Page 34 of Redeemed

“Hey.” Xander removes the earbud he had in—he’s almost always listening to music—and waves. “Purple, huh?”

“Do you like it?” Haven asks as she plops down next to us. “Athelia helped me do it the other day.”

“Turn around so we can see better,” Xander says.

Quickly, she does so. Her hair falls in soft waves, most of it still brown, but there are strips of it dyed a dark, vibrant purple. It suits her well.

I tug on a strand. “I think it looks gorgeous. Do you like it?”

“I do,” she gushes. “I didn’t realize I could color my hair until I saw Athelia’s. The green she picked was so pretty.”

My lips turn upward of their own volition. Considering how we officially met, I started off pretty worried about her. But her smile is so full of life, and it’s rubbing off on me.

“Proud of you for trying new things, Haven,” Xander says, nudging her gently.

Her eyes soften. “Thanks.”

After saving Haven from that fucker her first night here, Xander and I started checking in on her occasionally. And by checking in, I mean discreetly watching her from a distance an unhealthy amount of the time. When she had her panic attack, we both decided Colton couldn’t be trusted, but we were disproved pretty quickly. By keeping an eye on him outside Haven’s dorm, we accidentally befriended him, and the four of us have formed a tight-knit group.

Still, adjusting to Pemberton University has been a lot for Haven. Xander and I don’t know much, but she confessed to us that she grew up in a cult. I don’t think she wanted to, but how else was she going to explain how she knows nothing about technology, pop culture, an odd amount of history… actually,literally everything?

The two of us—plus Colton—swore to keep her upbringing a secret. I really don’t get why that’s so important to her, but who cares? I just want her to stop having those damn panic attacks.

“You doing okay?” I ask as Xander offers Haven some M&M’s.

We haven’t heard about her having another attack since this time last week, but it’s not like we’re around all the time to witness them. Not for lack of trying, of course. Colton, Xan, and I have memorized Haven’s schedule so we can walk her to and from class as our own schedules allow.

“Mmhmm,” Haven replies happily. “I don’t think I’m quite as overwhelmed anymore. Oh! And some of my textbooks arrived, so I don’t have to use my tablet so much, which is such a relief. It doesn’t work very well in the sunlight.”

Xander frowns. “What do you mean?”

“It just gets too bright out, you know? And then it makes it really hard to see what’s on the screen. The same thing happens on the phone Julie got me.”

When I glance at Xander, he’s rubbing at his mouth to hide his smile. I’m trying my best to do the same thing.

“You, uh… you know you can adjust the screen brightness, right?” I ask.

Haven tilts her head. “I can?”

Jesus Christ.How has she gone an entire month at school without realizing she could adjust the brightness?

“Of course you can. It’ll look something like this.” Xander angles his phone toward her and shows her.

“Oh!” she exclaims. “That makes so much sense.”

That has me chuckling. She’s asked me and Xander a few questions about how to get her tablet to work. It makes me feel a little bad, honestly. Why didn’t I think to show her one of the most basic settings on the damn thing?

“Why didn’t you ask?” Xander says, managing to hold in his laugh. The poor girl has been subjected to embarrassment over and over again from all the stupid things she has to learn. I know Xander doesn’t want to make that worse.

“I…” She drops her head. “I didn’t think to. I thought it was kinda like a book, but the opposite, you know? You need light to read a book, you need dark to read on a tablet.”

To me, that’s a ridiculous notion, but I can see howshewould think that given her upbringing. So I punch her lightly in the arm. “Hey, it’s all right. You’ve got a lot to learn, and I think you’ve done a great job so far. I should’ve taught you how to use the tablet more, that’s my bad.”

“It’s all right.” She picks at the grass. “You’re always really busy. Is football going well?”

“Sure is. Coach is a bit of an ass, but whatever.”

She turns a concerned look on me. “Is he mean to you?”

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