Page 60 of A Perfect World
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “That’s pretty fucking convenient for them,” I countered.
“If they were trying to make us weapons, why not give us instincts to band together?” Miranda insisted. “Put it this way, as a group, we’re more powerful than on our own.”
My stomach twisted at the thought. Courtney’s eyes widened in horror. “So, when they didn’t see us exhibiting any power, they dismissed us as failed,” she murmured.
“Until my asshole of a father rang the alarm,” I sighed. “Then my greedy grandmother tipped them off to my involvement with the rest of you, effectively painting targets on your backs.”
Miranda winced. “Shit.”
“So, this guy from AEP only noticed Serina?” Courtney asked Miranda. The brunette sighed, rolling her head back to stare at the sky.
“I don’t know, but if our speculations are correct and he’s involved with Merit, then he would have to know about me too, right?”
Courtney hugged herself, shaking her head. “You can’t go to that party. You can’t be near them.”
“No, you’re going to that party. We all are.”
As a group, we’re more powerful than on our own.
Their heads whipped to me, features written with apprehension while the plan unfurled at lightning speed in my mind.
“Oh no, you’re radiating devious excitement,” Miranda groaned.
Courtney cocked a brow. “That sounds dangerous.”
Flashing a dark grin, “Very.”
29
Courtney
“Goingout?”Hannahasked,an accusing glare burning through my carefully selected outfit. Ever since we fell out before winter break, she’d thrown all her animosity into silent treatments and snide comments. For her to blatantly address me, she must’ve been furious.
I tugged at the hem of my skirt.
“Yea.”
Hurt shimmered in her eyes, but she recovered a scowl and crossed her arms. Inviting her to join our little band of experiments as we crashed an AEP party and confronted a possible soldier of Merit Institute was simply out of the question.
“So, you’re too cool to invite me out with you now?”
I stopped zipping my boot, head snapping up to her.
“Hannah-”
“I thought we were friends, but it’s obvious you found a new crowd to hang out with.”
Her words stung like a sheet of needles. All I’d wanted when starting college was to make a close friend. I thought I’d found that in her, but as soon as Eric showed up, she lost interest in spending time with me. It didn’t help that she openly hated my boyfriend too.
“I promise it’s not like that.”
“Then what is it like, Court?” she demanded, chin jutted out, ready to rip me to shreds.
A knock sounded at the door.
I grabbed my phone and rushed out, casting one last look back at my fuming roommate.
“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry.”
