Entwined Fates: The Key of Fire by Juliane Maibach

Author:Juliane Maibach [Maibach, Juliane]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-12-16T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

I spend Sunday revising and doing homework – at least that’s the intention. The English essay that I finally cobble together is far from a glorious achievement, but at least I have something down on paper. As hard as I try, my mind is not on the task at hand. I keep picturing Ayden’s face. I’m furious with myself for thinking about him so much. But isn’t that understandable? We almost kissed, then he backed out at the last second. I’m still trying to figure out why. Did he suddenly decide he can’t stand me after all? Did he just want some fun and then get scared I might want more? I simply don’t understand.

I rest my head on my desk and groan irritably. Yoru’s head instantly pops up and looks at me enquiringly. I wave my hand and murmur, “I’m just really pissed right now at this guy and at myself. Don’t worry about it.”

My little fox curls up and closes his eyes. I wish I could be that calm.

The day drags by exceptionally slowly. On Monday, I can hardly wait to get to school. I’m definitely going to talk to Ayden. He owes me an explanation, at the very least. I look out for him the whole morning, but he doesn’t show up for English, and I don’t run into him in the corridors. So it’s no wonder I’m a little peeved at lunch.

“Are you okay?” Alex asks. I’m sitting at a table with her, Chrissy, and Kate. “You look like you’re trying to crumble your sandwich into a thousand tiny pieces.”

It’s true – I’m just nibbling tiny bits off it and not really eating.

“I’m just not in a great mood today.”

“Is it because of the date with Ayden?” Alex probes. “I’ve been on tenterhooks this whole time, waiting for you to tell us about it.”

“It was... nice,” I reply evasively, feeling my friends’ eyes on me.

“Nice?! Sounds really thrilling,” Alex mutters disappointedly.

“We just talked. That’s pretty much it,” I continue, and notice my voice growing sharper.

“Sounds like you were expecting it to go differently,” Alex surmises.

“Sorry your date didn’t pan out the way you hoped,” Kate says, trying to cheer me up. “But maybe it’s not a bad thing if you just stay friends.”

I look at them all indignantly. “What do you think I was expecting from the date?! Of course we’re just friends. I’m... it was just kind of... strange.”

Fine, even to my ears it sounds like I’m not being truthful.

“Sorry to interrupt, but that cat there, have you guys ever seen it before? It’s incredible the way it just sits there on the windowsill, so self-assured, staring into the cafeteria. Like it’s watching us,” says Chrissy.

I turn around. For a moment, I feel like my heart stops beating from the shock, then I start feeling annoyed again.

“Yeah, that cat hangs around a lot,” says Alex. “It seems to have decided to make our school its new home. I guess there’s plenty to eat here, and students who are happy to give it something.

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