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"And then it's too late!"
She took a step back at the frustration in my voice. "Then why has everyone else managed to do this forcenturies, except you?"
I scoffed. "I'm pretty sure someone else refused to choose."
She just slowly shook her head. "No. Every student is expected to name a Path before they enter the room. Every student has. You need to put something on your forms, Nariana."
"Or what?" I asked. "You won't let me complete the Choosing Ceremony?"
Her jaw clenched as she fought the urge to yell at me. "We could just assign you to Obligation."
"Then do that. If that's what Zeal wants of me, then that's where I belong. I'm leaving it in his hands."
I spun on my heel and stormed off, too mad to be afraid of what I'd just done. In my head, I was adding things to that conversation that I should've said, like how I'd just put the Path of Temptation on my form, or maybe I should've smiled at her and said it would be a surprise.
Because lately, it seemed like all that mattered was my Path. It had gotten so bad that Wraythe and Eladehl no longer waited for me. More than half the time, when we tried to go somewhere,someonewould pull me aside to discuss my "future." My guys were as annoyed at it as I was, but at least they understood why I couldn't decide.
So far, the only thing this constant harassment did was make me more stubborn and very, very angry. So mad, actually, that when I reached my room, I opened the door, tossed my clothes inside, grabbed the last book Amerlee had given me, and headed for the courtyard. At this time of day, the younger students were probably using it, but nothing said I couldn't as well. Granted, I didn't really want to be around a bunch of kids, but at least they wouldn't ask me my Path.
Deciding I'd check first, I took the long way around. One of the halls had a window where I could see most of the courtyard, and the walk would do me good. Surprisingly, it seemed my sanctuary was empty. When I kept going toward the back entrance, my feet felt a little lighter.
Until I rounded the corner to see Anver pressed against a wall by Tishlie. He looked resigned rather than excited, and she was pressed right up against him. I tried to pretend I didn't see them, but that was stupid. It was a hallway. They were in the middle of it. Sure, it wasn't a well-used hall, but I also wasn't blind.
Anver sucked in a breath when he saw me. "Nari?" he asked.
I just kept going. "Not trying to interrupt. Just headed to the courtyard."
"Hey," he said, trying to slip out from under Tishlie. "Let me come with you?"
"I'm fine," I snapped.
And Tishlie huffed like she was pissed. "You're going to leave me for her?"
"I told you," he said, sounding like it was something he'd repeated often, "that I'm not interested in making out. I'm not ever going to be. I don't know why that's so fucking hard to understand!"
"Because you're withme!" she yelled. "That's what it means to be together, you idiot. I have needs, and you can't just claim that you're going to be a guardian and pretend like that makes it ok."
I should've ignored it. Their fight was none of my business, but that was Anver she was talking to. My feet stalled out, and I fought myself for one more moment before turning back around. It was one moment too long.
"You don't own me, Tishlie," he warned her.
She responded with a hard slap right across his face. "Howdareyou," she hissed.
I didn't bother to say a thing. I forgot about the book in my hand, letting it drop to the floor as I rushed her, hitting her hard across the shoulders. Hard enough to push her away from him. She squealed in surprise, staggering back until she caught her balance.
"You left him," she reminded me.
"He left me," I corrected. "Foryou, I might add. I never would've made him choose, but you did. You are his now, and yet you plan to give your body to anyone and everyone who needs it. Anver is not some sex toy for you to pull out when you're alone and ignore when you have something better.He doesn't like to be fucking touched!"
With each word, Tishlie's eyes got bigger and glossier. Tears welled up faster than I'd expected, but I'd forgotten just how weak this girl was. She might be older than me, but she wasn't made for confrontation. Desperately, she looked at Anver as if hoping he'd step between us. It was so natural that I realized they were a matched pair.
"You two need to work your shit out," I grumbled.
"Like you'd know," she shot back, but it lost the effect with the trembling of her voice. "You've been with the same boys for as long as anyone can remember. You have no idea how much it hurts to be abandoned."
I looked over at Anver. "I don't?"
"Nari..." he begged.
