When They Beg, I Rise!

Orion's gaze was unfathomable, "You trust me this much, not afraid I might fool you?"

"What's there for you to fool me out of?"

Lemira looked at him squarely, "You're pretty much my only friend right now."

Orion's gaze briefly faltered. A friend? His lips curled slightly, and then he put on a stern facade, "Don't just trust people willy-nilly in the future, especially men." "Got it, I'm off."

Lemira waved, slinging her backpack over her shoulder as she left the infirmary.

Orion remained seated long after she'd left, his eyes catching the sight of the cake on the desk. Memories of a car crash scene, with a ruined birthday cake, flashed through his mind.

His head began to throb uncontrollably. Since that car crash, he hadn't touched cake again.

After a while, he got a call, "Mr. Everhart, Ms. Langston has safely arrived home." Only then did Orion hang up, his silhouette stretching long in the setting sun.

---

found Lucian sitting on the sofa,

greeted him

defiant sister, unsure of what to say.

these years Lemira's were mediocre for her school

and it wasn't just a phase of acting out.

around him seemed gone. She was genuinely putting in

and indeed been neglectful of Lemira's feelings, especially with Alaric's stunt at school. Could this be why she changed so much? Lucian's voice was mixed, "Back so

"Yeah."

sighed slightly, "Isn't it better here than at those public places? It's not safe out there with

lips; there it was again,

hired a tutor for her. You should join in. If Evelina struggles with anything, you can help her out. After all, you're classmates. When she was absent, you could take detailed notes for her." Lemira's gaze turned scornful. So, it

stood tall, "I don't

you've already proved that you're capable. Eve is our family. Her dropping rank is because of the match, and since you won't