context.
“Oh, they just let anyone in these days,” my tone drips with sarcasm, and Stone smirks at the obvious dig to our dippy chatterbox friend who completely misses the insult, smiling like she won something.
“Be careful, D. I know they forced you to be with the charity case, but alliances are important, and he has nothing he can offer you here.” Her look is sympathetic as she turns on her heel, floating back to her bunk halfway down the aisle on the opposite side, rejoining her shadow Veronica.
Stone’s jaw flexes as he works through that statement.
“Thanks for helping with pest control. I owe you one,” I say, meaning it honestly.
“No sweat, Dieci,” he says, turning to his bunk, his defenses firmly in place.
“Dieci is the reputation that proceeds me. I prefer my friends to call me Deacon.” I say, reaching into my bag to get my notebook so I can write Grace.
Another day closer to our forever.
I love you, Tails.
Chapter 25
Deacon
December 6, 1982
Tails,
We’re two days in, and it’s taking every bit of resolve I have to keep from walking out of here and running back to you. So far, everything is exactly as Luca explained. Lots of bullshit psychological tests used to pit us against each other. Worse, my reputation precedes me. The previous Second for the Northern Nevada Pack, Rodriguez, put a target on me. Well, and my partner, too, I guess. Just another day of being me. Twenty-nine cadets made it through day one out of the fifty we started with, so it's already a huge drop.
I miss everything about you. Don’t give me that eyebrow lift. I can prove it. I will list them. Each letter will have more ways that I've realized there’s a hole in my heart where you used to be. To start, here's the first ten.
I miss the light that fills your eyes when you look at me. It’s like you have so much love that it has nowhere else to go, so it brightens the world around you.
I miss the way your head fits perfectly on my chest, allowing my arms to circle to your back.
I miss the sound that escapes when you surprise yourself. The laugh that rolls out full and loud, almost like a bark, followed by the flush that fills your cheeks as your hand covers your mouth, trying to contain how adorable you are.
I miss tracing the freckles delicately scattered down your arms.
And the goosebumps that appear when I do.