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.

---

Lucian sitting on the sofa,

greeted him

up to find his distant yet defiant sister, unsure of what to say. He

genuine. Except these years Lemira's were mediocre for her

wasn't just a phase of acting out. He

She was

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

"Yeah."

safe out there with all sorts of people. Stop going to those libraries

her lips; there it was again, decisions made for

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 was all for Evelina's sake; that was why she was asked

stood tall, "I don't want

match, and since you won't join the team, you should make some sacrifice, assisting Eve with