Kings Pawn Game

by xgoodtimex

The sea of deplaning passengers bustled straight to customs without paying any mind to the singular teenager who had slipped out of the crowd. She knelt on the side of the hall, keeping an ear out for any trouble while she sifted through her backpack. The only items in it were two cell phones, a singular charger, and an inconspicuous black, two-pocket folder.

3. Chapter 3

p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"emYear One: Immediately Prior to Thanksgiving Break/em/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Hey!" Cai called out. Tala was too tired for this. They had attended three hunts together now and he hadn't bothered her since texting before the first one to ask if they could drive together./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"She had decided immediately to catch an Uber./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""I just want to go back to the dorms and sleep," She told him honestly, turning around. "What?"/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""What are you doing tonight?"/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"She stared at him, not understanding the question. They were at the hunt. Together. It was pretty obvious what she was doing tonight./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""No, sorry, I meant after classes." He smiled./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""I think Riley and Sara wanted to go to—"/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Oh you're going to that! Cool, I'll see you there." She watched him get into his car—he was the only first-year on campus she knew with a car. "Do you want a ride?"/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"Tala considered her options. Tom would drive her back, as would Angus, if she asked. She would never admit that sometimes being not-blood-but-practically related to the Marrok was helpful. It saved her the time of waiting for early morning Uber rides. /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Sure…" She replied, a little uncertain. Her fingers immediately and instinctively went to tie her hair back to give herself something to think about./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"He motioned for her to get into the passenger's seat and she obliged. He still smelled like sweat and wolf, which wasn't shocking. She supposed she smelled, too, but she tended to ignore it. Being in close quarters had never been an issue after a change, but this was bothersome. /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""You're not part of Emerald City either. I noticed at our first hunt, but I never asked." He said as he began driving. Tala made a face as she had barely had time to put on her seatbelt before he had taken off. "How did you manage that?"/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""The same way you did." She looked at him. "I told Bran I wouldn't run with a pack when I came back."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""And he let you?"/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""emLet /emme? Let emme/em?" Tala asked, but he was serious. "He let you, didn't he?"/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""That's different—"/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Because you're a man?" She was very tempted to ask him to pull over. Her hand was already on the handle. /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Because I don't have a history of globe trotting to get away from my responsibilities." The way he said it…/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"Tala realized he was angry. He was actually angry with her. She barely knew him except for some silly games they'd play when the grownups visited. They were never close. /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""I was fourteen." She reminded. "I didn't have responsibilities."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""You did," He promised. "When you left, he was furious."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""A female left his territory." Tala disagreed. "I carried no responsibility. I owed him nothing. Between him and my father—"/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Just stop. I shouldn't have brought it up. None of us can change your mind anyways."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"He checked no one was coming (at this hour?) and merged left to head towards campus. They were a ways away, but avoiding heading through the major entrances to Seattle tended to be best. He was routing them around. /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Why are you so upset about it?" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Because it sucked for me." He admitted. "He considers us equals. Neither of us are quite wolves, but we are. I was locked down a full year in case I pulled the same stunt."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"They had never really been friends. Mostly they spoke because they spent time together at events or "family" gatherings. She had grown up under the roof of her father with the Marrok a mere phone call away. Cai grew up initially with his uncle, in the safely tucked away community of Aspen Creek—the Marrok's actual home./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""And now you run alone." She pointed out, watching the way the sky was slowly changing as they drove. Daybreak was a ways away yet, but it was always interesting to be awake and watching the darkness shift from pitch to something recognizably more indigo or blue in hue. "You came out fine."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"They fell into silence for a little bit, but she found it wasn't as uncomfortable as she thought. It gave her time to contemplate his existence. If he had been sent here to report on her, it was just another obligation he had been given that was over his pay grade. They were just kids, being treated like kingpins in a larger organization that didn't care much that they existed./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""What was it like?" He broke the silence. "Europe?"/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""You've been." She reminded. Cai had traveled with both of his parents on a number of jobs for the Marrok. "You tell me."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Going with my da doesn't count, he's got me on a leash, too." Cai reminded, but they fell quiet again./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""It's different." She told him finally. "More forward-thinking in some ways, less-so in others. They have female alphas."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Yeah," He nodded, "That I knew. Róisín Breathnach, the Feadhna or Ceann, she's kind of intense."/p
