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.

---

Lemira found Lucian sitting

greeted him

defiant sister, unsure of what to say. He had suspected her of cheating when her

turned out her achievements were genuine. Except these years Lemira's

truly changed, and it wasn't just a phase of acting out. He felt both

center around him seemed gone. She was genuinely putting in the

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 late, were you at

"Yeah."

than at those public places? It's not safe out there with all sorts of people. Stop going to those libraries

pressed her lips; there it was again, decisions made

classmates. When she was absent, you could take detailed notes for her." Lemira's gaze turned scornful. So, it was all for

tall, "I don't want

back at school, but 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 join the team, you