“Cole! Long time no see!” Pierce greeted him with a quick fist bump, and a few others called out to him as he walked over, clearly all old friends. Alessia just stood quietly off to the side, a gentle smile playing at her lips as she watched him approach.

“I thought you were going to bail on us today,” someone teased.

“No way,” Cole said, ruffling Alessia’s hair with easy familiarity–a gesture that looked like second nature, as if he’d done it a thousand times before. “If the lady of the house gives an order, you know I have to deliver.”

Their friends hooted and teased, but neither Cole nor Alessia seemed the least bit embarrassed. Instead, they acted as if this kind of banter was perfectly normal.

“All the gifts are here. Just claim yours. Pierce, mind helping hand them out?”

“Help? I’m honored,” Pierce said, grinning as he took the suitcase from her.

“Hey, sis Alessia-” Pierce was about to head to the back of the classroom with the gifts when Ileana, looking as delicate and fragile as ever, somehow slipped in through the crowd.

Stella rolled her eyes so hard it was almost theatrical, but before she could say anything, Alessia stepped between them, blocking her. Stella just pursed her lips and let it go.

gave a short, scornful laugh and perched himself on Alessia’s desk. With his baseball cap pulled low, he

protective half–circle. It couldn’t have been more obvious: they were drawing a line.

she thought bitterly. No wonder these idiots can’t ever beat Crestview High in the finals–they’re all so clueless. But then again, the dumber they are, the easier to

had no interest in

rushing to play

comment landed like a slap. Ileana’s smile froze, but she

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14:41

Chapter 55

innocence, and pointed at the suitcase in Pierce’s

on taking with you even after Dad kicked you out? I didn’t realize you brought it just to

awkward silence stretched between them; everyone exchanged uneasy

before?” Cole asked lazily, twirling a lock of Alessia’s hair around

me. It was only when I mentioned Alessia’s name that they agreed to hand it over. You know, I’d asked everyone I knew to help me track down that collector’s item, and

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