AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Anja smiles and sits down. “So, what’s good?” She looks at her empty plate and then across at the variety of sandwiches, wraps, and bagels piled high on plates across the centre of the table.
“All of it,” I respond. “Though maybe avoid the fish finger sandwiches.”
She wrinkles her nose. “What’s wrong with them?”
“They go soggy. I don’t know if it’s the fish or the breadcrumbs around it, but they never manage to hit the same spot as fish finger sandwiches from when I was a kid.”
She lets out a small laugh. “I don’t think they were ever particularly good then either.”
“Let’s guess, you were a ham and cheese toastie girl?”
“Absolutely not. Smoked salmon, cream cheese, and cucumber all the way. On brown bread.”
I spot a plate of those sandwiches and lean over to pick it up, holding it out to her.
Anja’s face lights up and she puts a couple of them on her plate. “But you know what’s even better?”
“No?”
“Crispsandwiches. Did you ever have those? I don’t know if it’s the crunch of the fried potatoes or the carb loading that makes them taste so good.”
“It’s the carb loading. And the disapproval mums always gave when they were on the menu.”
She lets out a light laugh. “I think you’re right. The disapproval is definitely part of the appeal.”
A girl around our age with a nest of snakes in her hair makes her way over. “Anja, there you are.”
“Hey, Nati.”
The gorgon stills as she spots Meic a few seats down, but she pulls her gaze away pretty quickly.
Interesting. It seems hissmokinggorgon might be into him too.
“This is Nati, one of my roommates,” Anja says to me. “And this is Cethin, he’s my lab partner, I guess?” She looks at me as she says it.
I let out a low growl at the inaccuracy of her description, but no one seems to notice. I clear my throat. “I don’t know if that’s what it’s called,” I admit.
She shrugs. “It’ll do. We sit next to each other in Charms and Potions.”
Nati nods in greeting. “Can you pass the gluten-free plate, please?” she asks me.
“Yeah, sure.” I lean over and grab the plate with the flag on top, handing it over to her.
She pulls several faces as she looks at the assortment. “They never do anything as good.”
“What is it you want?” I ask. “I could try and do a spell on it that’ll make the gluten affect you less.”
“Thanks, but no thanks. I’ve tried spells before, they never work,” she responds.
I nod and turn my attention back to Anja.
She smiles at me in a way that makes my heart constrict and the urge to get her alone all the stronger.
I may barely know her, but it’s clear that she already has more of a hold on me than anyone ever has.
I just hope that’s not going to be my downfall.
CHAPTER4
