AryaI look into Arthur’s eyes and I’m struck by one thing. Genuine care.He looks like he means what he said, like he really will be there if something bad happens to me. That makes my throat loosen up, my heart returning to its normal rate slowly.“You mean that?” I ask in a vulnerable voice. “But I. . . .”“I mean it.” He lets me go and steps away from me to give me space. “Are you feeling better? Can you breathe?”“Yes,” I say, but my voice still sounds low. I look around me and realize that we are in some sort of a garden. There’s a group of tall white buildings looming beyond us. “Is that the academy?”“Yeah, but we don’t have to go there now,” he offers. “You still have so much time to discover all of that and you don’t need to do it now. We can just stay here and look around until you’re all good.”“Are you sure?”“Of course.” He smiles at me, and I feel something flutter in my chest. “I know this area too, though. And I can show you my favorite spot. Come with me.”I look at

Arya“What?” I splutter. I almost drop the schedule because of shock. “Why would you leave me? Where are you going?”“I have my own classes to attend to,” Arthur says with a small laugh. “I’ll come pick you up after school, okay?”“But. . . .”I trail off as he pats my head and leaves. I no longer have anything to say. I stare at my schedule and find that I have six classes containing the basics. I’m actually excited to learn and to participate, but this whole thing is making me nervous.I turn around and almost leave the office when a girl’s voice suddenly speaks behind me.“Hey! You’re the new girl, right? Arya Stafford?”The sound of a different last name makes me frown, but I turn around anyway. I look at my schedule again and see that my last name is indeed Stafford. I don’t know why I’m expecting it to be different. Maybe it’s because I had a different last name in my old life? But actually, I’m quite glad to see and hear the change.“Yeah, that’s me.” I smile at the blonde gir

Levi“It’s finally happening!” Theo cheers. He looks back at the girl and beckons her to come to him. She smiles and obeys. “I’m so lucky. . . .”I know that he’s just happy and everything he is saying right now is far from personal, but what I really don’t like is the fact that it has to happen right in front of me.I wave off Daniel as he starts to say something. “I’ll be waiting in the car.”I leave without waiting for anyone’s reply, entering the car and closing the door behind me. I want to rest my head and just close my eyes to forget everything, but of course, it doesn’t take long for Daniel and Theo to come running right back.And they brought the girl with them.She’s in the backseat with Theo, and they look so happy absorbed in their own little world. Something about it makes me feel very strange, but then again, everything makes me feel so strange these days.“Her name is Abby,” Daniel tells me with a little smile.I can tell that he’s genuinely happy for Theo, and so am I.

AryaDid Arthur write this?I take a deep breath and try to relax, but so many bad things are running through my mind. Is he mad at me for some reason? Did I do something to him?I’m looking at him now and I see that he’s already seated, talking and smiling at the ones who are registering their names for his lessons.Meanwhile I have a paper here from Nancy that is saying some really ominous things.But then again, Nancy doesn’t really have the best reputation. People here think her brains have been addled. I don’t mind her because she doesn’t harm me in any way and why would I be one of the people who are making fun of her?Maybe she was just playing with me. Maybe this is her way of asking to be friends. I mean, I would never say anything bad about her, but she is pretty strange at times.I crumple the paper and slide it in my pocket, giving Arthur one last look before finally leaving the place.I head to the parking lot. I don’t know how to drive and I don’t want to mess with Arthu

AryaAll thoughts leave my body. All of it.It thought I would be shocked. I thought I would be surprised. But no. The moment Arthur’s lips touch mine, I feel nothing but relief.And even though this is our first time, even though I have no idea what I’m doing, I put my hand behind his neck and kiss him back.I don’t know what came over me. He would probably think that I’m bad at this and refuse to kiss me again, but right now I can’t stop. I can’t pull away. The gravitational pull that he has on me is undeniable.The world vanishes, gets reduced into this tiny space between us, right down to the movement of our lips and the warmth of our breaths. I can smell him, the sweet scent of something I can't quite put my finger on. I graze the back of his neck with my palm, my fingers digging into his hair, and he reaches out to cup my face, his thumb resting on my cheekbones. His touch is light, as gentle as the wind and as soft as the traces of water teasing the soil.The flutters in my sto