MATES?

Everything happens so fast after Mama and Nona Ellie follow them inside.

I’m still kind of high when my mum and Nona Ellie rush me out of the gym slash amphitheatre where we were supposed to be teaching me ballroom dancing. I did learn though it wasn’t the only thing I had gained that day.

I don’t even see all the students gathered outside, though I catch Aarya’s smirk and the fist she throws up; maybe in solidarity before Nona snatches her too, herding us towards the black house.

I’m hustled into the room and the door slams shut as everyone tries hard to stare at anything but me. The tension breaks moments later when a knock sounds at my door.

Mama opens the door to usher in Mor with Blue in her arms, “Anyone wants to tell me, why I got called back to the academy and Killian going off muttering about preventing a murder?”

I ignore her spreading my arms out for Blue who goes into my arms oblivious to the tension brewing in the rooms.

“We should …”

“Was it good?”