Page 95 of A University of Betrayal

Bayla pressed her lips together with a mischievous look and reached for the cutlery.

“Something I’m sure isveryforeign to you.”

I raised both eyebrows. Now she had made me curious. I would probably google it or steal the book from her as soon as she was done.

I didn’t know where the curiosity came from because I didn’t normally read. However, I was fascinated by how she could always sit by the window at weekends and read for hours without getting bored.

I often sat at my piano, but not even the music could really distract me from this town and the burden it placed on my shoulders.

Mia had moved out, and I was going to visit her later, even though the mere thought of going to the Copeland estate made me tense inside. Dad had asked me to go because he couldn’t manage it himself. He was too deeply involved in the Ezra Campbell case and all the missing people.

In my opinion, Dad was getting far too deeply embroiled in town politics. If he wasn’t careful, he’d get himself between the three fronts. But he didn’t listen to me anyway.

I turned my gaze from the window through which I had been staring at nothing, and tried to concentrate on the girl in front of me.

Bayla had cut her pancakes into even pieces and had already started to eat. I couldn’t help but notice the gleam in her eyes and the obsession with which she devoured the pancakes.

She energetically brushed one of her brown strands behind her ear and shoved a fork full of food into her mouth. Her lips were already shimmering blue.

“You’re in love,” I remarked with a grin and crossed my arms in front of my chest.

Bayla looked up in confusion, giving me an uninterrupted view of her two different-colored eyes. Turquoise and blue. A harmonious combination.

“What?”

The blush in her cheeks was so intense that my grin widened.

“With blueberries,” I laughed, pointing to her plate. “I don’t know anyone who is as obsessed with blueberries as you are.”

The confusion cleared from her gaze.

“They’re the most delicious fruit ever,” she said with her mouth half full.

That’s when I spotted the little berry hanging from her cheek. I had to grin. I would have loved to take a picture of her now.

“Why are you grinning like that?”

“Because you look like you’ve been eating blueberries,” I laughed softly, first touching mine briefly and then pointing to her cheek with a grin.

By now, her entire face was covered in red. “Oh no.”

She fumbled through her face, but missed the berry.

“Wait,” I said with a grin and leaned over the table. “Come here.”

I put my hand on her right cheek to remove the berry from her left with my other.

Bayla stared at me and to tease her, I took the berry and popped it into my mouth.

Her eyes widened, and I leaned back in my seat, satisfied at the look on her face.

“What is it, Blueberry?” I asked teasingly, stifling a grin. She would realize soon enough that she had blue stains all around her mouth.

“Don’t you dare call me that!” she said, snapping out of her shock.

“Does that annoy you?” I asked with a grin and finally started to eat, which made the taste of the sweet berry fade.

With red cheeks, Bay brushed her shoulder-length hair behind her ears and rolled her eyes before sighing and turning back to her pancakes. But she paused and stared at her plate, taking a deep breath.

---