Light of Equality (Hawthorn Academy Book 5) by D.R. Perry

Author:D.R. Perry [Perry, D.R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: LMBPN Publishing
Published: 2021-07-28T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

At lunch, the cafeteria wasn't filled to capacity, even with all the visiting students. The Gallows Hill corner was loud and tight-knit. I wondered what it would've been like if we'd visited their campus instead of the other way around. I laughed, trying to imagine it, which wasn't easy because I'd only ever seen pictures of their athletic facilities.

"Aliyah, hi." Azrael Ambersmith stepped up behind me in the food line. "Can I sit with you guys?"

"Let me guess, you need a break from that noisy crew?" I raised my eyebrow at his classmates, who had pushed several rectangular tables together to make one enormous seating arrangement.

"Bingo!" he exclaimed. "I'm from a big family, but my classmates take the cake. I'm glad you understand. But mostly, I wanted to ask something if it was okay."

"Why wouldn't it be okay? You're my friend."

"There's a little more to it than that."

He glanced toward the row of booths, including the one Hal had staked out for us at the beginning of last year. The kids from our year had taken them over, turning around to chat with each other. The one exception was Grace, who paced in front of them, stopping at each booth to socialize with everybody.

"Wait a minute." I put my hand on his shoulder. "Wait just a minute there, Az. Are you trying to tell me—"

"That I want to ask Grace on a date?"

"Well, no, I thought it was maybe a little bigger and more long term than that."

"She doesn't seem to be very long-term right now." He shook his head. "But do you think she'd say yes?"

"Well, she just broke up with Dorian." I jerked my chin at everyone's favorite goth kid. "But they were only platonic, really."

"Yeah, I saw." Azrael composed his face, speaking flatly. "And plenty of people have deep connections without romance. There's no "only" about it, you know?"

"I don't." I sighed. "I'm probably the worst person to talk to about relationship stuff. Have you tried Cadence?"

"You're Grace's roommate and one of her closest friends, so I figured you're the best person to ask."

"Az, she's not following her heart right now. I don't want either of you to get hurt."

"I know. This last month and the whole situation with Dylan was hard on her."

"Nowhere near as hard as it was for him, though." I blinked.

"No, you're wrong." He shook his head. "I worked with her all summer, so I saw it. She was busted up weeks before they split. It wasn't easy for her."

"She's run everything strategically since then, like a computer." I sighed. "I mean, she talked a little with me, but like it happened last year instead of last month."

"That's Grace, for you." He shrugged. "Keeps anything thorny at arm's length. Anyway, if you think she'll listen, I'll go ask."

"Right now?" I blinked. She'd planned the breakup with Dorian but had said nothing about Azrael. "Are you sure?"

"There's no time like the present." He grinned. "Thanks, Aliyah."

Before I could say anything else, he stepped out of the line and headed toward Grace.

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