Page 41 of Colton

Then, she walks over to her side of the dorm, opening her jewelry box, and anxiety starts to swell inside of me. She’s rummaging through the pieces, as if they don’t cost more than my monthly rent.

“Come here, Ava.”

With a sigh, I walk toward her, then sit on her bed. She takes off my ruby earrings, the only expensive and good quality jewelry I have — thanks to her — and sets them aside.

The earrings she puts on me are subtle, but they have a pretty shine to them. Of course, she has a matching necklace and a bracelet, too. She yanks my hands toward, separating each finger, then she starts adding rings.

It takes her a while to find ones that fit me, and that look good together, before she nods, satisfied with her handiwork. The last detail is two hair clips in the same shade as the blouse, pushing my hair to the back of my head, securing it there.

“I thought you didn’t like silver,” I say, lifting a brow.

“I don’t,” she rolls her eyes. “It’s white gold.”

“Okay, take it off me, please.”

Sophia chuckles, then pulls me to my feet, grabbing her perfume and spraying it all over me. “Not happening.”

“If I accidentally lose it, or ruin it, I won’t be blamed,” I grumble. “I want that in writing, too.”

“Unless you’re going to fight someone, I highly doubt you’ll lose them while you’re on Academy grounds.”

“How do you know where I’m going?”

“You’ve packed the books to return them to the Dean,” she motions her head toward my bed, where the box with the books inside are safely tucked to be returned, “and it’s the only reason you’d get yourself looking pretty.”

“Is that an insult?” I blink, baffled. “Am I not always pretty?”

“You are,” she defends. “But your choice in clothing is… questionable. Let me take you shopping, I beg.”

Something between a laugh and a snort comes from me, and I shake my head. She means well, and I’ve learned not to take her words to heart. “Thank you for the concern, but once I decide to go shopping, you’ll be the first one to know.”

“Feel free to take anything out of my closet until then,” she offers, then sits at her desk, opening a textbook. “Just don’t use my underwear. That’s weird.”

“I would never,” I gag a little at the thought and laugh. “But, thank you. I’ll have the blouse washed and returned quickly.”

“No need,” she dismisses me with a wave of her hand. “Keep it. It looks better on you, anyway.”

Sophia’s immediately absorbed in the book she’s reading and I wince, remembering that I, too, have to start preparing if I want to pass the exams. Sophia is definitely the top student at the Academy, and although there are a couple of people who come close, none of them have the dedication that Sophia has.

Kenzo’s extremely intelligent, but he also has an eidetic memory, so it doesn’t count in my eyes. Soren’s up there too, but Sophia’s the one that’s truly constantly fighting for her grades, she’s the one who’s always studying, and making sure she’s expanding her knowledge.

It’s admirable.

As silently as possible, not to disturb her, or break her concentration, I grab the box off my bed, and head out the door, letting it close shut behind me. With a deep breath, I walk down the corridor, until I’m outside.

It’s chilly, so I rush into the Academy before it starts to rain. This time of the day is when it’s most vacant. The library is packed though, and I’ve seen people in passing going to each other’s dorms. As soon as I drop off the books, I’ll have a clean exit from the Dean’s office, and everything will go back to normal.

I can’t take the risks.

Because if I take even a single one, I know it won’t end there.

15

A soft knock comes to the door of my workspace and I look up. I’d been helping one of the professors with implementing a new grading system; that should start next school year and I hadn’t noticed how much time had passed.

I lower the pen onto the sheet of paper I’ve been using to scribble on. I come from the time when it was the norm to use pen and paper, and I still find it easier than carrying a laptop everywhere I go.

“Come in,” I stand up, walking over to the little tea station, and turning the kettle on. It’s not as good as freshly brewed tea, but it’s better than the tea they’re offering at the cafeteria. Today’s choice is the classic English Earl Grey, and I immediately prepare two cups.