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p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Lady of the Isles," Tala sighed, "She took the title Ceann, as a successor, but I suppose they would emphasize that she's a woman."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"Cai glanced at her, confused, before dutifully returning his eyes to the road. They were close enough to campus now. Idly, Tala wondered if she even knew where the parking options on campus were. /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Feadhna, it's feminine." She explained, regardless. "So if they're calling her that regardless of her formal title, it's just to bring up the point she's a female. I thought you would have known that, don't you speak Gaelic?"/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Welsh." He corrected, making the turn into the main entrance. A security guard startled awake as they pulled slowly up to his window and Cai rolled down the window. /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Modern Irish Gaelic has a lot of overlap because the British Empire tried to destroy the language." Tala said, flashing her ID as Cai did the same. The gate opened and Cai rolled the window back up./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""I don't speak modern Welsh." He turned to her and winked before driving forward again./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"Tala rolled her eyes./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Calm down, Cornick, you're not even twenty yet." /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Eighteen going on eight-hundred." He agreed. /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"Tala pulled her phone from her pocket. She hadn't checked her texts since she had been picked up for the hunt. Now was as good a time as any. At the very least, it would keep her from taking the boy beside her too seriously./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Cool your tits, Hauptman, I'm just making a joke." He turned right into the parking lot he must have been assigned to and pulled immediately towards a specific direction, indicating to her that his spot must have been assigned as well./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"She startled mid-text to her no-doubt-sleeping next-door dorm neighbor./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""What?"/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""I suppose you missed out on American slang abroad." His grin was absolutely shit-eating and she narrowed her eyes. "Cool your tits. Chill 'the fuck' out."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"The car jerked suddenly left before halting, making Tala grab the door and grit her teeth. Despite the incredibly jerky movement, he backed smoothly into his spot and moved the gear shift to park./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"She had been so focused on making sure his hand had actually moved the shift to "park" and not accidentally left the vehicle in reverse, Tala missed him leaning in. It was only the tap on her forehead with his index finger that made her turn./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"Pale blue eyes were way too close to her face, crinkled up at the edges because the bottom half of his face was apparently still grinning. She wouldn't know, she couldn't see it because of the proximity./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""You need to relax."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""And you need to get out of my face." Her hand slipped behind her to unlock the passenger door and let herself all but tumble out. "Thanks for the ride."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"The cool air felt incredibly soothing after the close encounter. Tala swiped her sweatshirt from the seat and double checked her sweatpants pocket for the phone she'd stowed in her moment's panic during whatever Cai considered a decent parking job as well as her wallet. Confirming she had everything, she closed the door./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"Cai had already gotten out./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Thanks for keeping me company."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"Their buildings were beside each other, she was already aware of that. Cai, Ryan, and their ever-changing group of friends were frequently walking with Sara, herself, and Riley after meals or after class. They had a sort of odd little group with each other and Tala didn't really know what to make of that fact./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""I'll see you tonight, yeah?" He called to her as she swiped into her dorm building and opened the door./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""We're not friends, Cornick." She replied flatly./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Great, we'll meet you all here at nine."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"***/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"Tala had the same regret every single month. She never took the day after the hunt off, despite getting it as part of her "disability service". The problem was, she didn't have enough time in the day to catch up if she did opt to skip classes because it always seemed to fall right before her heavy class day./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"She opted for a nap when she finally ended her class day at three in the afternoon. Riley began banging on her door at about seven with a Seamless+ order they had pre-scheduled on one arm and a makeup kit in the other. /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"Rubbing her eyes, Tala had greeted her with a sleepy smile still in her clothes from class. /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""You need to get a move on." Riley told her seriously. "Sara is on her way up so we can eat dinner and start getting ready."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"They had opted for Tala's room because she had the most space and no roommates. She had already cleared out a little spot for them to eat. Riley put the bag of food down on it and handed the makeup and hair supplies to Tala./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Put these on the floor by your mirror, I'll take the food out and divvy it up."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"Sara was up a few minutes later and the door had been bolted open for her. Upon arrival, she closed the bolt—their RA would get after them for the fire hazard if it stayed open—and tossed her own bag onto the floor along with a hanger that had a dress on it./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Sara, tell Tala she's crazy, please!"