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She groaned “I’-ass campus for the weekend I’m allowed to be weird”

I finished stuffing s into the car and walked around it before I poked Leah in the ribs She swatted my hand away, and I chuckled I’d stopped by the admin offices and reported the probleot back on Sunday, it’d be fixed That would give ht to cram for the test

“Next weekend Shopping and movies,” I promised “And we’ll study, which I desperately need to do”

“Deal” She perked up, tucking her auburn hair behind her ears

She waved as I slid into the car and sped off The pink h there were ses of color where I hadn’t been able to corandparents wouldn’t notice

When I pulled up outside the ed fro e

I walked inside to find Jacqueline in the study with Philip He was behind the desk, bent over some paperwork, while she sat in a chair opposite hi, and I wondered ifbefore I arrived They certainly weren’t when I walked in

A crystal glass of whiskey sat in front of him, just like before When I knocked softly on the doorfraot in the way of a greeting from him I nodded back

“Ah, Talia Why don’t we go out to the garden?” Jacqueline rose and sauntered toward me

She wore a pale green dress that , though I doubted she was I think she just likes to look like that all the tiot the feeling she was herding me out because Philip didn’t want to deal with arden, we settled into two comfortable chairs that faced the ocean The smell of saltwater and the sound of the waves relaxed reed to come

“How’s school?” Jacqueline asked

I shrugged “Not bad The classes are a little hard, but I’”

?

??Don’t shrug Such a noncoesture” She looked out toward the water “And are you getting along with everyone?”

I dropped“Um… pretty much I mean, there are some people who don’t seem to like me all that well, but it’s fine”