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How am I supposed to concentrate when he’s so close? The scent of sandalwood and citrus surrounds me, burrowing its way past my defenses until I think I’ll recognize his heady aroma anywhere.
Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes and focus on Raphael. The gently calloused feel of his hand in mine, the warmth of his thighs as they press against me, and the light, bubbly feeling I get in my chest when he’s this close to me. When I think I’m ready, I press out with my thoughts and pray he can hear them.
You know, you light up the room too.
I know the moment he hears me. His eyes darken to match the deep-blue ring around his irises, and for just a moment I think he’ll pull me into his arms right there in the middle of class.
Instead, the teacher comes over to our desk and I realize we’re the only students left in the room.
“Well done, you two. Your connection will prove beneficial to you both in this class. Keep up the good work.”
I smile and pull away from Raphael. The connections I’m forming here are unlike anything I’ve experienced outside of Dina. On one hand, I’m making friends that don’t seem to care about my differences, but there are still so many students who think I’m a plague to the school.
How am I to trust that my new friends won’t switch sides? I can’t, not really. But I also can’t go into every friendship with such negative energy. If I’m constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop, it won’t be long before it does.
I won’t turn my nose up at the only people who’ve shown me kindness here. I’ll be as authentically me as I can and just hope they’ll stick around.
“Got any plans right now, sunshine?” Raphael asks, shaking me from my melancholy.
“Not exactly, no. Unless you count avoiding assholes as a plan.”
He smiles. “Come on then. You’re joining Theo and me for a picnic.”
“I’d love to,” I reply, trying my best not to show my surprise at the mention of Theo. The more I think about it, the more it makes sense now why Theo was so kind to me. Raphael must have told him about our meeting in the cafeteria. Whatever he saw that day must have been good enough not to scare them away, even with all the drama. Whatever the reason, I’m grateful for it.
There’s something special about the friends I’ve made so far. Raphael with his charm and wit, and Theo with his kind thoughtfulness. Even Zeke holds a magnetism that draws me to him like the others, though I haven’t seen him since I slipped from his room.
My day may have started with catastrophe, but a picnic with new friends is exactly what I need to turn it around.
9
Sheagreed!
I can’t stop the smile that spreads across my face as I type out a quick text to Theo, letting him know my plans. So what if we’d already decided to let her get settled first before we invited her to hang out with us? After what happened today, that angel deserves a break.
Raphael: I might have done a thing…
Theo: A good thing or a bad thing?
Raphael: Well we’re now having a picnic with Hayliel. Like right now. So I’d say it’s a damn good thing. Can you pack up some food?
Theo: On it. Meet me at the Knowledge house kitchenette.
We exit the Tower, and I look at Hayliel with a mischievous grin. “Want to fly with me to Knowledge house?”
She looks around, hesitating, before giving me a determined nod. That’s my girl. Well, alright, so she’s notmineexactly, but damn do I want her to be.
Our wings break free of our backs and through the slits designed in our school uniforms. With both of our backpacks in one hand, I reach out with my other to Hayliel. When she takes my hand, we run. Our wings flap once, twice, and we’re in the air, soaring high above school ground and the old wishing well.
When I look at Hayliel, the smile on her face could outshine the sun. Pure joy radiates from her, and I can’t help the satisfaction that flows through me.
As we land at the far side of Knowledge house, I almost can’t move. The sight of Hayliel’s windswept hair and pink-cheeked face has me wanting to fall to my knees and worship her for the rest of my existence. Theo opens the side door and waves us in, stopping me from making a fool of myself.
Once we’re inside, Theo grabs a few items from the pantry, which Hayliel immediately helps him unload onto the table.
“Theo, this is Hayliel. Hayliel, this is my best friend, Theo.”
“We met, actually,” Hayliel replies, shooting a small smile toward Theo that has my chest squeezing. “We have History together. He saved me from what would have been a rather painful experience with a desk.”
