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“I’m tired now, Reya.” She shrugs, already removing her hand-wraps. “Let’s stop, okay? I need a long and hot shower, then a massage.”

I laugh and follow her to the far end of the room as she grabs a water bottle.

Monday morning and we’re already exhausted from training. The last part of our exams is coming really fast and we have to do better. I spent the weekend back at home again, dad’s assignment ended on Sunday and Milo seemed really happy to have him home again. I don’t remember much of it, I think I’ve gotten better at dissociating and erasing him from my day to day life and any of my memories.

The good thing is, I had something to hold onto. The memories of Damien’s surprise were all I could see in my head. Follow the stars…

Now, I’m with Hayzel in the training facility. We’ve been working on her self-defense stance for two hours.

“Did you work on your ‘secret project’ with Mister Caldwell this weekend?” She says, teasingly.

A chuckle escapes my lips as I shake my head. “For your information, woman. I was at home with Milo.”

“Oh, your Dad is back?”

I nod, trying to mask the discomfort I feel whenever he’s mentioned. “Yep. A whole month away from here and now he’s already back to work.”

I gesture with my chin up at Ethan and Will who are also training on the other side of the room. “You know he’s still not talking to me.”

“Oh yeah? What have you done now?” Hayzel says with her hands on her hips.

“I haven’t done anything, woman.”

She smiles, before poking my cheek with her sweaty finger “So… Are you going to tell me why I can hear our teacher’s voice in your room every night?”

I gasp, slapping my hand over her mouth. “Not here, you perv.”

She bites it until I let it fall down and her smile comes back. “Let’s go to your dorm, and you will not escape the interrogation this time.”

Hayzel’s already walking back out, and I follow her, preparing myself for this conversation. We pass by Ethan and Will, and when our eyes meet, all I see is disappointment and confusion. I don’t know what’s wrong with him, but I flip him off and leave.

We walk in silence, until we reach my dorm and she’s already removing her sports bra before I have the chance to push the key into the door.

“So, are you gonna tell me now?” Hayzel says, shouting as she rushes inside my bathroom. I hear the shower turn on and I face dive onto the end of my bed.

“Well?!” She shouts again over the spray.

Blue jumps up next to me, already rubbing his head against mine.

“Take your shower first, you stink,” I reply as I play with him in the meantime.

I flutter my fingers in front of him, watching as he lunges for them as if they’re small mice or one of his favorite toys. “You’re a menace,” I whisper to him as he bites my thumb.

I missed him and judging by the way he’s tilting his cute face to the side, he missed me too.

“Now that I’m clean, tell me everything about you and Mister Caldwell,” Hayzel says as she appears wrapped in a towel before sitting next to me.

“Shit. Can you clear your throat next time before you sneak up on me?!”

“Hmm, I’m sorry, did I scare you?” She quips, stroking my hair as if I was Blue.

I bat away her hand. “Stop trying to soften me up, I’ll tell you everything.”

“Fin...al..ly!” She barks loudly.

“Keep your voice down,” I hissed, throwing a pillow at her.

She catches it immediately. “Oh please, Blue is the only one listening,” she replies, chuckling.