“Why are you here, really?”I contemplate his question for a moment, debating with myself if I should be truthful and straight to the point or crafty with my inquiry. But it’s hard to form a coherent thought with William’s eyes pinning me.“Do you want me to help you keep your scholarship?”The question takes him off-guard like I had anticipated it would. His eyes widen before he blinks the surprise away, his jaw going taut. He glances around at the tables near us, very much within earshot considering I hadn’t bothered to keep my voice down when I spoke. Taking a deep, strained breath, he gets to his feet, shoving his phone into the pocket of his hoodie.A small flash of panic shoots through me, making my voice go defensive —something I abhor. “Principal Choi said if they—“He grabs my shoulder and pulls me to my feet like I might’ve been made of paper or something even lighter. I try to jerk away my arm, but his grip is iron-clad. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” I demand,

“What John Steinbeck was trying to convey in Of Mice and Men wasn’t just moral dilemma. He explores themes of human nature and the line between right and wrong and how sometimes it gets blurry. Most people consider it a sad, depressing novel, which it is, but really, it’s more of Steinbeck bravely showing a side of human nature that man often times refuses to see. It’s like when we read Beowulf. Page ninety-six, last few lines of the second paragraph, he writes and I quote; ‘The men raced around the last stall. Their eyes found Curley’s wife in the gloom, they stopped and stood still and looked.’ At this point we can feel the collective grief of the men poring out of the page, we can see them knowing…” Miss Patricia Tartt drones on. With a dagger to my throat, I can’t tell you what exactly she is trying to explain in Of Mice and Men. I don’t think anyone in the class can. No one is paying attention. And it’s not like I haven't read the book. I’d stayed up at night, I’d ditched a part

It happens so fast that for about three beats, no one moves a muscle, no one reacts; we all just stay frozen, immobile, watching William Ravenstone crumpled on the floor, unmoving.And then Akio rushes forward.Reality, confusion and panic slams into me at the same time. I’d seen the cut on his cheek healing. Is the blade poisoned? Why then haven’t I dropped too? I take a step forward towards him, suddenly feeling all of my energy drain out. But my vision doesn’t swim. The world doesn’t tilt. My legs don’t give out under me.Akio is on both knees, holding a finger under William’s nose. He quickly looks to Sensei, a little bit of relief in his voice. “Sore wa kare no byōkidesu.”Gojo Sensei nods, his face serious.“What’s going on?” I step forward again. It seems like my legs are too frozen to move at the pace I want them to. “What’s wrong with him?” My voice is rough, panicked. The dagger drops from my hand. “Akio, what the fuck is going on?”The rest of the class is deadly quiet.“He

The next day I go through all the motions again with Bibah. I keep an eye out for William, but he doesn’t show up to any of the classes, and doesn’t even try to get in contact with me about the assignment we’d been paired up for.The classes end up feeling long and boring despite everyone’s bubbling excitement over the mating ceremony being tonight. Teachers finished classes early, some lovebirds downright didn’t even bother to get out of their dorm rooms, and the overall anticipation was so thick I could barely breathe properly in the hallways. I felt a little cheated because when Jenny told me about the mating party, she’d worded it as the ceremony being in two days. I don’t know if that was a deliberate attempt to get me unprepared or not. If it was, then it had worked.Three days ago, I’d been looking forward to the mating ceremony. But now? I couldn’t force myself to give a rat’s ass about it.I toss the fifth black dress I’d tried on, and it lands on the pile of dresses next to

We run through the woods, wind whipping my hair, branches and thorns trying to snag at my dress, the leaves under our shoes crunching, heels sinking into the soft earth, and my giggles echoing into the night. I can’t remember the last time I’ve felt so free. I can’t remember the last time I’d thrown caution into the wind like it was nothing but dust and followed what my heart desired.We make it to a clearing near the main school building, and I pause, laughing, trying to catch my breath, and shaking my head all at once. My face feels flushed, my hair wild and ruffled from the breeze. I try to tame it, running my hands through and turning to face William.There’s a genuine smile on his face. The most gorgeous smile I’ve seen in my life, and I feel my heart stuttering in pure awe of it. It feels like I could melt and die right here.Slowly, his fingers brush away a strand of my hair, tucking it back behind my ears, his touch soft and careful like I might be made of glass; like I’m an i