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Chapter 4.1
The next day followed the same pattern as the day before, except for the bathroom incident. After emerging from a stall, Nyla found her path blocked by Sarah. Her hawk nose was scrunched like she smelt something terrible.
“Nyla,” Sarah purred. She gave Nyla a once over, and stopped on the gloves she wore. “What are the odds of us seeing each other here?”
“Statistically likely, actually,” Nyla automatically responded.
Sarah blinked twice, seemingly lost for words.
Nyla stepped around the girl and headed for the sink.
“You’re the only girl I’ve ever seen Eason be around. He doesn’t even spend time with his sister.” Sarah said while following her.
“He’s my host family,” Nyla responded.
Sarah stared at Nyla in the mirror. “That’s not it. I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m going to find out. There’s something… d
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Breanne chewed thoughtfully. “I can’t do anything that would upset anyone here because my future and my family’s future depends on it. If I make someone mad, their family can wipe mine from existence.”Nyla thought about all of the powerful students here. She had the Governor’s protection, but Breanne had no one.“And it doesn’t help that I’m painfully shy,” Breanne added while putting down her sandwich.Nyla squinted at Breanne, sizing her up. “You don’t seem shy to me.” Unless Nyla didn’t actually know what shy meant.Shaking her head, Breanne explained, “Not with you, Nyla. I knew when I first saw you that we were the same: outcasts.”“How?” Nyla asked. Was there something about her that made her stand out?Breanne blushed to the roots of her out of control hair. “I don’t know. It’s just, well, we both look different. We
What Is Love? Chapter 5.1
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Eason’s soft words came as a shock to her. She had expected a definition – she knew all the definitions for the different emotions. The Major had taught them to her, although they had never meant anything to her. Thinking of the Major brought a sharp memory to focus. Nyla gasped.“What is it?” Eason asked.Keeping her eyes squeezed shut, Nyla stepped back in time. “There’s a moment – I think I know what you’re talking about.“Well, tell me about it,” Eason directed softly, his tone still light. Nyla could hear him move closer.“I was younger, much younger. It must have been right after I joined the military. The Major had been gone for several days, and Sergeant Ryan had told me to stay in my tent until he returned. Early one morning, the Major walked back in, back before he was supposed to be. The moment my eyes landed on him, I felt like everything was right in the world again, as if the
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On Tuesday morning, Nyla, Eason, and Mason were almost down the stairs when the trio froze as one. Veronica was standing at the foot of the stairs, wringing her hands. She didn’t notice their approach as she was too focused on Edmond, who was pacing at the far end of the hall with his phone pressed against his ear.Realizing she had an audience, Veronica dropped her hands and pasted on a painfully fake grin. “Oh good, you’re all here.”“Why is it good?” Eason asked slowly, eyeing his mother warily.“I won't have to repeat myself. There’s been a change of plans, and we’re taking you out of class today. It’s like a mini-vacation! Isn't that nice?” Veronica nervously tittered.Frowning, Mason asked, “What’s going on, Mom?”“What? Nothing dear! Everything is just fine!”“But –,” Edmond’s approach cut Eason off.“Yo
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The tightness in her chest increased. Nyla didn’t know what it meant, but she wanted it to stop. It was hard to get a full breath of air.The obvious solution, the one that would make Eason and Mason feel better, was to just leave. But there were two problems with this plan: first, she had nowhere to go. She knew once she got out of the city and into the wild, she’d be fine, but getting there would be the issue. The second was Edmond had told her not to leave the house. The best she could do, then, was to stay up here in her room, out of their way.Around noon, Eason tapped on her door. “Can I come in?”“Yes.”What does he want with me?Eason stepped inside and surveyed her sitting on the grounds. “I came up here to check on you,” he said.Nyla nodded. “Thank you. I’m alright. I think Mason is the one that needs comforting at the moment.”Eason sighed. “S
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What Is Love? Chapter 7.1
Edmond was waiting for Nyla when she came downstairs the next morning. “I’m driving the three of you to school. Eason and Mason are already in the hovercar.” He turned on his heels and started down the hall. Nyla trailed after him. Edmond had never shown any interest in the day-to-day lives of his children, at least for as long as she’d been there. She slid into the back seat next to Eason who gave her a worried smile.He knows something is wrong, just as I do. The moment Edmond closed the driver’s side door, the real reason for the trip emerged. “Now listen,” Edmond demanded, giving his daughter a particularly nasty look. “Today is essential to my campaign. Eason, you will not leave Nyla’s side, even to use the restroom. Mason, I know you aren’t in the same classes, but whenever your paths cross, you will greet Nyla pleasantly.”Mason gasped. “You’re asking me to commit soci
What Is Love? Chapter 7.2
“Not to be rude,” Eason said, sounding like he was trying to be as rude as possible, “but what do you want, Sarah? You never do something like ‘help’ unless you can get a story or some gossip out of it. I won’t allow you to make the situation worse for Nyla.”Sarah snorted while rolling her eyes. “I don’t gossip, Eason. I share information. Everything I share is true. It’s clear you don’t understand how valuable such talents are. But I have no interest in doing that to Nyla. I want to help make things go smoothly for her.”“You know you can address her. She’s sitting right here and speaks perfectly fine, probably better than either of us,” Eason grumbled, irritated at being reprimanded.Taken aback, Sarah turned towards Nyla with eyes as the size of saucers. “I’m sorry Nyla, I wasn’t trying to ignore you.”“It’s okay,” Nyla s
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