Page 66 of Hidden Echoes

“What are you doing?” she asks awkwardly, and I can feel her blush.

“Hugging you.”

“I can see that, but why?”

"Because maybe you needed a hug," and then I let out a dry laugh. "I know I honestly could use one."

“Oh my,” I can feel the girl’s voice soften as she closes her arms around me and then smiles. “I’m Liv, by the way.”

“Mia,” I whisper, but I suspect she already knows.

“God, Livia is hugging someone. Maybe we’ll finally get snow in Los Angeles.” The boy from before teases, and I can’t help but laugh.

He likes her. I can tell by the way he looks at her.

But it’s only for a few seconds, and then he masks it with the arrogant air again.

“Shut up, Hunter,” Liv rolls her eyes.

“Hi, Mia, it’s good to see you again,” Hunter says, and I raise my eyebrows. Before I could reply to him, I hear some black-haired girl shouting,

“You son of a bitch,” the girl pushes the guy, but he looks even angrier. “I want my money.”

“Listen here, bumpkin, if you think this is like where you came from, you’re very wrong. Get out of here.”

“Or what? What are you going to do if I don’t go?”

“You like to look tough, don’t you, hiding behind that little boyfriend of yours from the Society of Crow. I’m not afraid.”

“Trust me, I don’t need my boyfriend to beat your fat ass, Carl. Now give me my money or…”

“Or,” he reaches out, holding her arm, and my eyes go dark. I don’t see when the knife flies from my hands and lands directly in his arm. Fucking idiot.

The girl smiles smugly while the guy roars in pain.

“Following me to LA is a bit much even for you. I thought you were on a super mission to find Cole. Honestly, S…” Her words trail off, and a mix of what I assume is surprise and a bit of disappointment fills me.

“Wow, you’re definitely not who I expected,” she says with a smile as infectious as the sun, and I can’t help but smile back. “Nice aim.”

“Thank you, I learned from my brother when I was younger. But unfortunately, he didn’t stick around to watch me become better than him. I’m Mia.”

“Hmm.” The girl studies me, and I can’t help but do the same. She’s stunning. Her eyes are so blue it’s like she carries the ocean inside them, but not the calm part—rather, an ocean in a storm. When she’s done studying me, she smiles again. “I like you. You seem fucked up in the head. Let’s be friends.”

“So you found Audrey,” Liv says in a gentle voice.

“More like she found me,” I reply. “Not that I’m complaining.”

“Calm down, tigress, I’m taken,” Audrey says.

“Me too,” I say with a smile, I mean, I was taken, or technically I’m soon not to be taken, but this is all semantics. “Doesn’t mean you’re not hot, though.”

“God, I love this girl already,” Audrey says, pulling a cigarette out of her pocket and lighting it. She offers one to me first, but I decline, and then she turns to Liv, offering one to her as well. Liv accepts, taking it with a small smile.

“Right?” Liv replies, her eyes soft as she looks at me. “I will adopt her as mine.”

“Wow, you must be really magic if Livia, of all people, is willing to adopt you.” Audrey stares at me amused while she smokes, and Liv rolls her eyes again.

"Why do people keep saying that? It's not like I’m a fucking monster," Livia snaps.

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