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I remove my hand from where it’s pressed to my forehead and wave it over the chair beside me. “Have a seat.”
Biting back a smile, he sits down.
“What?” I ask, wondering why he’s on the verge of laughter.
His eyes pin to my forehead and he grazes his fingers across his own. “Your…forehead. It’s really red.”
“Oh,” I laugh, rubbing the spot where I headbutted Crew. “I’m a klutz. Ran right into a tree.”
He laughs with me then his expression goes stoic. “So what’s really going on? When a girl says she’s fine, it usually means she’s anything but fine.”
“Just adjusting to this place, is all.”
He looks around the library, as if I’m talking about this place specifically. Though, he knows exactly what I mean. “Yeah. It definitely requires some adjusting. You’re tough, though. You’ll be fine.”
“Hey,” I say to him, feeling bored with this place and the conversation, “Wanna get out of here?”
“Sure. What do you have in mind?”
“Food.” I chuckle. I’m supposed to eat dinner with Riley, but that’s not for another hour and the rumble in my stomach tells me I can’t wait that long.
“The buffet in the dining hall opens in twenty-minutes. We could hit that up.”
“Actually, I already have dinner plans. Isn’t there some sort of snack store around here?”
“The campus convenience store? Yes. They definitely have snacks and anything else you might need.” He tips a frown. “Unfortunately, they close at five. But the vending corner is open. They’ve got pretty much anything you could want that’s processed and packaged.”
Grinning, I slide my chair back. “Processed and packaged it is.”
Elias puts on his backpack and I stuff my books in my messenger bag and hook it on my shoulder. We weave through the tables filled with other students, then leave the library.
“What do you think of The Academy so far?” he asks as soon as the fresh air hits our faces.
“Breaking the ice with a big question, I see.” It’s an attempt at humor, but I often fail miserably, much like this moment.
Elias gives me a questioning look. “That bad?”
Gripping the strap of my bag crossed over my chest, I follow his lead, since I have no idea where this vending corner is. “I can’t say it’s bad, but I will say it’s exactly what I expected. Entitled assholes, stuck-up girls, and the best view our state has to offer.”
“Well, at least we’ve got the view going for us.”
“That is true. That is true.”
Elias and I look at each other, both opening our mouths to speak at the same time, and at the same time, we both say, “Go ahead.”
I smile through the awkwardness. “No. You first. I insist.”
“I was about to tell you to hang in there because it always gets worse before it gets better.”
“It does get better, though, is what you’re saying?”
His shoulders rise, both hands holding tight to the straps of his backpack. “Depends on who you ask, I guess.”
We take a left, still on the sidewalk we stepped on outside of the library. It’s pretty cool how this place is like a little town of its own. A very vintage, dystopian town run by pompous Society members and the kids they put in charge of us all.
“I’m asking you.” I glance at him as we keep on our path. “Has it gotten better?”
“Truthfully. No. I’m not impressed with anything The Society has to offer me. And eventually, I won’t partake in any of the privileges. I’m only here because I have to be.”