/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"Sara gave the bubblegum-haired girl a puzzled look before realization dawned on her and she turned to Tala./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Is this about Cai?"/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"Tala nodded, mouth full./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""He drove her home last night!" Riley exclaimed, "And he got emvery/em cozy."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""He was being an ass, Riley, he was just getting in my face." Tala rolled her eyes and took another bite so that she had an excuse to keep quiet,/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""He's being an ass because he's into you! Tell her, Sara!"/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""I mean, he is into you." Sara agreed, settling down on the floor to dig into her own dinner. "But she's not into him, Riley. You'll have to find new main characters for your friendfiction."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"Tala laughed, covering her mouth to keep from spitting food out accidentally. Sara grinned and took a bite of her own dinner./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"Riley's eyes narrowed and she pointed her fork at the other girls./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Mark my words, they'll be fucking by the end of the semester."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Oh my god, Riley!" Tala laughed. /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Stop laughing, Mrs. Cornick, we have to start getting ready so you have to finish your food." Riley stuck her tongue out, causing another outburst of laughter from the other two girls. Sara accused her of needing to do the same, but Riley turned an empty container to them and stood up. "I'm running to the bathroom to brush my teeth and I'll be back. I'm bolting the door."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"The other two nodded their agreement, still smiling as they chewed. /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"When Riley returned, Sara and Tala took turns running to the bathroom to wash up and brush teeth while Riley was setting up a curling iron and pulling out more pallets of eyeshadow that Tala could count./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Hey, Cai texted you." Sara let Tala know when she came back. Sara was already changed into a tight orange miniskirts and a matching crop top. It didn't leave much to the imagination, which also meant that it was hilarious to watch her trying to sit on the floor and start applying makeup. "This thing rides up way too much."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""You look great." Tala assured with a smile./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""He also tried calling three times." Riley informed. She was already pressing false eyelashes on her eyelids. She had opted for black shorts, fishnets, and a fitted cropped sweater that matched her hair. She made eye contact with Tala in the mirror. "Might be an emergency."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Did Ryan say anything about it being cancelled?" Tala asked, but they both shook their heads. /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"She grabbed her AirPods off her desk and slipped one into her ear before unlocking her phone. Cai's text only read to call him and she rolled her eyes before hitting the green phone logo. She didn't even thing the AirPod in her ear managed to catch the ring before the phone was picked up./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Something wrong?" She asked, "We're in the middle of something."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""We're calling a car at nine sharp, Hauptman. Don't be late!" The background noise on his end was overwhelming, she had to press the earpiece into her ear to make out his words. /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Are you guys pregaming?" Tala turned to look at Sara when she asked, but Sara shrugged silently indicating that she had no idea what Ryan was up to./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"Cai repeated what she had said to the other side of the phone call and Ryan's familiar laugh reached her ears./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Are you guys not?" Sara's boyfriend called into the phone. /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""It's hard to drink and put on eyeliner." She replied, knowing full well Ryan's human ears wouldn't pick it up, but Cai chuckled./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Will it affect you so badly you can't do makeup?" The way he asked was simultaneously teasing and genuinely curious. She bit her lip and glanced at the clock on her phone. She really needed to get changed at the very least. "Sara and Riley, maybe, but you?"/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""I don't know." She replied truthfully, "Never tried."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Guess we'll find out!"/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"He hung up. /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"Tala rolled her eyes and walked to her "closet" while putting her earpiece back in its case. The little, college-standard closet didn't have much hanging in it, but she had hung up her dress for the night only today after steaming it. It had been her second "I need to stay awake before classes else I won't ever wake up until tonight" task when she returned from the hunt. /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"The first had been taking a shower./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Holy crap," She walked back to where Riley and Sara were sharing her full length mirror to take a look at herself. Riley had dropped her powder brush while looking her over. "You own shit like that and you wear mom jeans and sweatshirts all the time?"/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""They get a little more done-up in the Czech Republic." Tala explained, tugging the hem down a tad before adjusting the bust area. She was a little jealous of Riley, she was significantly fuller up-top. Tala sported more muscle than breast. "I haven't worn much of it since coming back."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Please tell me you're wearing stilettos with that." She begged, turning around to look Tala over again. Sara was grinning while applying mascara./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""I was going to wear booties, it's cold out."