Page 30 of Daughter of Garnet

“You good?”

“Yeah, should’ve worn a sweater. Just a little cold.”

"Okay…" I don't think she believes me.

A body flops into the seat next to Viv, and when I lean around her to say good morning to Warren, I am met with a dark, cold glare, not the blue eyes I was expecting.

Ray drags his gaze over me, expression free of anything but disdain, before grunting and looking away.

“Morning, Viv.”

She crosses her arms over her chest. “Get out of here, Ray. I’m still mad at you. You were a dick to Zoe."

“It's no big deal. I was drunk.”

She drops her voice to a hiss to prevent the room from hearing her, but the words are still biting and clear. “You yelled at my friend and accused her of being a liar and a knot chaser! You got one of your weird friends to sniff her!” That part was violating.

“I said I was sorry.” Does Viv hear how petulant he sounds?

“When?”

Yeah, when? I didn’t get an apology. Not that I’d be eager to accept it, but it would go a long way if he admitted he was wrong.

“That same night, in the woods. She was walking home, and I stopped her to apologize.” I try to wipe the shock off my face at his statement. He flashes me a grin that has no doubt made many people fawn over him throughout his life, but it makes me want to punch him. “Didn’t I, Zoe?”

He’s daring me to say otherwise. To tell her he kissed me, and that I didn’t push him away. It's like he wants our friendship to be strained.

Would Viv get mad that I kept this from her? It’s not like it meant anything. It was a one-time thing. He was drunk and surprised me, which is why I didn't push him away.

That's all it was.

“He did. We’re good, Viv.”

Ray’s smile transforms into a pleased smirk. “Good girl,” he mouths, and I want to throw my shoe at him.

Against my will, I grow warm on my face and between my thighs. I have to duck my head so Viv doesn’t see the blush that stains my cheeks.

“Oh. Okay. Well. Don't be a dick again!"

Warren slips into the chair beside me. “Who’s being a dick?”

“Ray. He yelled at Zoe at the bonfire this weekend. Which, by the way, where were you?”

Warren barrels past her question. “Why’d he yell at her?”

“I'm right here between you guys.” I wave my hand, pushing Warren back by the shoulder to stop him from leaning over me. The touch is a familiar one I've done hundreds of times before. “It’s no big deal, Warren; we’ve moved on.”

Professor Hayes raps on his desk. “Alright, class. Today’s lesson may seem tedious, but it’s crucial for the smooth functioning of our society. Let’s talk about heat and rut leave, and how we can make that easier for everyone.

The moment I walk into my room, something feels off.

The only problem is that I have no idea if something is actually different, or if this is my mind ruminating on the note Cameron left in my notebook.

Everything looks to be in place. My bed is still sloppy and unmade with grey sheets. My desk is a riot of papers, and the window is still closed. I’ve almost convinced myself that everything is normal when I see a flash of deep blue hanging in the corner of my room.

In a beam of sunshine, facing the chapel, is a dress almost the same color as the one I wore to the bonfire. When I run my fingers over the fabric, it slips through them like water. This dress must have cost a fortune.

The skirt falls to the floor, the bodice is boned to dramatically tuck in my waist, and the heart-shaped neckline is deep.