The football team had arrived.
Their locker room is in the same sports building as the rink, which means the peace there never lasts very long.
After that, I went back to my room, changed, and now I’m heading towards the academy for another day of classes.
Fortunately, I don’t have a first period this morning, so I decide to stop by the dining hall for breakfast before classes start.
There’s a chance the girls will already be there, and I would at least like to see them for a few minutes. Just to reassure myself that everyone is alright.
Though, honestly, none of us seem particularly alright lately.
Octavia and Adelaide can barely exist in the same room without tension erupting between them.
Ophelia has been disappearing deeper and deeper into her own thoughts recently, carrying around something she clearly refuses to speak about.
Which, admittedly, makes me a complete hypocrite for noticing considering I’ve been doing exactly the same thing.
And lately, it almost seems like wherever the girls are, the Ferrum Syndicate is never very far behind.
Then again, considering Hunter has recently developed the exact same habit when it comes to me, I really have no room to judge.
As I pass the main building, I notice that while most students are already in class, a few are still gathered outside, enjoying the rare bit of sunlight.
I head towards the separate building that houses the dining hall. It’s smaller and more modern than the main academy building.
I slip my earphones out as I step into the dining hall, and my eyes immediately land on Ophelia sitting alone at our table.
I head over to her.
She glances up from the menu the moment I approach, a small smile appears on her lips, and I find myself returning it automatically as I slide into the seat opposite her.
“Just you this morning?” I ask.
“Seems like it,” she replies lightly. “Although I saw Adelaide earlier, so if she doesn’t have class, she’ll probably show up eventually. And Octavia was still asleep when I left, but I did wake her before leaving, so she might come down too.”
I nod, glancing at her briefly.
There’s something in the way she looks at me.
Like she wants to ask me something but keeps deciding against it at the last second.
Before she gets the chance to say anything, I turn my attention to the digital menu built into the table.
We place our orders through it, and the food usually arrives a few minutes later.
I don’t come to the dining hall very often anymore.
Usually, it used to be the girls dragging me here back when things between us felt… easier.
Now, if I do come, it’s mostly just to see them anyway.
Most of the time, I prefer staying in our private dorm.
It doesn’t really feel like student accommodation at all. It’s more like a small apartment with its own kitchen, and whenever I don’t feel like cooking, I can always order food from the dining hall and have it delivered straight to my room.
Although, since Arlo decided to overhaul the entire academy menu and make it fully vegan for Ophelia’s sake, I can’t say I’ve been particularly tempted.
Not that I have anything against it.
