جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 10

Chapter 1Aurelia The acceptance letter felt like both a lifeline and a death sentence in my trembling hands. Westridge University. The words were embossed in gold lettering across thick cream paper that probably cost more than my entire wardrobe. I traced the letters with my fingertip, my stomach churning with a mixture of dread and something that might have been hope if I'd allowed myself to feel it."You don't have to do this."I looked up from where I sat curled on my window seat, finding my mother standing in the doorway of my bedroom. Diane Sinclair looked elegant as always, her blonde hair swept perfectly, her designer pantsuit without a single wrinkle. She looked like the kind of woman who had never felt anxious a day in her life, who had never understood what it meant to be afraid of the world."Yes, I do," I said quietly, looking back down at the letter. "We made a deal, remember? One year. If I hate it, you and Dad promised you'd never force me to face the world again

Chapter 3Aurelia"I'm, um." My voice cracked. I cleared my throat and tried again. "I'm Aurelia. Freshman. I like to read."It was pathetic. The shortest introduction in the entire class. But it was all I could manage before my throat closed up completely."Welcome, Aurelia," Professor Chen said kindly, then moved on to the next student.I sat back in my seat, my face burning, my heart pounding. I'd done it. I'd survived my first introduction. It was terrible, but I'd survived.The class itself wasn't so bad once I didn't have to talk. Professor Chen lectured about the syllabus and course expectations while I took detailed notes, grateful to have something to focus on besides my anxiety.When class ended ninety minutes later, I grabbed my bag and headed for the door as quickly as possible."Hey, Aurelia, wait up!"I turned to find Sienna jogging after me. "Want to grab coffee? There's a place on campus that's supposedly decent."I stared at her, completely confused. "Why?""Why what

Chapter 5Aurelia I waved goodbye and headed to my dorm room. Once inside, I collapsed on my bed and pulled out my phone, I had a text from my mother asking how my first week went. I sent back a simple "Fine" because I didn't know how to explain that I'd made a friend and had a conversation with a beautiful stranger and survived five days of classes.I opened my Kindle app and pulled up The Stand, reading the section the stranger and I had been discussing. His words kept echoing in my head."Why do you hide?"I'd been hiding for so long I didn't know how to do anything else. But for those twenty minutes in the library, I hadn't been hiding. I'd been present. I'd been real and it had felt good.Terrifying, but good.I fell asleep that night thinking about grey eyes and wondering if I'd ever see him again......The weekend passed quietly. Sienna texted me approximately seven hundred times trying to convince me to go to a party with her Saturday night. I refused every time.Sienna:

Chapter 7 DREYVEN The elevator in the North Wing had been broken for two fucking hours.I stood in front of the metal doors, staring at the OUT OF ORDER sign like I could will it back to life through sheer irritation. Behind me, I could hear the maintenance guy apologizing for the third time."Mr. Drey, we're working as fast as we can. The part should arrive tomorrow morning...""Tomorrow morning doesn't help me right now, does it?" I cut him off, already turning away. "Forget it."I walked down the corridor toward the main building, my jaw clenched so tight it ached. The North Wing was private. Reserved. Away from the masses of students who populated this campus like ants. I'd spent four years avoiding the general population, and now I had to use the public elevator like some regular student."Ven? You still there?"My brother's voice came through the earpiece I'd forgotten I was wearing. Right. Conference call. I'd muted myself when the maintenance guy showed up."I'm here," I sai

Chapter 9AURELIA I slapped him.The thought kept looping through my head like a broken record as I stumbled out of the elevator, through the library lobby, out into the late afternoon sun that felt too bright, too harsh against my tear-stained face.I slapped him.My hand was still tingling from the impact, nerves firing with phantom electricity. I could still feel the connection, the way his skin had felt under my palm, warm and solid and real. The sharp crack that had echoed through the empty fifth floor still rang in my ears, louder than my own heartbeat.I'd hit someone. I'd actually put my hands on another person in anger.The realization made my stomach twist. Made bile rise in my throat.I never hit anyone. Not when Victoria shoved me into lockers so hard I saw stars, not when her friends poured juice on my lunch tray while the entire cafeteria watched and laughed. Not when they held me down in the bathroom and cut my hair with craft scissors while I begged them to stop, m