Page 38 of Dissent

“No, he didn’t. But he wasn’t exactly helpful, either. He just kind of scared me a few times when he had me pinned, but he didn’t hurt me or anything.” Well, he didn’t hurt memuch.But I left that part out. I didn’t need all this attention on me right now, and the look of concern written all over Matias’s face made me feel bad. “He was just an ass. That’s all.”

“Mmm,” Edith cooed as she licked her spoon. “That’s hot.”

I shot her a look. “What?No, it isn’t.”

“Yeah it is. Sexy and edgy.” She practically purred out the words as she wiggled her brows at me.

I rolled my eyes, trying to give the impression that I didn’t care what she was talking about, but I could feel my cheeks burn. I bantered, “Are you high on something? Do you do drugs?”

Edith laughed as she patted my shoulder, “Nope! I just call them as I see them.” She pointed out her spoon in Wes’s direction. “Andthatone…that one hasBad Boy in Lovewritten all over him.”

My back stiffened. “Ew,” I spat out.

“Shut up, Edith,” Matias snapped. I turned my attention to him, surprised by his sudden outburst.

Edith put her hands up with her impish grin still firmly in place. “I surrender. Just playing around is all…well, kind of.” She chuckled then, as she brought her hands down and scooped up the last bit of her stew.

Matias’s look was firm but confusing to me. I didn’t get it. Why would he care anyway? His eyes looked at me, and we held each other’s gaze. I could feel it again, the tingling zipping sensation soaring through me as I got lost in his eyes. It was that feeling of weightlessness when everything around you disappears as you get lost in something beautiful. My consciousness just barely heard Edith’s comment.

“Uh huh…What tangled webs we weave, said the spider.”

I snapped out of it, turning to look at her again. “What does that even mean?”

She smiled and gave me a wink. “I don’t know…why don’tyoutell me what it means?”

Yup, she was on drugs. No doubt about it. That, or she was nuts. I shifted away from her, feeling confident in my assessment, only to catch a fresh set of eyes on me.

Emerald ones.

And they spoke volumes of murder.

18: Frenemies

Edithofferedtowalkme back to my tent, which I quickly realized meant babysitting me, since Chelsea wanted to discuss something with Matias…privately. The insistence of shoving me out of the cafeteria left me curious.

“What do you think she’s talking to him about in there?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

“Should it be?”

Edith snickered, “Damn, newbie, you’ve got to step up your game, girl!”

I rubbed my forehead. “What game? What are you even talking about?”

“Ha! Nice try, but Edith sees it all. YoulikeMatias.”

“What!” My brows shot to my hairline. “Are you crazy? I barely know him.”

Edith placed her hands behind her head as she strutted on. “The heart knows no time, newbie. And besides,” she brought her arms down and looked at me, “who could blame you? Matias is cute, cute,cute! All tall, dark, and handsome the way he is.” She licked her lips playfully. “Yummy…”

“Oh my god,” I whispered, keeping my voice down as I looked around to make sure no one was listening to us. “Would you quiet down!”

“Why? Embarrassed?”

“Yes!”

“Then I nailed it right on the head, girly. Only way you’re embarrassed is if I struck pay dirt, which clearly means I did.” She laughed. “YoulikeMatias. Nailed it!”

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