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I grumbled under my breath as I let him drag me up. Once I was standing, I immediately shrugged out of his grasp and went to grab my towel. Aiden snatched it from my hand.

“You haven’t got time for a shower. Just throw some clothes on. We’re leaving in five minutes.”

“Five minutes?” I glanced at the time on my phone and swore under my breath. Aiden had woken me up with absolutely no time to get ready. “Aiden, why didn’t you wake me up sooner?”

He shrugged. “You looked so peaceful. I didn’t want to disturb you.”

“Please tell me you weren’t watching me sleep…” I shook my head, deciding I could leavethatconversation for another time. “Get out of here so I can change.”

He nodded and dashed from the room. I rummaged through my suitcase until I found something that seemed appropriate to wear in the outside world. Most of my clothes looked like I’d slept in them or spent days lazing around in them while watching Netflix. Both were probably true.

I couldn’t believe I’d missed such an important email. I was also surprised Zoey hadn’t been gushing with excitement about school starting again when I spoke with her last night. She was finding lockdown even harder to cope with than me.

I reached out to pick up my phone so I could text her, but a pounding knock echoed through the door. “Clary, we need to leave now.”

“Okay, okay. I’m coming.” Who knew Aiden was such a stickler for the rules?

I opened my door and found him leaning against the wall just outside the room. I went to push past him. “I just need to brush my teeth…”

He grabbed my hand though and pulled me toward the stairs. “Nope, no time.”

“Are you kidding me?”

Apparently, he wasn’t, because he kept dragging me down the stairs. I hesitated at the bottom. He was on a mission to reach the front door, but my whole body was urging me toward the kitchen.

“Can I get some coffee before we go?” There was no way I’d make it through the first day back at school without my caffeine hit first.

“Sorry, no time,” he said again, as he continued to pull me to the front door. This time though, I planted my feet, stopping in the doorway, refusing to move an inch farther.

“Come on, Aiden. I can handle dirty teeth, but no coffee? It’s like you want me to be a grumpy bitch all day.”

He shrugged, his eyes solemn as he looked at me. “Sorry, Clary. Maybe if you’d spent less time on your hair this morning you’d have had a chance to get coffee.”

“I didn’t do my hair!” I exclaimed. I’d barely had time to change out of my pajamas, and my hair was still in the same messy bun I’d woken up in. I was planning to redo it on the drive to school.

“Really? But it looks so messy chic.”

“It’s bed hair.”

“It’s sexy.”

“Aiden, coffee,please.” Yep, I was begging now.

He laughed and nodded at Elliot who was standing on the front porch with a travel mug in his hands. I nearly wept at the sight.

“Oh, thank God,” I said as Elliot handed it to me. I cradled the warm cup in my hands and took in the strong smell of the fresh coffee. “I was about to mutiny and refuse to go to school.”

Aiden chuckled. “Yeah, I noticed. Now, let’s go.”

I followed Aiden and his brother toward the truck. It was cold this morning, making me even more grateful for the coffee warming my hands. As Aiden started the engine, he turned the heat up full blast. I took a sip of my coffee and let out a happy sigh. Aiden’s mom bought the best coffee. I had no idea where she got her beans from, but I imagined they came from a happy place. Only happy beans could taste this good.

“I still can’t believe school’s starting again,” I said as Aiden pulled out of the drive. “It seemed like the year was over. That we wouldn’t get to see graduation.”

“I know,” Aiden agreed. “I was surprised too.”

“Did the email say why it was okay for school to open again?”

Aiden shrugged. “Something about the fact that they’ve been able to put precautions in place now.”