Luther gives me full marks.
Brandt gives me the night off after that, saying that rest was more important than trying to cram in any more practice before the Crypteia tomorrow. And I almost get away with it too, until someone starts incessantly banging on my door. Butthead perks up from where he’s currently nuzzling his cold nose in my ear. Maybe if I just stay quiet long enough?—
“Mrow.”
“Butthead? Is she in there?” Milo’s stern voice comes through the door, and the furry little shit yowls againright in my ear. “Give it up, Nyx, your creepy cat narc’d on you.”
“He’s not creepy!”
“Ah HA. Come one, get up. We’re celebrating.”
“Absolutely not.”
“You absolutely are, Ms. Top-of-the-President’s-List.”
Butthead jumps off my head when I sit up and follows me to the door where Milo’s waiting very impatiently. “Wait—what?”
“They just posted grades. Congratulations! Let’s go.”
“Go where?”
“The beach. This school seems to have an obsession with bonfires for some reason, have you ever noticed that? Everyone’s there. Including Tori—who, by the way—can be very scary when she wants to be. She promised to introduce me to her friend Danica if I came and got you and threatened to do it herself if you didn’t listen. So,pleasewill you be my wingwoman and save us both from her vengeance? Just one drink and then I’ll help sneak you out. Pinky promise.”
The guilt of ignoring the few friends I had—have—in this place for the last few weeks hits me then. As much as I really,reallydon’t to be around other people right now or ever, honestly… if they’re making this much of an effort, I owe them at much, at least.
“Fine. One drink.”
“Great—I already texted Tori that we’re on our way so hurry up and get dressed.”
“You already texted her? You dick.”
“Come ooonnnnnnn,” he whines pitifully, and I shut the door in his face. Five minutes later I am unfortunately dressed in a pair of short shorts that fit looser than they did when I last wore them thanks to not eating three square meals a day in the effort of avoiding?—
Nope.
Not doing this tonight.
Tonight is aboutfun, I sneer as I pull on my black cropped sweatshirt and favorite ratty high tops.
When I pull the door open again, Milo gestures to me. “Uh you’re going to have to fix your face before we get there.” I roll my eyes, locking the door behind me. Like a good friend,he does all the talking as we walk through campus towards the beach down by the cliffs where the witches celebrated Ostara earlier this year. He catches me up on the latest gossip, where our friendsandenemies ended up on the grade list. Milo’s dead middle of the pack—his words—the Hektreia sisters, Heirs, and Legacies are all near the top with me, excluding Tori who’s salutatorian and Roth who’s managed to cinch the valedictorian spot, to no one’s surprise. I doubt anyone who’s given him a bad grade is still teaching. Or breathing, for that matter.
When we get to the beach, it’s not just one bonfire, it’s three.
“Milo—”
“Tori!” he cries out. In the distance, she stands and waves us over to a smaller bonfire in the distance where, I’m dismayed to discover, the Heirs and their Legacy lackeys are also sitting.
“I’m going to kill you.” I mutter.
“At least wait until after I’ve asked Danica out.”
God damnit.
“Nyx!” Tori jumps up and races over, hugging me tightly, drawing everyone’s attention to me. Killian is casually leaning against one of three fallen logs between Lyra and Cynthia, who’s next to Luther, while Thane and Roth are sitting opposite them with Calanthe on his left. On the last log, Danica’s next to Tori’s empty spot, then Brynne, and Evie. Tori pulls back and smooshes my face between her hands.
“One drink,” I mumble and scowl.
“Thank you for coming.” She smiles warmly, and it thaws my death glare. She wraps her arms around my shoulders, and just for a moment, I let my touch-starved self give in and return her hug. Brynne comes up behind Tori and gives me a hug too.
