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She huffed a laugh, a cruel s her lips “Oh, honey It’s not me I’m worried about I can take care of myself But you better believe I’ll defend what’s mine”

Then kicked at ht hair over her shoulder and stalked away, leavingafter her

What the hell? I knew I shouldn’t have pushed her back, but she’d pissed ? Walk toworst

I quickly retreated to s before I flopped onto es Adena had stepped on They were salvageable, but barely

When I had everything straightened out, I yanked my phone out of my back

pack and tapped Leah’s contact

“He-ey!” she sang “What are you doing, loser?”

“Dying,” I ?”

“Studying I’ poli sci notes There was a party on Friday, and I was so hung over I hardly got anything done yesterday”

“Wanna meet up and study? We can use the Wastelands common room”

“Sure,” she chirped “Be over in ten”

I gathered upout here a lot during the week, but she went hoet back till late on Sunday She had a family that actually loved her and wanted her around—a concept that was so foreign to me, I never knehat to say when she talked about them

Thirty , the two of us were sprawled out on the large couches, notes and books spread around us

“So, hoas your grandparent’s house?” she asked as she flipped through a massive political science textbook

“Weird,” I answered honestly “My grandma apparently knows the Princes’ parents, but I can’t tell how randpa act like they’re practically strangers, and I really don’t think he wanted lad to be back at Oak Park”