Page 10 of Born in Sin (Phoenix #3)

“Amay.” Celina screamed his name out from across the school’s long driveway. Startled, he dropped his gym bag, his spectacles sliding down his nose as he scrambled to pick it up.

All around them children milled, lugging their bags into the main school building.

It was drop off day, the first day back after winter break.

And Celina was thrilled to be back. Christmas had not been what she’d imagined it would be.

Her parents had been fighting in their bedroom, but pretending to be happy in front of her, so it had mostly been tense and awkward.

She ran over to where Amay stood, eyeing her apprehensively.

“Hi,” he said nervously, pushing his glasses up his nose.

“Where’s Virat?” Celina was bouncing on her toes in excitement.

“I don’t know,” he replied, turning towards the building. “I just got here.”

“I’ll come with you,” she said. “We can find him together.”

Amay flashed her a little side eye which she ignored. She didn’t care what he thought of her. She needed to see Virat and tell him…tell him what? It felt like a hundred bees were stinging her under her skin.

Ishaan wandered up to where they were, dragging an ancient school bag that looked like it was a million years old behind him.

“Ams,” he said, nodding at his friend and ignoring Celina completely.

“Hi Ishaan.” Celina waved her hand cheerily in front of his face.

He recoiled like she’d slapped him. Amay dug his elbow into Ishaan’s side, and he muttered, “Hi.”

Someone’s shoulder smacked into Ishaan’s sending his bag tumbling to the ground.

Varun, one of the boys in their grade laughed as he walked past, the sight of Ishaan scrambling to put his things back into his bag seeming to please him.

Celina glared at his back, but Varun didn’t look back and probably wouldn’t have cared even if he’d noticed.

That bunch of boys was bad news, like her mother always said.

Celina dropped to her knees along with Amay and between them they helped Ishaan shove his things back in. And then another hand joined in, brushing against hers as they reached for Ishaan’s English textbook. Storm grey eyes caught hers and her stupid smile came bursting out of her again.

“Hi,” she said stupidly.

“Hi,” he replied, a small smile quirking his lips.

“Oh man! I’m going to puke.” Ishaan’s disgruntled mutter had Amay dragging him away, leaving Virat and her, still kneeling on the floor of the crowded corridor.

“Did you have a good break?” she asked him, as they slowly rose to their feet. Had he gotten taller in the last month?

His smile dimmed at the question and Celina regretted it immediately. She rushed to fill the silence with words.

“I’m so happy to be back at school,” she blurted out, the words spewing out of her.

Virat glanced down at her. He had gotten taller!

“For the first time,” he murmured. “So am I.”