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 on the sofa, obviously waiting for

him without emotion,

looked up to find his distant yet defiant sister, unsure of what to say. He had suspected her

were genuine. Except these years Lemira's were mediocre for her school grades, how

changed, and it wasn't just a phase of acting

sister who used to center around him seemed gone. She was genuinely putting

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 the public library

"Yeah."

at those public places? It's not safe

her lips; there it

you're classmates. When she was absent, you could take detailed notes for her." Lemira's gaze

"I

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 should make