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Cold?! A ho doesn't get cold, Tala." Riley disagreed, "If they did, we'd all be dressed appropriately. You have to wear some gorgeous heels with that. Your emlegs/em are like six miles long in that dress. Your boobs look giant!"/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"That boosted her confidence a little./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""You do look really cute," Sara finally turned around. "And she's right about the heels, sorry. But I'm wearing those, so you won't be alone."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"She gestured to black open-toed heels tucked neatly by the door./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"Tala nodded, weighing the option. She had shoes in the trunk under her bed still, anything she didn't wear on a daily basis. She could pull the trunk out before they left, but right now she needed to get a move on with makeup./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"She started with her face prep, feeling a little nostalgic for Agata who used to get ready with her anytime she had something to go to with school friends. Realistically, Tala didn't usually do her own makeup because Agata was always so quick with her own that she was onto Tala's face before she could even get her primer on./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""I love the way you do eyeshadow." Sara watched her in absolute awe./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""My friend Agata," Tala felt like she was barely treading water. "Used to do my makeup for me in high school. She was the best teacher. I can't do anything the way she does."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"She made as quick work of her eyes as she could and then rushed through the rest of her face, just praying for the best outcome./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Have you heard from Ryan?" Riley was asking Sara while they all pulled shoes on. Tala had found an acceptable pair of shoes by Riley's standards and was clipping the buckles on her ankles./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Yeah, they just called our Uber so we should head down to the street pickup." She was typing back a reply as she spoke. "Ready?"/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"Tala nodded and they all double checked they had phones and wallets with school IDs before slipping out the door and down the hall to the stairs. The boys were already at the street where Ubers were allowed to pickup students. Ryan had told Sara that they ordered two cars. /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"Made sense, given the five extra boys they were apparently traveling with. /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"Their destination was, realistically, within walking distance. Some of the upperclassmen music students had invited a slew of people to a local off-campus penthouse that the music department had access to. A few years back, one of the students had apparently swiped a key for party purposes. They had opted for and Uber because of the temperature./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""I am not switching shoes with you when you're tired." Ryan joked, taking Sara's hand as soon as they walked up./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Why not? I think they're your color," Cai joked./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"One of the cars, the one Cai had called, pulled up so the groups separated. Cai and Ryan climbed into the back seat, voicing that the girls had heels and shouldn't have to climb in, and Sara sat herself between them for easy exit. Tala and Riley took the middle row, but Sara leaned forward to look over Riley's shoulder at her phone anyways./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Is here ok?" The driver asked suddenly and everyone looked up from their conversations. /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"The building to the right of them was as inconspicuous as any, but the number stamped on it was correct. Cai checked his phone quickly and confirmed. With a chorus of "thank-yous", the students filed out. Riley laughed when Tala nearly ate shit on the sidewalk, tripping on the running board she hadn't seen. She thought it was Sara's hand on her upper arm catching her, she would have been the next to exit, but she glanced behind her to see Cai./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"He had reached past Sara to grab her, but as soon as he realized she was fine he released his grip, allowing her to step down onto the sidewalk without further issue./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Good catch," Sara's laugh was a little uncomfortable. Tala was aware that it had nothing to do with Cai reaching almost through her so much as it had to do with her knowing how precarious the relationship between Cai and Tala was. "We would've been on the ground together."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"Riley all but ran ahead, Sara and Ryan behind her. Tala waited for the pair in front of her to be a few feet away before she turned to Cai./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Thank you."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Don't mention it," His hand came up to scratch the back of his head. /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"She wasn't sure why he was suddenly acting so uncomfortable, but she wasn't going to dwell on it too much longer. The pair of them followed the others up to the elevator on the second floor. Sara double-checked her phone for the instructions on how to access the penthouse. Without a key to swipe in the elevator, the group had to stop a floor below and enter the far stairwell. There would be a music student at the penthouse door the level above ready to let them in when they arrived./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"Tala winced when they stepped into the elevator. While the music was loud to her ears from the main floor, it was worse echoing down the elevator shaft. She had been to parties and concerts before, loud sounds weren't exactly awful. More startling than the sound was usually the way she could feel it pounding in her heart. Cai shot her a sympathetic glance, but it was clear even their human companions were already being made antsy by the sounds. /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"Taking the stairs in heels without drinking was a challenge, Tala idly considered how difficult it would be bringing the other two girls back down them if they had been drinking./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"The music grew louder the further up the two flights they climbed until they finally came to the top./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Hey, Laura!" Sara waved at the woman at the top of the stairs as they came up the last few steps. /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Sara!" Laura offered a quick hug. "Hey guys, drinks are on the left. There's a coat rack on the right, but most people have just been tossing stuff on the floor. Have fun!"