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Chapter 21
By the time we get to my house, my feet are aching from walking around all day.
It’s already 5pm – only two hours until we’re meant to meet Jade and his friend Cameron. Jade texted Kitty earlier to say that some of Cameron’s work is on show at an exhibition near my house, so we’ll stop there before grabbing something to eat at the Artisan Foods Market in Byleth Park.
Jade offered to pick us up of course, but Kitty wouldn’t hear of it – on the first date, she says, it’s important to maintain an air of mystery and independence. Arrive and leave on your own terms, insist on paying half the bill, and absolutely no kissing.
I’m sure I won’t struggle with that last one – I’ve never even met Cameron before, after all. We’ll probably just end up spending the night in an awkward conversation, counting down the minutes while Kitty and Jade coz
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You already know where to find me, Ash. You already know.I wake up gasping for air.Mia’s fleeting voice rings in my ears, her final words an echoing whisper that fades into silence.I can’t hear the wind or the rain anymore. The storm must have passed.Wan starlight shines through the window – it’s still dark outside, probably a few hours until sunrise.I don’t have much time.I slip out of bed, shivering as it dawns on me that I fell asleep wearing my rain-soaked silk dress. I’m in too much of a hurry to get changed into something warmer, so I pull the cream-colored chunky knit blanket off the end of the bed, and wrap it around myself before slipping on a pair of flats.As quietly as I can, I open my bedroom door, and creep stealthily down the passageway, sure that at any moment one of the old wooden
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