Page 219 of A University of Betrayal

It was the faint sounds: the barely audible creaking of floorboards, the pulling back of blankets and curtains... I even heard her sigh.

“You can’t hide in here forever!” I shouted even louder, but then reminded myself to lower my voice and looked over to Diana’s house, feeling paranoid.

She had really threatened me with a godforsaken shotgun!What was wrong with this woman?

“Mady,please!I’m sorry. I had some issues I needed to take care of, and...”

The door opened, and the first thing that met me was the sweet smell of blood. I stared at Mady in confusion.

Let It All Go

Birdy, RHODES

“If by issues, you mean the DeLoughreys...”

I tried not to breathe, but the water was already pooling in my mouth.

“Damn, I’m sorry,” I began, remembering why I’d come here.

“It’s okay, Mia didn’t get in touch at all,” she said with a wave of her hand. “I didn’t even expect it from you.”

“Ouch” A painful feeling of guilt filled my chest. I wish I could have been there for her. “I’m a lousy friend.”

It was so easy with Bayla. It felt like she was my sister. And I’d never had any other friends, except for irresponsible gang members in Sacramento.

Mady turned away and walked down the hallway of the dark first floor in her gray sweatpants and a way-too-big pine green Vanderwood hoodie, and I was forced to follow her through a mess of shoes and clothes.

“You’re not. I see you with Bayla.She’s your friend,” she sighed, and we both arrived in the kitchen. “I just expect too much from those around me.”

I looked at Mady with pity as she started the electric kettle and pushed the empty noodle boxes to one side to make room for a cup from the sink.

“Would you like something to drink?” Mady asked, turning to me.

I accidentally started to breathe, and once again, the sweetness of her blood flooded my nose, making me thirsty, almost insane.

Hold your breath, Larissa.It was as if this was coming easily to me, until the moment I ran into people who had AB in them.

“No, it’s okay,” I said, confused with myself, and Mady turned back to the cup.

She was a human. And I was a monster searching for food. I should never have come here…

“Sorry about the mess, I...” Mady began, but I interrupted her.

“This is your house. You have nothing to apologize for.”

Mady turned around, and a sad smile spread across her full lips. They looked puffy, dry, reddened, just like her eyes, which were covered by individual strands of dark brown hair.

“My house,”she began, looking around the messy kitchen.“God,I wish he’d sold it.”

I swallowed.

It was always easy for me to talk, always, really. But Mady had lost her entire family. She’d known them, had grown bonds with them. Not like me... I didn’t want to imagine how much this loss must hurt.

“If he’d sold it, he wouldn’t have had to work as much, would never have gone to that diner...” she whispered, staring at a baseball cap on the fridge. “I could have worked, but I was too weak, too irresponsible.” Tears filled her eyes, and she looked at me. “That’s probably why I don’t have any friends.”

Without hesitation, I stepped up to her and pulled her into my arms.

A lot of things seemed to be falling apart inside her, and she had no one left. No parents, no brother, not even friends. I wanted to be her friend...

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