/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"The door opened to reveal a dark room lit dimly with multi-colored LEDs. The music was blaring, as anticipated. Immediately to the right, as promised, was a pile of coats and an under-used coat rack. More people than should have been physically able to fit were packed onto a makeshift dance floor. /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"Tala felt Riley's fingers twine with hers in order to tug her in the direction of the drinks. She didn't get a chance to glance backwards, but assumed Sara and Ryan were close behind. /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Two rum and cokes!" Riley sing-songed over the music. Tala only just barely heard her and was shocked to see the student on the other side of the "bar" nod. If she could barely hear, she was completely unsure of how the self-appointed bartender was hearing orders. /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"Distracted by the sights and smells, Tala didn't immediately notice when Riley turned back to hand her a plastic cup full of something that was definitely more rum than coke. She realized she should have been paying more attention to the student pouring the drinks, but found that Riley certainly didn't care. Her bubblegum pink hair was bouncing along to the throbbing bass as she took a quick sip of her own drink and dragged Tala towards the hustle and bustle. /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Isn't this fun?" Riley called over the music. /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""You could call it that," Tala agreed, amused. /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"It was a little out of her comfort zone, a real party. Tala had been dragged to them before but never willingly partook in anything like dancing or drinking. Mostly, she found herself happy to people watch while keeping eyes on her friends. Riley, though, was good for making sure she was having fun. /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"Spirited as she was, she had Tala "dancing" (mostly jumping) along to the utterly unhinged playlist the student DJ was playing. /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Oh!" Riley suddenly stopped her wild spinning and grinned at her friend. "I'm going to run and catch up with Chris and Lucas."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"Tala made a confused face and Riley rolled her eyes. /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Lucas. You know? Chick? His name is Lucas. Anyways, let me go see how they're doing,"/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"She almost literally scurried back through the crowd of people, leaving Tala feeling very alone in a crowded place. This was nothing out of the ordinary. After all, it was how she felt about most aspects of pack life, too. She glanced over her shoulder to catch a glimpse of pale blue eyes. /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"A shiver uncharacteristically traveled down her spine, but she also wasn't used to feeling like she was prey. /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Hey!" An unfamiliar voice brought her back to herself. She turned forward again and came face-to-face with a man she had never seen. His dark hair was gelled, which seemed to just be the style now, and his smile was too white in the LEDS to be natural. /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Hi!" Tala called back over the music. /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"She was instinctively wary of the new person. With too many people on top of her, she found herself doubting her ability to catch any sort of distinct scent. She knew Riley wasn't far, nor was Cai. Werewolves and bloodhounds weren't quite one and the same so she couldn't pinpoint where nor could she find Sara or Ryan among the mass of people. /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""You need a drink?" He asked./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"Tala lifted her cup and shook it a little to drive the point home./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""I'm good."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"It had to be that exact moment that someone behind her bumped into her hard enough that some of the liquid sloshed out of the cup. /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"Perfect./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"The guy laughed./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Looks like you need a refill after all," He nodded his head towards where she had initially come onto the floor with Riley. "Let's go grab one—"/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""I'm sorry that took me so long, I couldn't find your jacket." It was Cai. If she hadn't caught his scent as he had all but grabbed her ass while slipping her phone from where Riley had tucked it into the back of her bra, she would have elbowed him. /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"Cai handed her the phone he had just slyly stolen from her in the first place while wrapping his arms around her./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"She hesitated too long, brain trying to keep up with the easy escape that Cai had just dangled in front of her. Finally, leaning back into him, she hummed./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Thanks. This is," She gestured at the guy still standing in front of them./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Oh, Will?" There was a smile to his voice that did not at all match the anger she could scent. "He's in my Econ course."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"How Cai kept track of any of the people in any of his courses, Tala wouldn't understand. She knew two names—Riley and Sara./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"Will slipped away, something like a "good to see you, man" left his lips before he dissipated into the swarm of drunk and horny young adults. /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"Cai stepped back off of her as much as he feasibly could while in a crowd, but his right hand slid across to her left wrist and he dragged her back the way she had originally come. They were only about seven or eight people-deep into the crowd, so slipping away wasn't too hard. Already the distance was easier on her ears./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""What are you drinking?"