Page 90 of Firestorm
Both girls stared at me with wide eyes. Willow nodded faintly.
My parents were victims,I whispered the words, fighting back tears.My mother, Iris, and my father, Ben. My father, Levi…he…
I choked back a sob and then Willow was throwing her arms around me in a hug.
Was he hurt?Mia asked.
I trembled in Willow’s arms for a few moments before steeling my spine.
Yeah,I whispered.He was really hurt.
“I’m sorry, Skye!” Willow whispered harshly into my shoulder.
The bomb went off right near us, but my affinity…it protected me. Well, all except my ears. It blew out my eardrums.Willow gasped.It protected me, but not my parents. My mom was…she was right there, and–
The haunting image of my mother’s coat, flapping in the breeze while impaled on an iron spike from the fence flashed through my mind, and both girls gasped as I accidentally shared the memory with them.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, quickly closing down our connection.
Mia squeezed my arm tightly.
“No, Skye.I’mso fucking sorry,” Mia whispered.
Willow’s arms tightened around me even further. With Mia squeezing on my other side, I was in the middle of a very tight bestie sandwich.
It’s just been me and Zephyr ever since. He’s the only person in the world I trust with my life.
Change that right now,Willow said fiercely, looking up at me through wet lashes.You can trustus, Skye.
Whatever you need from us, we’ll do it.Mia promised with a nod.We’re here for you, Skye.
“Thank you.” I whispered. “I’ve always wanted friends like y’all.”
“You’re stuck with us,” Willow declared.
I laughed, the tightness in my chest fading slightly. For once…the idea of being stuck with someone didn’t terrify me.
Chapter 28
Aiden
I attemptedto act natural while I waited outside Skye’s dormitory.
Attempting, but failing. Miserably.
Standing with my hands in my pockets?Eh. Leaning against the wall?Eh. Leaning against the wall with my hands in my pockets?What is this, an old sitcom?
I was now leaning against the wall with my arms crossed over my chest. It was silly that I was even here. Some random urge from about an hour ago had me feeling like I’d throw up everything I’d ever eaten, and then I felt like I should be here to see Skye. So here I was.
A few girls left the dorm and waved to me. I gave them a quick grin and they giggled. My smile dropped as soon as their backs were turned. I usually enjoyed the male smugness that came with girls pining for me, but now…
Now it all felt hollow.
Girls liked me, and I knew it. But for some reason I couldn’t grasp, the only girl I wanted looking and giggling at me, just fuckingwouldn’t.
Skye Aria was a complete mystery. She’d started school late, supposedly due to her water affinity manifesting late. I was grateful she hadn’t asked me why we were the same age, both starting at the same time.
It would be really embarrassing to explain how I’d dropped out years ago and just recently gotten my shit together.
