Darn Stupid Brother You Are by Mairee

Chapter 77

(Angel's POV)

The morning sun filtered through the hazy clouds and warmed up the center's wide field. The staff gathered us for another grueling drill session and said it was to "promote physical endurance." I couldn't focus on the instructor's barking orders because my mind was elsewhere. Anxiety had been glued to me since I stepped on the field.

I could feel their eyes on me.

As I jogged along the dirt track with the rest of the group, snippets of gossips reached me like venomous arrows.

"Have you seen them together?" one girl said in a curious tone.

"They're inseparable," another said eagerly. "Thomas and Angel. Can you believe it?"

My chest tightened, and I stole a glance at the two girls ahead of me. Their heads were bent close, and their voices were just loud enough for me to hear every word.

"They've been sneaking around. I saw them last night near the porch," one girl whispered as if it were a secret. "Do you think they're, like, together-together?"

The other girl giggled. "Obviously. Why else would they be so cozy all the time?"

The other one chipped in, "That Angel is a real thing, isn't she? It's like she's something out of a fucking horror movie. I mean, she hooks up with her own brother, and then his friend? That's just wrong. She's a total slut."

quickened my pace as my cheeks burned. I wanted to run away from their words and their judgment. I knew the rumors were

of guys loitering near the pull-up bars caught my attention. They weren't doing drills but were lounging around and laughing. My heart sank when I noticed Eddie

"Angel's a catch. Smart and pretty... I'd trade places with him any day." what's he even saying? Isn't

clapped Eddie on the back. "Better watch

stopped jogging until someone bumped into me

as a ringing reminder of the fractured bond between us. I couldn't shake the guilt

me. I started jogging again, but

drained. As I walked back to the dorms, I kept my head down and avoided eye

...

paranoia over the journal's disappearance. If I was going to figure out what had happened, I needed to take matters

option. Ava was too

Ava seemed distracted lately and not as sharp as she usually was. She spent less time with her clique and more time wandering the cafeteria alone

the feeling that Ava was hiding

sat at a corner table in the cafeteria and picked at a bowl of soup, I noticed Ava sitting a few tables away. She was staring at her phone and

were interrupted by Ellen's cheerful voice. "You

taken a liking to me early on and often slipped me extra portions or offered comforting words when I seemed down. Cylan also told me she was nice to her when she

said with a faint

hands on her apron. "You

smile widened slightly, and it was the first real smile

leaned in closer and lowered her voice. "You know, I heard Dr.