Page 49 of Stormbreaker

The newcomers make their way to the other side of the room, draping themselves across Winter’s and Lacey’s beds. Verity and Sal stumble over to Trinity’s empty corner, making out as Sal rolls on top of her, practically dry humping her in front of everyone.

“Um, hello,” I say, raising my voice. They ignore me. Or maybe they just can’t hear me over the sound of Verity’s moans and Sal’s sad little hip thrusts. “Hey! Could you not . . . do that there?”

Finally, they pull apart and glare. Verity and I have always been friendly with each other, but everything’s changed now.

“Trin is still in the med wing, and I’d like to keep her corner clean,” I add, knowing I’m being irrationally territorial, but this is her space. I spent last night tidying it up now that Dr. Perez has given her the all clear, but Trinity claims she’s still not feeling well enough to move.

I know she’s avoiding everyone, and I understand her desire to hide.

But she can’t stay there forever.

“She’s no longer Society.” Verity sniffs. “Who cares?”

“She still is,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. “And I care.”

“Fine,” Verity says with a huff before the couple scoots off the bed, joining their friends to the sound of derisive laughter, definitely at my expense.

I try to ignore it, hoping they’ll all leave soon. Picking up my tablet, I flip through a few pages, searching for something to occupy me, when there’s a ding on my phone.

silver: sogno tonight. u coming, poet?

Sogno is a multistory club themed like a dreamscape, with fluffy clouds and bartenders and waiters dressed in practically nothing but white feathered wings.

Its notoriety is legendary, and we’re barred from entry when we’re younger. Trinity and I have been waiting for this moment for years. I can’t go without her—it wouldn’t be right. Plus, I’m not really in the mood for partying.

me: i think i’ll stay in, but thanks. i’m a bit tired

silver: waiting for trin?

me: yea

I wait for her to convince me to come. To voice some word of protest. I know it isn’t fair to hope, but Silver has been keeping her distance since my initiation.

While I understand it, it also hurts.

me: have fun

A long silence follows, and I imagine Hazel and Silver discussing their reply. When it comes, my heart sinks.

silver: thanks!

silver: u too

And that’s it. At least for tonight, I suppose.

Another knock comes at the door, and I quietly groan as another group enters. I recognize several faces, and a few try to catch my eye before remembering they’re supposed to be shunning me.

I focus on my screen until a shadow falls over me and someone collapses onto the foot of my bed. Knox drapes himself across my feet, and Jackson stands above me with one hand on his hip and the other planted on the wall.

Jackson offers me a brown glass bottle of Hollow moonshine, and I shake my head.

“Come with us,” Knox says, a touch too loudly. “We’re heading to Sogno.”

“You’re in a better mood,” I say, catching the scent of liquor on his breath. The bandage from Rook’s punch is gone, and only a bit of bruising remains around his eye.

“It’s the weekend,” he says. “I’m getting wasted. I’ll deal with that little fuck later.”

His eyes darken, and I regret reminding him about his beef with Rook. I’ve seen very little of him for the past week. He missed biology class yesterday, and I actually do need to speak with him about our assignment that’s due on Monday.