Chapter 10
“It’s finally Friday!” Morella squeals as we step out of Home Ec, practically bouncing on her toes.
She’s glowing with excitement. There’s a party tomorrow night.
Apparently, parties happen a lot around here, but she still gets giddy every time.
I think it’s more about the excuse to dress up than the actual party.
In class today, we found out that next week we’ll start cooking. Real cooking. In front of everyone. The idea makes my stomach twist. Not because I’ve never cooked, but because it’s been a while.
Back home, I used to cook with my dad all the time. We’d make pasta, breakfasts, stuff from boxes or jars, nothing fancy, but it was ours. I haven’t done much since. Not since… everything changed.
“Hey, M…?” I clutch my notebook to my chest. “Do you maybe wanna practice a little before next week? Just to, I don’t know, shake off the rust?”
I expect her to laugh, or tell me I don’t need to worry, that it’s just Home Ec. But instead—
“Oh! That’s a great idea, Liv!” She grabs my arm with both hands and beams. “Ooooh! Come spend the night! We can bake cookies and watch movies. Then tomorrow before the party, we can try something fun and dramatic, like homemade mac and cheese or maybe even soufflés!”
Her excitement is contagious. And more importantly, she didn’t ask why I felt rusty. She didn’t press.
I breathe a little easier. “Sounds great.”
We head out to the quad near the dining hall, sunlight filtering through the canopy of trees overhead.
I spot Rafe and Silas standing in the snack bar line.
Of course. Where else would they be? I’ve noticed Silas eats like a garbage disposal, constantly snacking on something.
I scan the area, but I don’t see Archer anywhere.
Morella and I make our way to our usual table beneath a smaller tree and take a seat.
“Who ya lookin’ for?” she asks, digging through her bag.
“Honestly? Archer.” I sit, eyes still sweeping the quad.
That’s when I spot him.
He looks… angry. Not his usual broody and unapproachable vibe.
Actually angry. His dark brown hair is a mess.
Mussed and frazzled, like he’s been yanking at it, or like someone else has.
A sharp pang hits me, unexpected and unwelcome.
Jealousy? No. I shake it off. I am not jealous of anyone who sleeps with Archer.
As he gets closer, I can see the shift in his eyes. Deep honey. His brows are pinched, and his fists are clenched so tight the knuckles have gone white. He passes our table without a glance. He just keeps walking, tense and focused.
He stops, just past us, and turns. He's staring at a guy at one of the stone tables, who’s halfway through a muffin, mid-bite.
He snatches the muffin out of the guy’s hand.
Did he just… Did Archer just smell it? He glares down at the muffin, expression tight, jaw flexing like he’s trying not to explode.
“Hey man, that was mine! What the hell?!” the guy snaps, standing.
Archer lifts his head slowly. The look he gives the guy makes him hesitate.
“Keep it, man,” the guy mutters, suddenly backing off with raised hands. “I didn’t even like it.”
Archer turns and walks off, tossing the muffin into the nearest trash can without slowing down. Around us, the quad goes quiet. I’m not the only one staring.
When I glance back toward the snack line, I catch Silas and Rafe watching too. Silas looks thrown off, like he doesn’t recognize him. Rafe has a hand on Archer’s shoulder, leaned in close, saying something.
My eyes drift back to Silas, only to find him staring directly at me, grinning. He lifts his hand and wiggles his fingers in a slow, mocking wave.
“Ugh.” I tear my gaze away and turn back to Morella, who hasn’t noticed any of this.
“What?” she asks without looking up, her fingers tapping rapidly on her phone.
“Oh. Silas,” I mutter.
She hums in acknowledgment but stays focused on her screen.
“Did you not see what just happened?” I press, brows drawing together.
“No, why? What happened?” Finally, she sets her phone down and looks at me.
“Archer straight-up took that guy’s muffin, smelled it, and then threw it away,” I say, jerking my thumb over my shoulder toward the poor guy, who still looks rattled.
