Page 22 of Eternal

My studio is closed for the next two days while the school preps for an art show this weekend, and my roommates were awake when I got up this morning, so I figured this was the one place I could avoid everyone before class.

No such luck.

I should have known the girls would find me. I vaguely remember Violet talking about studying for her Criminal Psychology test last night, so that must be how I got the idea of coming here in the first place.

“Since when do you care about studying for tests?” Patience knits her eyebrows.

I set my pencil down, rolling my shoulders back. “Since I found out I need to maintain my current grade point average to hold my spot in the Louis Petit internship.”

“You got in?” Mila reaches for my hand, and all three of them smile at me. “How could you not tell us?”

“I just found out.” I force a smile. “Besides, I’m only in if I pass this test. Hence the studying.”

I’m not actually worried about this test. I know enough to keep my mediocre grade where it is, but they don’t need to know that.

“Let me know if you need help with your psychology final,” Violet offers.

“Or calculus,” Patience adds.

I wish school would come easy for me. Violet and Patience juggle their honors classes, while Mila maintains grades well above mine without studying. If she put in half the effort Patience and Violet do, she’d probably have higher grades than anyone at this table.

While I’m better versed in paint than a textbook. It’s embarrassing I’m barely passing Calculus 101 as a sophomore.

“Thanks.” I force a smile, trying to hide the fact that everything about school feels like a struggle.

Looking up, I see Shane, one of Declan’s newest Sigma Sin initiates, walking by. He eyes our table, winking at Mila as he passes.

“Mila, focus.” Patience nudges her arm.

“Just taking in the view.” Mila smiles, picking at her chipping cherry-red nail polish as Shane disappears. “What’s everyone up to tonight? I’ve heard rumors Sigma Sin is throwing a party. Has Kole said anything to you, Violet?”

“No.” Violet shrugs. “But I can text him and ask.”

Patience glares at both of them. “I thought we agreed we’re boycotting that place.”

“When did we agree on that?” Mila frowns.

“Marco…”

“Screw Marco.” Mila rolls her eyes. “One cheating douchebag doesn’t get to tell me what I can and can’t do. I have every right to party there. Besides, if he wants to be a dick, Violet will send her boyfriend after him. Won’t you, Violet?”

Mila snakes her arm through Violet’s and rests her head on Violet’s shoulder.

“I guess?” Violet bites her lip, and her answer is more of a question than anything.

“See.” Mila lifts her head, patting Violet’s arm as she focuses back on Patience. “Vi and Kole have my back, so why can’t you?”

“Because nothing good comes from that place.”

“We all know how you feel, Patience. So if you want to boycott, fine. But Sigma House throws the only parties worth attending in this town, and I’m not sacrificing my social life to join your pity party.”

Smiles drain from both their faces as they stare at each other from across the table. Sometimes their opposite personalities bring out the best in each other. But sometimes, at times like this, it widens the rift.

“How is Alex?” Violet asks, likely not realizing until the question is out what a bad idea it is to bring him up right now. “You went and saw him yesterday, right?”

“Yes.” Patience glances at me for a splitsecond.

We passed each other in the hallway, and I appreciate that she doesn’t bring that up. They all know I’m a regular at Montgomery Psychiatric Ward, but we don’t talk about it.