Page 182 of The Blairville Legacies

“She came here with me and Grace.” Larissa looked at me scrutinizingly. “I think she hasliterary historynow,” I added cautiously.

Emely gave me a suspicious sideways glance.

I felt uncomfortable talking a lot, especially in front of strangers. Larissa had been very friendly so far, which made it easier for me to open up to her, even if I needed a little more time to do so.

There were people who were livelier, like Grace, and there were those who were quieter. And usually, the former kind of person had a talent for either annoying the latter relentlessly or dragging them everywhere with them. And from what I’d noticed so far, the latter was the case with Larissa and Bayla.

“Wow,thatwas quick,” Larissa laughed and unpacked her black backpack, taking off the large camera around her neck to slide it into her bag.

“That’s how fast it happens when people change.”

I looked startled at Emely, who rolled her eyes.

How could she say that so casually? Larissa didn’t know anything, and that’s how it should stay. Wasn’t she the one of the Senseque who had made the contract and theirSenseque Codeher religion?

I looked at Larissa again and tried to activate my non-existent social strengths.

“She’s kind of trying to adapt here, I guess.”

Larissa looked at me with an unclear expression.

“You should just talk to each other, I think,” I added, but I didn’t know if that was unnecessary. As always, when I talked.

“Yeah, you’re probably right,” she replied, shrugging her shoulders.

She picked up her cell phone, and I reflexively did the same.

Ten unread text messages from Erik immediately jumped out at me.

I swallowed, and immediately a deep sense of guilt spread through me. The longing inside me for our nightly texting, especially after emotionally overwhelming days when he would randomly text me and make me forget this life here for a few minutes, grew and grew.

Why hadn’t I answered him?

After my attack, I hadn’t been able to do anything for a day and hadn’t left my bed. I hadn’t drunk anything, hadn’t eaten anything, had tried to forget, had started hurting myself again, and had racked my brains about this damn magic inside of me.

I was broken.That was the only logical explanation. I was broken, and I must have deserved it somehow. And the worst part was that Erik had to suffer for it. First, Ivy, and nowhim.

I’d been dependent on people my whole life and Erik was, too. I wanted to be a friend to him, to take care of his needs as muchas I was able. I wanted to be there for him, but how could I do that if I couldn’t even be strong for myself?

All these thoughts about Erik made my stomach tingle pleasantly. A strange feeling. One that I didn’t know until now.

Confused, I typed my message.

When he immediately went online, the tingling got a little stronger. So did the guilt.

Please, just don’t be mad, Erik.

I swallowed.

My heart made an overwhelming leap.

Mostly, we texted about the books we were reading, about gods, and of course we had developed our insiders and jokes over time, and shared our other interests. But it had never been as personal as it was at that moment.

He replied quickly.

Awkwardly, I replied.

I sucked in a sharp breath and felt warmth in my cheeks.

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