Dad stares at me and then up at Jackson again. "What?" he asks. "I was just being polite -"

"Jacks is...not great with polite," I say, pressing myself warmly to his side. "Actually, I think he'd probably rather fight you than do the small talk thing." Jackson scowls, already coming back to himself a little. "Ari, I don't want to fight him -"

"I know," I say, nodding and smiling up into his face. "Just - can we all maybe take a bit of space? Try this again over midwinter, maybe over dinner?" Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ ꜰindNʘvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"Or an activity," Rafe suggests, knowing that even a dinner might be a bit much for Jacks. "Or a great, great deal of whiskey - barrels of it."

"Enough," dad snaps good-heartedly at Rafe, waving a dismissive hand at all of us as he turns away. "Fine, fine! We'll do it all later! I need much more information anyway."

I grin after him as he walks to the bed with mom at his side, and then I grin between Jacks and Rafe.

"You did great, Jacks," I whisper, supportive.

murmurs, glancing after my parents. "Besides, like, my name

Rafe says with humorous condescension, patting him on his shoulder with a laugh. I laugh too

again - suddenly, I long for a lock on

clipboard in his hand. "I'm looking for Cadets Sinclair, McClintock,

me, asking whether the professor is looking for Jesse or Rafe Sinclair, and in the intervening moment Jackson hands me his cap, which was apparently tucked into his back pocket. Hastily, I loop my

that he's looking for Rafe Sinclair, Rafe glances back at me and then nods to him, letting him know

the bed, perhaps wondering what the hell is going on. But he doesn't say anything

a sigh, "the three of

hug. When we go all the way around before we see the professor at

my mother says, interrupting as the professor starts speaking again. "It's not an issue that Cadet... Clark..." here she

professor says, giving her a deferential bow. "The rules are to cross the finish line, full stop.

because he wrote the rule book - that it's not a

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