Morella blinks, then tilts her head to glance past me. “That’s… really weird. Archer doesn’t even like sweets.”
“Well, he didn’t give it back either,” I add.
“He could’ve,” she says, eyeing the trash can. “But honestly, I wouldn’t want it after that.”
“Exactly. If someone smelled my food? No thank you. Straight to the garbage.” I shiver, gag dramatically, and make a face.
Morella laughs, the moment already fading from her mind as she picks her phone back up. “Do you need a ride home?”
“No, my mom’s sending Frank to get me. But can you still pick me up later for the sleepover?”
“Yeah, that’s fine. Just call when you’re ready,” she says, already deep into her next text.
Studyhall was the same as usual. Quiet, boring, and too long. Except Archer looked like he was about to snap.
I’m glad he chose to sit on the opposite side of the table.
Even Morella hesitated before sitting down next to him, and she’s usually the one person he tolerates.
His hands kept tangling in his hair, tugging hard, and his eyes were shut tight for most of the period.
His leg bounced non-stop, shaking the table just enough to be distracting.
He looked like he was barely holding it together. At one point, he snapped at me. Asked what I was staring at. I hadn’t even realized I was staring. Silas snickered. Rafe rolled his eyes.
After class, I head to the pickup line and climb into Frank’s car. The same sleek black sedan he drives every day. It still smells faintly like leather and pine-scented air freshener.
My mom is in the back, legs crossed, phone in one hand and a compact mirror in the other. She checks her lipstick, fixes a strand of hair, then taps away at her screen like the rest of the world doesn’t exist. I pull out my phone, already halfway through a text to Morella.
“Honey,” my mom says, still focused on her screen, “I’ll be having the ladies over later. I hope that won’t bother you much, we get a little noisy. ” She smirks and tries to stifle a laugh. I can tell she’s happy to be able to host things like book club and brunch.
“It’s ok mom. I was planning on going to the rink any way.” I beam at her so she knows I’m not upset about her having friends. In California dad and I were her only friends. They both worked so hard for us to have the little that we did. Now, she’s free to enjoy some her time.
Liv:
Mom’s having friends over so I’m gonna head to the rink. Meet me?
I expect her usual instant reply but… nothing.
Once we get home, I run upstairs and grab my gym bag. On the way back down, I open the Uber app and order a ride to the rink. It takes all of three minutes before a car pulls up just outside the gate. I don’t bother letting them in. I just slip through the side gate and climb into the backseat.
“LIVVVVV!”
I barely get the door closed before Angie’s voice hits me like a cannonball of energy. “Dude. I knew it. I said to myself, ‘She’s had a vibe this week, bet I see her again before Friday.’ And boom. Manifested.”
“Hey, Ang,” I say, already smiling despite myself.
Angie’s in her usual oversized hoodie, this one’s bright purple with dancing mushrooms on it, and a pair of tinted round sunglasses that she absolutely does not need at this hour. Her black hair’s in a messy bun shoved through the back of a trucker hat that says “HOT MESS EXPRESS.”
I added her to my preferred list in the app after the second ride. She talks nonstop, but it’s the kind of talking that makes the car feel lighter. Like background noise you want to have.
“You on a mission again?” she asks, throwing the car into drive. “This got ‘escape energy’ written all over it. Rink day? Drama day? Secret meet-up with a mysterious lover who’s secretly a vampire?”
“Just the rink,” I say, checking my phone again. Still nothing from Morella.
“Oof, okay. Cold comfort. I feel that. Ice is a good place to work out your trauma. Very ‘main character coping montage’ of you.”
I snort.
When we pull up, she slows to a stop. “Alright, go be emotionally stable and mysterious. Text me if you need an alibi or snacks. Later, queen.”
“Later, Ang,” I say, waving as I hop out.
Inside, Rita greets me with a warm smile from behind the front counter. I give a quick nod and step through the double doors into the chilled air of the rink. And just like that, the tension starts to fall away.