Chapter 23: The Nightmare before Classes

Jill's POV:

You know, I really wish that I'd punched Lumina in the face. It would've felt good. Maybe I would've felt guilty afterwards, and have had to go apologize. Maybe Skye would've been mad that I'd punched his girlfriend. But it felt worse in that moment, to know that Skye was watching me crumble right in front of him. It felt worse to know that I was going to walk home through the rain, on crutches. It felt worse that yet again I was alone in the city of light, dreams, and romance. It felt worse to know that through everything, Skye still hadn't chosen me.

I didn't go straight home, not because I didn't want to talk to anyone. I didn't go home because I was completely disoriented. I'd whispered congratulations to Skye and pushed past him. He'd had a strange, bewildered, look on his face that made me want to scream at him. How did he not know?

Sitting in the street, soaked, with blurry, puffy, red eyes and no sense of direction, was me, probably confirming Luna's suspicion of me being a hobo. I know that I have to get home, classes start tomorrow after all. I know that I want to be in my bed, however crappy and tiny, just to get some sleep. But there's not a bone in my body that's willing to move or function. There's not one single part of me willing to get up and move. I regret every decision I've made to come here, not only because of Skye, but because there's a big chance that Lumina's right. Why would my mom tell me if she'd already made up her mind? I would've fought her, and she wouldn't have been able to bring up the money to keep the farm. It's a dying place. I should let it die.

"Jill?" someone says.

I lift my head up to see Kai and Claire, arms linked, and smelling of cinnamon twists.

"Hi," I say, not bothering to conceal my oppression.

"What are you doing here?" Kai asks, looking bewildered.

"Oh," is all I can say. "Oh I was just doing some shopping, and I got lost. My leg was killing me so I thought I'd sit for a second."

Claire looks disbelieving. "Come on home, classes start tomorrow!"

"Yea," I say, plastering on a fake smile. "Do you guys know where to go?"

Claire puts on a sympathetic smile. "Of course we know the navigation! Come on!"

She helps me up, and we all walk the short walk to the dormitory. I leave Kai and Claire for their romantic goodbye and trudge up to my room. Without realizing it, I slam the door shut and let out a huge sigh.

"You're home," Skye's voice chimes.