Chapter 3

Everyone was staring at Lucas.

Emily was looking at him too, her eyes full of hope.

Lucas didn't answer for a long moment.

Anyone could see how disappointed Emily was, but she knew exactly how to change the subject. "Come on, what's with you guys? Do you really have to embarrass Wendy today of all days?"

My stomach dropped.

She'd just assumed that I was the one who'd be embarrassed.

Lucas didn't deny it. He just said, "We're all good friends."

Everyone booed.

"Good friends? Since when do good friends hold hands with their fingers all laced together?"

"Lucas, don't tell me you're trying to keep them both."

Emily's smile froze for a second. "Stop giving him a hard time, you guys. He doesn't like talking about this stuff in front of people."

The more she defended him, the louder everyone hooted.

"Ooh, jumping to his defense already?"

"It's not even official yet, and you're already protecting your boyfriend like that?"

Emily didn't correct them.

She kept telling them to lay off, but she never once let go of Lucas's hand.

She seemed to be enjoying it.

The more everyone teased them, the more worked up the crowd got. "Lucas, why don't you just confess to her in front of everybody tonight!"

Someone turned to tease me. "Wendy, Lucas is about to confess to Emily. Do you mind?"

My heart lurched.

I stared down at my toes. I couldn't bring myself to look up.

And what good would it do me to mind?

I forced a smile. "It has nothing to do with me."

The second the words were out, Lucas's expression changed.

And he let go of Emily's hand.

He snapped, "Weren't you listening? I don't talk about my private life in front of people."

Emily looked even more disappointed, but she still defended Lucas.

"All right, you've seen enough. Break it up and move along, or I'm really gonna get mad."

Everyone traded knowing looks and slowly drifted off.

Before long, serving sprites came around with silver trays full of drinks.

I was still deciding what to pick when Emily beat me to it. She took a glass and held it out to me.

It was a glass of chilled wine.

"You're always so slow to decide. By the time you make up your mind, the ball will be over."

Emily smiled at me like it was nothing. "Here, take it. I know you like this one."

I wasn't supposed to drink alcohol, especially not anything chilled.

Yesterday, my stomach had suddenly started hurting so badly that I needed someone to take me to the hospital.

I'd asked in the group chat the three of us shared if either of them could go with me.

Lucas said he would.

But because I took a little too long to get downstairs, he suddenly changed his mind. He said he was going with Emily to pick out her dress robes for the ball, and if I could handle the pain, I should go by myself.

Then Emily's message popped up. [Yeah, Wendy, you didn't come down for over ten minutes, so we figured the pain couldn't be that bad.]

In the end, I had to go to the hospital by myself.

I waited in line alone, saw the doctor alone, and went back to school alone.

And now Emily stood in front of me, smiling as she offered me a glass of chilled wine.

I didn't want to take it. But she just pushed the glass a little closer.

She spoke just loud enough for everyone at the table to hear.

"Aw, are you still upset? Everybody was just kidding around."

I had no choice but to nod and take the glass. "...Thanks for remembering what I like."

Emily's smile turned knowing. "Wendy, just because you like something doesn't mean you get to have it."

I knew who she was talking about.

She was smart and pretty, while I'd always been a little slow and silly.

But when Lucas was rushing to learn third-tier fire magic, it was silly, slow me who told him to master the first two tiers and build a solid foundation first so he wouldn't get hurt.

When he lost control of the fire and attracted the hound, it was silly, slow me who rushed in without stopping to think about what it might cost me.

And later, it was silly, slow me who stopped him time and again from charging down the wrong path because he was too impatient.

Was I really not good enough for Lucas?

Just then, the music for the graduation ball's first dance began, and I couldn't help sneaking a glance at Lucas.

He'd once told me that at our graduation ball, he'd be sure to ask me to dance, and he'd cast a one-of-a-kind starry-sky spell just for me.

I saw him check his pouch of spell supplies, then turn and start toward me.

But before he could reach me, Emily grabbed his hand.

"Come on, we'll miss the first dance."