I sighed. I had no idea how to figure this out. Or even if I should.
Maybe a clue could come from LostAxis himself? Before overthinking it, I logged in toDragon Arenafor the first time in weeks and searched for LostAxis, but he wasn’t online. I unblocked the name. If LostAxis logged back in, he’d see me. And now he could contact me in the chat, too.
I stayed logged in all evening without playing, but LostAxis didn’t show up. This was a waste of time. Maybe Cass was right—and it didn’t matter who LostAxis or GamesLost was. So what if they exposed me? I hadn’t done anything wrong. I was just hanging out with a new friend.
And maybe obsessing about this was alienating my friends. I needed to let it go.
It was raining on Monday morning. When I got to the bus stop at my regular time, I was surprised to see Cass in the bus shelter. I didn’t know why I’d assumed they wouldn’t be here, that they’d choose to be either early or late so they wouldn’t see me first thing in the morning. But no. Aimee wasn’t here, but Cass was. In their oversize jeans and vintage Frankenstein sweatshirt, and a knit beanie pulled low over their head. This was super awkward. I didn’t know when they wanted to have our talk, but I wasn’t going to force it if they didn’t want to yet.
“I can wait outside if you’d prefer,” I said.
Cass raised a brow. “And get wet?”
I shrugged. “I just ... in case you didn’t want to, you know ... talk.”
Cass sighed. “I told you I wanted to talk today.”
Well, that was promising. “Good. I’m glad. I know I’ve been a bad friend, and I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have sucked my friends into my shit. I’m sorry.” I was talking fast and babbling, repeating some of what I’d texted yesterday. “Please don’t think I don’t appreciate you. You’re the best friend I’ve ever had. I’ll be better. I promise.”
The bus arrived then, so we were silent as we climbed on and tapped our fare cards. We took two seats next to each other near the back.
Cass turned to look at me. “Are you going to tell Daniel the truth about how you feel?”
I sighed. “I’m not stringing him along. Honestly. There’s something I haven’t told you about our arrangement.” I looked around to make sure there were no Earl’s kids on the bus before continuing. I was pretty sure I was safe, but I lowered my voice anyway. “I told you about our arrangement, but I didn’t tell you about his ... parameter.”
Cass raised one brow. “You told me about your parameters. Holding hands is okay, you were going to have three dates, eight pictures.”
“Yeah, but there was another one.” I told Cass about my parameter that the fake relationship wouldneverbe real, and Daniel’s that he wouldn’t be completely open with me like he would if this were a real relationship.
Cass looked surprised. “And he’s been respecting that?”
I nodded. “Yeah. I really don’t know much about him. He never talks about friends, or his childhood. He’s mentioned his mother and some uncle he lives with, but the only person he really talks about is some aunt in Brampton who taught him how to bake. And he knows that I don’t want to start actually dating.”
“Okay, but now that he knows you better, he may want to renegotiate.”
“I don’t think so. He even said at Hana’s that he sees this as a job. And, honestly, I don’t think I want a relationship with Daniel. I’d be rebounding, wouldn’t I? Plus, it would never work. We’re nothing alike. He’s into—”
“Do you actually believe that, or are you so convinced that he couldn’t be interested in you that you keep telling yourself excuses so you don’t have to try?”
I stared at Cass, blinking.
Cass smiled. “I get it, Samaya. Devin hurt you a lot. It’s okay to admit you’re scared to get in another relationship.”
How ... how exactly did Cass know exactly what I was doing when I didn’t? I didn’t know what to say.
“I’m talking to a guy right now who’s nothing like me,” Cass said, suddenly.
Wait ... what? “What do you meantalking? Like, talking talking? Are youdating?”
Cass exhaled. “No! I don’t know if he’s into me like that. But we, like, talk a lot. Literally talking, not figuratively. We’re friends.”
I grinned. “How long?”
“Since July.”
“And you’re into him likethat?”
Cass nodded. Their skin had turned completely pink.
