Page 55 of Spelling Disaster

Some people meet their mates in school. Why can’t I be one of them?

It’s too early to say, and questioning it takes away from the value of now.

We stop at the entrance of X House and Theo stares at the doorway, the windows. The general air of neglect about the place. “You know, I’ve never actually been inside,” he mutters. “It’s kind of an unspoken no-no among the guys in my dorm.”

“Is that your way of trying to get an invitation out of me?” Because there’s time, as he says.

“Not tonight, but yes. Eventually I’m going to expect an invitation.” His voice drops low, softer, and it takes everything inside of me not to rise up on the tips of my toes and claim another kiss from him.

“I’ll see you tomorrow for breakfast, if you’re up for it,” he says.

“Breakfast is good, but we do have that test coming up. And you still have to study for it. Since no real studying was done tonight, I feel a little bit guilty.” Not really. Only a tiny piece of guilt in the grand scheme of things.

Theo lets out a bark of laughter. “We’ll get to studying soon because you’re right, I really do need to be better prepared for this test. We’re still going to have breakfast together, though.”

“Yes,” I agree without any hesitation. “We will.”

This is like being in one of my romance novels, I think as I make my way inside my room. The door shuts behind me and I collapse against the wood with a happy sigh.

I lift a hand to my heart and rub there. These feelings are so strong, so warm. And I—

My joy is interrupted by a familiar voice calling out, “I’ve been waiting for you to come back. You certainly took your time!”

My eyes pop open. Remi is there, sitting on my bed with her hands on her lap and a giant smile on her face. My sister is here. How?

“Oh my gosh!” With a running start I launch myself at her and tackle her, both of us laughing.

Remi is in my room, and has been waiting there for me, with Blaire.

Remi wraps her arms around me, squeezing me tightly. “Man, I’m glad that you’re happy, sis,” she says, “because you have a hell of a mess to fix. You have no idea what kind of chaos you left behind!”

I don’t want to think about messes because my sister is here and I missed her.

“Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for you?” she asks.

“Not nearly as long as I’ve been waiting for you.” I pull back to examine her. She’s flawless, as usual. There is no hint of a scar or shadow to mark her ordeal at the library. “You’re okay. You weren’t caught in the fire?”

She nods. “Yeah, I’m fine. I’m fine.” She does a double check of me, too, worry lines fanning out from her eyes. “Are you?”

“I’ve been keeping your sister entertained with stories of my fabulous upbringing,” Blaire says, jokingly flipping her hair over her shoulder. “It turns out we have a mutual love for several bands. Which automatically makes Remi pretty awesome, in my opinion.”

“She’s definitely awesome. Are you sure you’re okay?Howare you okay? You were—” I don’t want Blaire to know the details about the library fire.

Remi answers with, “We’re okay. I’m sorry you worried. I know Mom probably didn’t tell you the truth of what happened. How could she?”

“What do you mean, we?”

“Me and Atlas barely escaped the library before the fire. I think that something about my blood must be keeping me safe. We got out just in time.” Her lips purse. “I went to meet him because I couldn’t stand to watch those fuckers at your ascension ceremony fawn over you like you were a toy for them.”

I glance over at Blaire but she shrugs. “Remi told me a little bit about what happened. Don’t worry,” she says. “I’m not going to say a word. Everything we say in this room stays between us.”

“Blaire…” I send her a pleading look. If Remi’s here, then it isn’t for a social visit. The gravity of the situation crashes down on me and the tingling is back in my hands with avengeance.

Is this the other shoe? Potentially. And it has nothing to do with Theo and everything to do with the past I’ve been forced to outrun.

“You have to swear,” I add. “This is serious.”

She crosses her fingers in the shape of an X over her lips. “Trust me, girl, I’ve got you. Both of you. You can say anything you need to say in front of me. Or I can leave and give you privacy, totally fine..”

---