Page 14 of Code of Heart

She gazed across the street at the park where young children ran around playing tag, their parents huddled on park benches chatting as they oversaw them. Further away, a group of guys were tossing a football back and forth. Aurelia scrunched her nose in concentration and pushed an errant lock of hair out of her eyes.

We’re already here anyway….

Taking a deep breath, Aurelia turned around and faced the group of classmates, and with the most confident tone she could rally, she asked, “Does anyone want to do our class in the park?”

An hour later, a very sweaty but content Aurelia plopped herself down on the grass next to her classmate, Adelen Mazao, as she gulped down half of her water bottle. She tried to smooth down the wayward strands as she fastened her damp hair into a semblance of a bun atop her head.

When she asked her classmates about holding their own practice session in the park, she expected them to decline. Instead, they got excited and followed her across the street to the park to train together. Under a shady spot of trees, they paired up, reviewing the different maneuvers they had learned so far.

Aurelia partnered up with Adelen, who joined the class five weeks ago. She felt strangely comfortable around her, like they were kindred spirits. Selene always had the gift of easily making friends growing up, while Aurelia mainly kept to herself and the safety of her books.

It was a lonely way to live.

It was also why she was determined to change that, one small step at a time.

“I’m so glad everyone came to the park tonight. I really needed this.” Aurelia glanced at Adelen, sitting next to her on the grass.

Adelen’s legs were stretched out before her as she leaned back on her palms. She wore a similar black athletic outfit to Aurelia’s, with a black tank top over it. Looking roughly the same age, her midnight hair was pulled back in a French braid, showing off her wide, expressive steel-colored eyes, fair skin, and cochlear implants. Her multiple ear piercings glittered in the sunlight.

She was gorgeous in a mysterious and dangerous sort of way.

And could probably kick Aurelia’s ass if she wanted to. She almost laughed aloud, thinking about it.

“Do you want to go grab something to eat?” Aurelia blurted.

Well, that was unplanned.

She wanted to crawl under a rock and hide from her awkwardness. Feeling her cheeks warm from embarrassment, she thanked god for her post-workout flushed skin that masked it.

Adelen fiddled with the end of her braid, quietly contemplating her question for a moment before she said, “Yeah, why not? There’s a burger place around the corner with amazing milkshakes.”

“God, I could kill for a good milkshake right now,” Aurelia groaned. She took a moment to enjoy the wave of relief that rocketed through her when Adelen agreed to go out.

Adelen snickered as they both stood and grabbed their water bottles. Aurelia’s steps and soul were lighter as they walked to the diner.

As they approached the restaurant, Aurelia noticed Adelen’s steps slow right before reaching the corner. Her head turned slightly, sharp eyes scanning the street and nearby doorways with a level of precision that made Aurelia pause. Adelen’s shoulders tensed for the briefest moment before she took a slow, controlled breath and forced them down again. The movement was subtle and practiced…too practiced.

Aurelia was quite familiar with that routine herself, considering she had lived it for months after escaping Kyle. It left her always on edge, always checking exits, and running through worst-case scenarios. Hypervigilance became second nature when a person spent too much time waiting for the next blow to fall.

“You okay?” Aurelia asked gently, careful not to startle her.

Adelen’s mouth twitched into a humorless half-smile, the kind that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Yeah…old habits,” she murmured, her voice cool and even. She adjusted the strap of her bag across her chest like a shield and pushed open the doorto the diner. “Come on. That milkshake isn’t going to drink itself.”

Aurelia let the moment pass, but something inside her stirred. There was more to Adelen than she let on, beneath layers of carefully placed walls and shadows she kept hidden beneath that mysterious exterior. Aurelia realized she wasn’t the only one carrying invisible scars, unsure of whether to be comforted or concerned.

Aurelia followed Adelen into the diner; the warmth and chatter inside were a sharp contrast to the tension that clung to them moments ago. Sliding into the booth, Aurelia found herself studying the other woman across from her more closely, noticing her carefully controlled movements and the way she positioned herself with her back to the wall, always keeping the entrance in view.

She recognized that instinctive need to stay alert, to feel in control of her surroundings. It was a familiar kind of armor.

Strangely, Aurelia knew she didn’t have to explain herself to this woman to be understood, and maybe Adelen didn’t either.

A tentative smile tugged at her lips as she picked up the menu, a quiet sense of belonging settling between them.

One small step, she reminded herself. One small step that perhaps Adelen needed as much as she did.

CHAPTER 7

Levi