tugs on my hair to keep the plaits tight.
“I think he is confused about you,” she genuinely tells me.
“Nope, he isn’t, and I’m not. Honestly, about two years ago, we came close to kissing and it repulsed us both,” I say and chuckle at the memory. “I never had siblings, and he is my brother in that sense.”
“Got it,” she replies, but I sense she doesn’t believe me. “I had a best friend like that back home, but our relationship turned into more just before I died.”
“I’m sorry, that really sucks,” I whisper, catching her dark eyes in the mirror on the wall.
“Yep, especially when I just came out of the closet with her and told my dad. My life was literally the best it could have been before it was just gone,” she says.
“Well, I don’t care, you know that, right?” I ask as she finishes tying the end of my plait up. I turn and look up at her, seeing the real worry in her gaze. “You are my friend, and I don’t think anyone should have to hide who they like or love.”
“I’m happy I’ve told you now. I spent years worrying about telling my family and friends before, and I don’t want to start off my second life like that,” she firmly states. “My dad told me to always be proud of who I am and who I love. I fully intend to live my life that way.”
“You can tell me anything, just for the record. I won’t judge you. Ever,” I say and stand up. “And by the way, the riding outfit looks amazing on you too.”
“Oh I know,” she says and winks at me. “Now, can we discuss how jelly I am that you get to be the gardener’s assistant and spend time with him?”
“Hey, I thought you liked girls,” I bump her shoulder as we walk out the room, and she laughs.
“A girl can change her mind for a guy who looks like that. Well, at least for one night,” she replies, and I laugh with her. She does have a point.
“I’m actually looking forward to gardening. Now, if this place had a library full of new romance books, I might not try to escape in the future,” I jokingly say as we get outside and breathe in the warm air. The orb is shining bright light, and I look around for the sun, not finding it anywhere. The gardens outside the academy are just as spectacular as the greenhouse, and I know I need to have a good walk around on the weekend. As I try to remember which way the stables are, Vesnia tugs me aside just as two angels land right in front of me. If Ves didn’t move me, they would have knocked me over for sure. Both of them are dark angels with bright blonde, waist-length hair, and the only difference between them is one of them has green eyes and the other blue. They are clearly twins, and they never grew out of the stage where you stop matching your clothes as kids to look cute.
“Watch out, newbies,” the green-eyed girl all but hisses. Jessica lands next to her a second later, frowning at me, and I smile back.
“Annie, Bonnie, this is the girl I told you two about,” Jessica announces, flipping her hair over her shoulder. “Kaitlyn Lightson.” My name sounds like poison as she spits it out.
“I’m Bonnie, and this is Annie. We will be seeing you around, newbie,” Bonnie declares, smacking my shoulder as she goes past. I watch them walk away, and as they get to the door and go inside, Annie turns back. “By the way, the princesses always protect the queen. You should know that before you try and take the king.”
“Do you think it matters that I have zero interest in the king...wait, Henry. I’m not calling him that,” I mutter, rolling my eyes. Ves sighs.
“Day one, and we already have enemies. I knew there was a reason I hated high school, and this place is like high school but with angels,” she drones.
“Angel high school should come with a warning about the psychopathic blondes who roam the corridors,” I whisper.
“Or hot guys,” she whispers back to me, nudging her head in the direction of the trees. Right at the start of the forest is a little hut, and in front of it is a shirtless Thallon digging in the soil, covered in mud. Hot damn. Sweat drips down his