“Look at me, spreading so much joy,” I sang. “What an amazing morning!”
“You didn’t take your pills today, did you?” Ezekiel asked flatly.
“Haven’t for a week.” I’d been hiding them in my cheek when the nurse checked, and I spat them out later.
“Ava!”
“It’s fine! I don’t need them!” I said excitedly. “I feelso goodright now, Ez. I’m in a great mood! I have been for days!”
“That’s because you’re becoming manic,” he grumbled.
“If I was manic, would I be helping this many people? Ilovehelping my friends,” I swooned.
“Yes, but—”
“I don’t know why you’re so worried, Ez. I’m just having fun. Aren’t you happy I’m not moping around?” I asked.
Ezekiel’s mouth twisted. “Ava, just tell me the truth. Is it getting bad again?”
“It’s fine, Ez. I can handle it,” I told him.
“You can’t just… think your way out of being sick,” Ezekiel said.
His words caused something in me to snap. “You’re one to talk.”
I didn’t mean to let that slip out, but it did anyway. Ezekiel paled. “There’s nothing wrong with me.”
“Well, there’s nothing wrong with me, either.” We were both liars.
He huffed. “Whatever. I have better things to do than babysit you.” He stomped off, around the corner and out of sight.
I’d definitely touched a nerve. Oberi let out a low whine. I sighed and continued handing out cookies, like the magical cookie-fairy I was.
Deep down, I knew Ez was right. I was becoming manic, if I wasn’t there already. A fun, hypomania bipolar episodealwaysresulted in a huge dip in mood later.
I just hoped this high lasted long enough for me to get everything done this week. I was so behind on homework. Maybe if I stayed awake for three days straight, I’d be able to get it all finished in one go.
“Hey!”
I barely registered the guard’s voice, but I definitely panicked when I felt his harsh grip on my arm. A bulky vampire guard towered over me, his nose twisting as he caught sight of my basket. Oberi immediately sank down into a crouch and started growling.
The guard ripped the basket of cookies out of my grasp. “What are these? Distributingnightshadecookies on prison property? Just who do you think you are?”
“They don’t have nightshade in them!” I insisted. “I just wanted to be nice!”
“Inmates aren’t allowed to share food,” the guard snarled. “You’re heading to the Warden!”
“I didn’t know!” I shouted. The guard began dragging me away. Oberi whined, not knowing whether to attack or stay put. I froze, wondering if I should fight back, or if that would make it worse. I didn’t want to go anywhere near the Warden— not now or ever. “Let me go!”
The guard snarled, and he reached for the handcuffs on his belt. I felt my stomach twist, until I heard someone say, “Don’t take her in. I can handle this.”
My eyes narrowed immediately when I saw him, while Oberi’s tail wagged.Charlie. I had a bone to pick with him. His arm hung in a sling, and clearly, he hadn’t hurt it from falling— he’d been attacked. Charlie had yellow and purple bruises all over his face. The area around his eyes was swollen, and he moved gingerly.
Somebody had beat Charlie up. And when I found out who, I was going to make them eat dirt. Nobody put their hands onmy Charlieand got away with it. I’d tear them apart— my heels were going straight into their eyeballs.
The moment I got some answers from my bonded partner, that is.
The guard stopped yanking on me when he noticed Charlie. “You vouching for her?”
