Evermore Academy (Evermore Academy #3) - Audrey Grey Page 0,60
Namely it ends at committing a B&E. I know I can’t stay here the entire night. Not unless I want to wake up to a search party and one very pissed off Mack. But I need to get my bearings before I become well and truly lost. Plus, my cell service may work that high up.
I’m breathing hard and sweating buckets by the time we near the top. Ruby found a few errant Sour Patch Kids in the fanny pack along my waist, and I thank the candy gods for the silence.
The stairs lead to the front porch. The wooden railings are in surprisingly good condition. This close, I can see that beyond the wild ivy clinging to the peaked roof and eroded stone, the bones of the place are intact.
A good thing considering how high up we are. In fact, I hadn’t quite realized how high until now. The view is breathtaking, the entire island visible. From here I can see just how off I was. The main campus is in the opposite direction that I was traveling. Lights flicker from every building as the students gather for parties. I had forgotten it was the weekend.
Done with the candy, Ruby zips from the pouch and flutters in front of my face. “There’s the campus. We’re saved!” She darts toward the stairs. “Hurry before your greedy little roommate discovers the fireball I hid in the couch.”
There are a million things I could say about that, but I’m only half listening. Something about this place feels so different from all the other buildings on campus.
“Kid, I can feel my precious cinnamon gold draining every second we wait. You need to have a talk with your mortal roommate about boundaries and taking what isn’t theirs.”
The hypocrisy is so thick I could choke on it, but I can’t quite shake the feeling that I’m missing something about this place. I hold my breath as I approach the door, which seems silly since it’s obviously unoccupied. When my fingers brush the metal handle, I’m surprised by the coolness.
The temperature is still a glorious mid-nineties.
Along the outer wooden door frame grows a climbing shrub I’ve never seen before. Some of the dark blue berries growing from its thin branches have blossomed into beautiful silver petals. The plant seems out of place, especially given that summer ivy covers everything else.
On impulse, I snap a stem laden with flowering berries and stuff it in my fanny pack. Then I give in to Ruby’s desperate pleas. The disquieting sensation of being watched is gone, and now that we know which direction campus lies, it’s easy to find the main path again.
When I open the door to my cottage and find Mack waiting with two shot glasses full of Ruby’s fireball, the mysterious cabin fades to the back of my mind. I’m normally not a big drinker, but I let my best friend ply me with alcohol and love until we both end up on the couch watching Anime on Netflix and demolishing her newest care package.
After so much liquid courage, I’m brave enough to ask the question that’s been on my mind all night. “Has the Winter Prince reached out like before?”
Mack fumbles for her phone, her eyes crossing as she checks their text chat. Her gold-and-green streaked chocolate hair flies around her face as she dramatically shakes her head. “Bastard. The ILB is on my new shit list, which is really, really long this year.”
“No, he’s trying to do what’s best for both of us, I just . . .” What? Want him to reach out so we both can feel the excruciating pain that comes when we’re together?
Yes, I realize. That would still be better than pretending I don’t exist.
“I love you, bish,” she slurs, throwing her arms around my neck. Wow, she’s extra wasted. She must have pounded a few shots before I arrived. “It’s going to all work out, you’ll see. Just don’t ever run away from me again.”
“I can’t help it if you’re slow.”
“Your legs are so . . . so long. Like a gazelle. A beautiful, badass gazelle.” She pulls away, her eyes wide as she wrinkles her nose. “Why do you smell like bad sushi?”
I laugh. “Turns out, I’ve been looking in all the wrong places for friends.”
“Friends? You don’t need any more friends. You have me and I’m fucking awesome—oh shit.” She jerks away. “I don’t feel so good. My face is—is tingling.”