9. Saturday Plans

The sunlight spilling through the dorm curtains was sharp and golden when I finally cracked my eyes open. I groaned, rolling onto my back and squinting at the clock on my phone.

10:04 a.m.

Great. Half the morning gone.

"You're finally awake?" Freya's voice drawled from across the room.

I blinked and turned my head, yawning. She was sitting cross-legged on her bed, hair still messy from sleep, scrolling on her phone. Her blue eyes danced with amusement when she looked up at me.

"What's funny?" I mumbled, rubbing my face.

"You're coming to the party tonight, right?"

I sat up so fast my blanket tangled around my legs. "Party? What party?"

Freya gave me a look, like I'd just admitted I didn't know what gravity was. "The first-year party. It's kind of a big deal, Maeve. Everyone goes. They're setting it up on the field next to the basketball court."

"Oh," I said, trying to sound casual. "What time is it?"

"Six. Don't even think about saying you're skipping it," Freya said, pointing her phone at me like it was a weapon. "The only way you'll survive Moonveil is by showing up and acting like you belong here."

I smirked. "I do belong here."

"Good. Then you'll be there," she said smugly.

I sighed, but my lips curved into a smile. "Fine. I'll go. Could be fun, I guess."

Freya's grin widened like I'd just agreed to a blood pact. "Oh, it's going to be fun. Trust me."

We spent the next hour cleaning up our room in companionable silence. My thoughts kept drifting to last night, the flash of white hair, the tense voices. Lucian arguing with someone.

I finally spoke up while folding my blanket. "So… how's your group project going?"

Freya groaned dramatically, flopping back on her bed. "Non-existent. My group hasn't even agreed on a time to meet. We're already doomed. I just know Professor Reed is going to roast us alive."

I chuckled, rolling my eyes at her dramatics. "Mine's not that bad. We met yesterday evening in one of the empty lecture rooms. Well, most of us."

"Most?"

"Yeah. The quiet, rude girl didn't show up."

Freya shot me a look, her eyes narrowing.

"Are you referring to Valeria?"

"Oh yes I am."

Freya made a face. "Well, that sounds like a delight."

"Totally," I said dryly. "The others are nice, though. We agreed to meet again this coming Monday to draft the outline."

Freya rolled onto her side, propping her head on her hand. "Look at you, being all responsible. Meanwhile, my group is probably plotting my murder."

I smiled, then hesitated, biting my lip. "Uh… speaking of murder-y vibes…"

Her eyebrow arched. "Oh no. What now?"

I sat down on my bed, tucking my legs under me. "Last night, when I was walking back to the dorm… I saw Lucian. He was… arguing with someone. It was intense, Freya. I don't think he saw me, but…"

Freya's entire body froze. "Wait. You saw Lucian arguing with someone?"

"Yeah. White hair, purple eyes, bad attitude. It was definitely him."

She groaned and buried her face in her hands. "Please tell me you didn't make it obvious you were spying."

"I wasn't spying!" I protested. "I was just… there. Passing by."

"Maeve," she said slowly, dragging her hands down her face, "if he even suspects you saw something, he'll… ugh, of course he'll notice you. He notices everything."

I shifted uncomfortably. "I don't think he did. I left as soon as I saw them. It's not like I was trying to eavesdrop."

She sighed heavily and leaned back, staring at the ceiling. "I hope not. The last thing you need is Lucian D'Amaris thinking you're meddling in his business. Especially since you made quite the impression."

"Yeah," I murmured, though my stomach did a weird flip. "Me too."

Freya sat up, brushing her hair back with a hand. "You know what? Let's just focus on the party. Tonight's our chance to make a decent impression with the normal first years."

"Normal, huh?" I teased. "Are you sure that's even a thing here?"

"Fair point," she said with a grin.

We spent the rest of the day studying, or at least trying to. I sprawled on my bed with my laptop balanced on my knees while Freya perched at her desk, tapping her pen against her notebook as she groaned about how boring Global Cultures & Power Structures was.

"It's not that bad," I said, highlighting a section in my notes. "I actually like Professor Reed. He's just… intense."

"Intense is one word for him," Freya muttered. "I swear he'd assign us an essay on the existential purpose of forks if he thought it would make us cry."

I snorted, nearly choking on my water.

By late afternoon, my brain felt like mush. I closed my laptop and glanced at Freya. "Okay. Enough. If I read one more line about post-colonial power structures, I'm going to scream."

Freya smirked. "Good. Now you'll have all the energy you need for tonight."

I groaned, covering my face with a pillow. "Remind me why I agreed to this party?"

"Because deep down, you like having fun. And because I refuse to go alone."

"Fair."

Freya's grin turned sly. "Oh, and Maeve?"

I peeked out from under the pillow. "What?"

"Try not to pick a fight with an heir tonight. I'm dead serious."

Her words made my stomach tighten just enough for me to mumble, "No promises."