Page 90

Happy NY! Resolution: actually upload the 342,000 word OWAR fic I’ve been working on!

@fauningforhim

I’m happy to beta read if you need!

@thesebootsweremadeformoonwalking

Ditto! Happy New Year’s, gang!

@silversmithhh

Hangover? Pfft. Ya girl’s still dronk. And also down to beta read fics, just sayin

Private chat with @runicrascal

@mythicwitch

My resolution is to try and fix things between us. I’m sorry. I miss you. I miss our chats, but I understand ifyou still need space. Hope you had a lovely Christmas and New Year x

@runicrascal

Happy New Year, Cerys

@runicrascal

I’ve missed this too x

@runicrascal

I mean, who else is going to spam me with 87 messages about the OWAR episode finale?

@mythicwitch

Nobody in this forum, that’s for sure #fakefans

@mythicwitch

I really wasn’t sure if you were going to reply. Thanks for giving us another chance

@runicrascal

For you? Of course

@runicrascal

Until the end

CHAPTER 29

January is as much a blur as December: I end up taking on extra shifts at work; school feels more hectic than ever; and now I’m not avoiding the girls or trying to keep my friendship with Anissa so secret, I make more time to see them all. Anissa even joins us for a few Thursday morning trips to Costa before class; it’s awkward at first, with Nikita being guarded, Daphne working too hard to carry the conversation, and Anissa being overwhelmed and shy – but she and Chloe bond quickly, and she has the same dry sense of humour as Nikita, a fact which seems to surprise them both. They’re not all instant-besties, but nobody expected that. It’s kind of nice to see them all opening up a bit, though – and feel like I’m doing the same thing.

It’s nice to feel like after all the years I spent taking Jake’s lead when it came to friendships, I can finally return the favour for someone else.

Jake is still quiet over text, even if I do get a couple ofactualreplies every so often, but at least the Discord chat is non-stop. Things still feel off-kilter because we aren’t hanging out in person (though he is spending time with Anissa), and because I haven’t seen Max since our kiss, but it doesn’t make me spiral and panic the way it did before.

Maybe Jake had a point about me tagging along: Idofeel more independent these days. And I feel happier, too. This must be how Max feels all the time, I think. Wholly, unashamedly himself.

The true weirdness isn’t in me mentioning some fanart I’m working on to the girls, or Anissa boldly swapping seats in history to come and sit by me and Nikita, but at home – which is actuallygood, for once.