Something extra. I have no idea what that means. It doesn’t tip me off on where Gigi is, or what this is all about. But I can’t wait to march up to Theodore Dunkin and cram this note down his gullet until he tells me where my Gigi is.
Thespecial package. Suddenly it clicks in my head. The email my Gigi’s assistant received. The twins intercepted it and thought it was her latest recipe, not the monthly stipend of homemade cookies. The recipe—love and lard. I’d delight in telling them what absolute idiots they are, but I’d prefer to never run into them for the rest of my life.
They are losing their minds over a run of the mill, monthly gift of cookies I get from my grandma. What a couple of absolute delusional cretins.
“Go on,” Cinder nudges me.
I put down the note and pull up the University website on my phone. My finger hovers over the button. I don’t want to see the grade. I don’t want to risk feeling powerless and worthless. I’ve been jerked around too much the last week.
As if sensing my apprehension, Cinder says, “If you fail, you’ll just try again. That is a strength most people need desperately, but won’t give themselves.”
I nod and swallow past the lump in my throat.
Goldie holds up three cookies like they are playing cards. “And no matter what, you’ll have some chocolate chunk for celebration or solace.”
Cinder and I take our respective cookies and I know they are right. Everything will be okay, and I can’t help but think of what Brexley said. They are my pack.
Pushing Brexley out of my mind, I hit the button.
“Oh,” I say, registering the number on the screen.
“Oh, good? Or, oh, bad?” Goldie sounds like she might expire any second from the suspense.
Unable to speak, I hand the phone to Cinder.
“Ninety-two percent,” she reads.
“I passed the class,” I whisper.
There is a hush before the explosion of excitement. We are all on our feet and both girls hug me fiercely from either side.
“Fuck that other school. You are a total genius! They just didn’t appreciate it,” Goldie yells.
More quietly, Cinder says, “Well done.”
Then we step back to cheers in the center with the cookies from my grandma. We each bite into the perfect blend of chocolate and sugary dough.
“Oh my fae lords, these are the best ones yet,” Goldie moans. “How do they taste so fresh?”
I can’t help but agree with her. I’m unsure if it’s finally confiding in my friends, my passing grade, or the cookies, but I feel better than I ever have in my life. My body lightens and I feel like all the potential inside me has been unlocked and I might fly off the ground.
Cinder has chocolate smeared on her lips.
We laugh as I try to wipe it away. In no time, we devour the cookies.
“You sure your grandma doesn’t put magic in these?” Goldie asks, her pupils dilating. “I feel supernaturally good.”
I wave a hand. “She knows I hate that stuff and wouldn’t do that.” Though I have to agree with Goldie, these are uncommonly good.
“Goldie,” Cinder gasps.
“What?”
I turn to look at Goldie and gasp. “Uh, what the fuck?”
Goldie frowns. “What the fuck, what? Oh my fae, Cinder, you are glowing.”
“I’m glowing?You’reglowing,” Cinder points.