/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Rum and coke." She answered robotically, not missing the way his nose wrinkled in disgust as he took the cup. "Hey, I'm fine. I barely had any—"/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"He was already talking to the student behind the bar./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Can you get her another rum and coke? A classmate of mine slipped something in this one."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"Tala's mouth went dry and she made eye contact with the bartender./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""I'm fine." She assured him. "I didn't drink it. He just…"/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"emSaw it happen. /emHer brain supplied, but the words didn't reach her lips. She had been too distracted to even notice, how had she not seen that?/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"The student neither of them knew seemed to hesitate for a moment before apparently deciding Tala looked sober enough to be safe./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"That was something she would unpack another day./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Here," Cai handed her the new drink and ushered her back towards the coats./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""I'm not leaving Riley here." She stopped him. "Or Sara, for that matter."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""We aren't going to leave, it's just the only spot that's remotely quiet." He said, following her until they had returned to the furthest most corner of the penthouse./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"Cai was right. She hadn't noticed how much quieter it was in this section because it all felt loud when they had first entered. She almost laughed at how drastically her perception had changed after maybe thirty minutes./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""What time is it?" Cai asked her./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""It's—oh." Tala blinked at the brightness of her screen and frowned when she realized they had been here a little over an hour./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"emTime flies./em/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Ok, not bad." He nodded. "We have time, then."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"He closed his eyes and leaned up against the wall, drawing a deep breath. To any of the other students, he just looked tired of the social scene. Tala would be quick to believe that as well, except she had known how angry he had been just moments before. /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Thank you." She said, breaking his moment of peace and he smiled, but didn't open his eyes. "I was completely—"/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Did your mother not teach you that you don't thank Fae, Hauptman?" His eyes were glowing when he opened them again./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"Wolves…their eyes didn't really emglow/em. This was something unique to Cai that she had noticed at their first full moon together. She hadn't asked. Magic worked in funny ways and he was, admittedly, correct. They shared an experience of being just a little outside the usual in terms of werewolf physiology. /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""You're only half." She thanked her brother-in-law all the time./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Your brother-in-law probably just isn't collecting." As if he were reading her mind. His grin didn't leave. "I wonder how much you owe." /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"Tala crossed her arms. /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Are you collecting?"/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""I am. You owe me a few, actually." /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"If he was being serious about debts, then she owed him more than a mere few. Tala replayed the day alone and counted at least three. She would have to change her whole manner of interaction now. What a pain, and in a group of humans, too./p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""I'll count it as one if you answer my question." He raised an eyebrow and Tala groaned. It only elicited a laugh from him. "One question, Tala, I promise."/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Do you really not consider us friends?"/p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px;" /p
p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"It was such an obvious question for him. Cai Cornick needed nothing more than an ego stroke to fuel him for a lifetime, it seemed. Everything he did was in an attempt to get a reaction out of someone, including—in Tala's own personal opinion—his decision to attend the same university as her. Approval-seeker if not an attention-seeker at baseline. /p
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p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""We spend breakfast and dinner together nearly every day, in a group of shared friends." She told him, tapping her chin with her index finger childishly as if she had to really think about it. "We're in no less than five group chats together. I let you practically grope me just to get rid of a creep. Do you honestly think that sounds anything close to friendship?"/p
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p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"The problem was, she wasn't just pretending to think, because a part of her really was. There was no harm in being friends with him so long as she didn't give him anything too incriminating to report home about./p
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p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""An answer, not a riddle, Hauptman." /p
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p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Yes. I can consider us friends." She rolled her eyes. "But don't stick your hand down my dress again if you want to keep it."/p
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p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';""Fair enough," He agreed, pushing off the wall and brushing past her to return to the mass of people. "I'll be sure to make sure you're begging for it next time."/p
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p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"The frustrated snarl that ripped from her throat was decidedly not human./p
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