Page 99 of Pierce Me

Manuela: Honey, do you want me to book you a flight? An asshole boss right now is last thing I want for you. I’ll email Spencer, that’s what I’ll do.

Eden: Don’t you dare, Manu.

Manuela: Ok, ok, I won’t. I’m just… I’m a little protective, you know?

Faith: What if I clawed Issy Woo’s eyes out?

Eden: Oh? I thought he was your prince?

Faith: If he won’t talk to my little sister, he is no prince. He is my next target.

Manuela: I’m coming over to take you away from there.

Eden: I love it here, actually. Apart from his ignoring me, I love writing songs with him. And the musicians are really kind. They are like a family, and they are treat me like that too. They are super friendly. The other night, we stayed up all night baking and whining to each other and trying to decipher Isaiah’s mood swings.

Manuela: Ah, that’s nice. I’m so happy for you.

Faith: Way to go, En.

Faith: Did you decipher ISAIAH?

Eden: Thanks, you guys. I know you’re teasing, but it was kind of a big deal for me—I’ve never had a chance to make friends before. I don’t know how to connect with people, I constantly feel awkward. But I’m determined to do this. To catch up with life, to learn how to face everything I missed.

Manuela: Eden…

Eden: This job is not just about gaining qualifications to go on my Harvard application. It’s also about dealing with actual life. Learning to do the hard stuff.

Manuela: Honey, you’ve survived enough hard stuff to last you seven lifetimes over.

Faith: Seven hundred lifetimes over.

Eden: Exaggerating again, Fee.

Manuela: No, actually, I agree with her for once.

Faith: My head just exploded. Manu agreeing with me? Are there pigs flying too?

Eden: Long story short, I need to deal with this on my own. I won’t quit until I have tried my best.

Manuela: Your best to what?

Eden: To forget that he almost kissed me.

*message deleted*

Eden: I don’t know. To forget how I used to be, I guess.

Eden: They’re calling me, guys. Gotta go. Oh, I kind of got a dog now, by the way. Love you x

Manuela: YOU WHAT?

*Eden is offline*

Faith: She has got to stop doing that.

twenty-one

“Lou, we need to talk.”

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