Page 350 of A University of Betrayal

The truth hurt. Bayla had just confirmed what an ass I was.

“With him, she seems distracted from you, even though she might not like him.”

I looked back at Emely, who was looking up at Miles, completely focused on him. It seemed like they were arguing, not much, but enough so that she wasn’t focused on me any longer.

“You just rejected her. Don’t make it worse by making a scene now.”

I looked at Bayla.

She was right. She was always right. This girl was so smart and had noticed things I wouldn’t have realized for ages. Without her, I wouldn’t even have known that Emely had feelings for me.

My eyes traveled over the fabric of her dress, which accentuated her body, and then to her neck, where the blue gemstone pendant I had found on the sidewalk in front of her house hung.

“Without you, I’d still be where I was a few months ago,” I said softly so she could still hear. “Thank you, Bayla Adams, for giving me a chance.”

Bayla blushed and this time I knew it was my fault.

“Thank you for sayingYesto being friends with me,” I continued, watching the light from the chandeliers reflect in each of her different colored eyes in a different way. Maybe it was just the gleam in them…

We danced, lost track of time, danced even more, and she made it easy for me not to have to concentrate on Emely. Even though I could see Miles and her literally gliding across the floor in the corner of my eye...

At least she had a dance, even if it was with a Ruisangor.

Bayla had a radiance and a way about her that made me forget that I was supposed to be miserable. She was the lightness I had never expected to find in a friendship. Bayla Adams was the light in my darkness for a dance, and I tried to memorize the moment so I could thank her later.

When the orchestra stopped, I bowed jokingly to Bayla, and she grinned.

Take Me to Church

Vitamin String Quartet

“I don’t mean to interrupt, but there are definitely too many people dancing here right now, and I feel like an idiot.”

Larissa appeared next to me and Bayla, looking a little windswept.

In the corner of my eye, I saw a black shadow scurry past me toward one of the corridor exits. Then I looked to where Miles and Emely had just been dancing, but there was only Miles standing there, looking like Emely had just slapped him in the face. Then he suddenly stormed off toward where I had just seen the shadow.

Worry spread through me and I hoped he wouldn’t hurt her. Otherwise, he would have to deal with more than just Emely’s other friends.

“Maybe it’s time to get back to the reason we came here in the first place,” Larissa remarked, glancing at her cell phone watch before slipping it back into the sewn-in pocket of her dress.

“Where are the others?” Bayla asked, looking around.

Larissa just shook her head, as if something in particular was upsetting her. “Julie actually knows that we’re meeting on campus by the big oak tree and Miles...” Now she was looking around too.“God damn it,where is this guy when you need him?”

I pointed in the direction I had seen him disappear. “That way.”

Larissa nodded her thanks to me and looked at Bay.

“Okay, how about this: I’ll go look for him, and we’ll meet right outside in a minute.”

Bayla and I nodded at the same time, and Larissa disappeared in the direction Miles had gone.

Chapter 62

Larissa

“I hate young people!” I heard a high-pitched voice curse and when I spotted straight red hair that wasn’t in a topknot for once, I automatically quickened my pace to put as much distance as possible between me and Harlow.

---