Kellan grabs a plate, following me to the self-service spread. I grab a bagel and a spoonful of fruit. “What are you doing today?” I ask.
He mutters something about needing meat before responding that he’s studying today and wants to head into town to get out for a bit. I follow him to the window, serving a sort of meat and potato hash.
Ryker walks by subtly, brushing a hand across my lower back as he reaches for a pre-filled plate as if possessively already laying claim, and then disappears, leaving my whole body alight with energy and heat. A thrill courses through me at the thought of a possessive Ryker. Kellan doesn’t miss the contact, his face becoming a mottled shade of red as he grinds his molars.
“Come with me?” he asks as we take slow steps back to our tables.
I wish we could sit wherever we wanted on weekends. Ryker’s little rule is absurd. Perhaps I could convince him to lay off, at least for one day of the week.
“I can’t,” I sigh. “I’m headed to the game this afternoon.” I don’t bother explaining why. I probably would have gone with Kellan if Ryker hadn’t asked me already.
“You don’t even like AerBall,” he snaps, making me flinch. “What now, because you find out you’re possibly fated to Bond with him, you’re an AerBall fan now?”
His words sting like a physical blow. Kellan and I never fight, and he’s never talked to me like this. I told him about the last game I attended and how much fun I had. The fact that he’s questioning me now just hurts.
“You can be a real jerk sometimes,” I whisper, holding back tears. “He’s not the only reason.”
“Just the main one,” Kellan turns and finds a seat at the Intel table.
I fight the urge to rub the spot where it feels like my heart hurts. I hate all of this; I hate how much it’s hurting my best friend. I just don’t know what to do about it. I can’t deny what’s happening between Ryker and me, but that doesn’t make my feelings for Kellan disappear, either. I plop down into a seat beside Ciara, the giddiness from the morning already gone.
She bumps my shoulder with hers, offering me a piece of sausage. I accept it, biting into it, ignoring the burning in my throat. “He’ll be okay.”
“You heard?”
She nods her head, offering me a small, gentle smile. “Not all of it, but it was pretty obvious. Ryker isn’t as subtle as he thinks he is. I’m sure half the room saw him touch you. I only happened to hear the part about the game.”
I sigh, falling onto my folded arms. I’ll need to make it up to Kellan, but also, why should I? He’s the one hurting me. I could have been doing anything today. Just because I didn’t drop everything to go with him. “I’m going to the game because I want to.” I sit up, forcefully unraveling my linen napkin. “And because Ryker asked. I don’t want to go to the village.”
“Then we go to the game,” Ciara says, shrugging and tossing some potatoes into her mouth. The rest of breakfast I spend trying to recover my mood, but if I’m honest, I’m still upset over the whole interaction.
There’s a storm coming in this afternoon, so I slip into my Xori pants and wear a long-sleeve shirt under the Drithm Academy jersey I ordered. Aolyn has a matching one, with the Drithm crest covering our chests.
“Sit,” she orders.
I take a seat on the tall stool in front of my vanity as she paints my face with blue and gold stars and the number seven on my cheek.
“You can’t!” I gasp. “No. Aolyn, what if I’m pictured or something? I can’t wear his number.”
She ignores me, humming as she paints the other cheek with a stencil, painting the Drithm crest. “You’ll be fine,” she responds. “Besides, who cares?”
I groan and look in the mirror. “I can’t, I’m sorry, but it’s just going to start rumors, and none of us need that, especially with what just happened.”
She rolls her eyes and sighs, relenting, and wipes my cheek, painting another star in its place.
I steal the paint from her and trade places, painting her face in a similar fashion. As I do, we talk about Ryker showing up earlier and letting us know he reserved a row of seats for us directly behind the pit. It’s some of the best seats in the arena.
Kamden, Tate, and Ciara are meeting us there. I messaged Kellan to see if he wanted to come, but I haven’t heard back. I’m going to assume it’s a no.
When we’re both done fixing our hair and makeup, I brush my teeth once more just because. Not that I plan on kissing him again, but just in case.
We make it out to the arena and find our friends among the crowd at the front of the gates. All of us are dressed in academy colors. Today, we’re playing against Coriat, one of the academies in the Okenen kingdom. Their fans are among us, dressed in light blue and white. I groan when we make our way to our seats and find Ryker’s dumb cheer team only three rows behind us.
thirty-five
. . .
ryker
