Page 54

I stared at Marnie, who was pacing the dorm room with the same kind of rage people reserved whenever they couldn’t find their phones. Except this wasn’t about a phone. This was about a tampon.

“I swear, if this thing doesn’t go in, I’m dropping out,” Marnie huffed, glaring at the tampon in her hand like it had personally insulted her.

I bit back a laugh. “Dropping out over a tampon? That’s a bit dramatic, even for you.”

She shot me a look. “It’s the night of the ball, and I’m on my period, Grace! Why must I have such bad luck.” She fell back onto my bed, her arms fanned out at the side as she stared at the ceiling.

“You could just use pads like a normal person.”

Marnie gasped, lifting herself onto her elbows to look at me. “ Pads ? What am I, a peasant?”

That did it. I snorted, collapsing beside her in a fit of laughter.

“This isn’t funny!”

“It’s a little funny.”

“No, it’s not! If I don’t figure this out, I will be waddling around in my dress like a toddler in a diaper.”

I sat up, shaking my head. “Okay, okay. Let’s just get you to the bathroom first.”

I dragged Marnie off the bed, though as soon as the door to the bathroom closed, she began full-on panicking, not knowing how to physically insert said object.

After ten minutes of trying to convince her it wasn’t the end of the world, I texted for backup without her knowledge.

Not even five minutes later, Veronica stormed into the bathroom.

“Okay, which one of you is bleeding out?”

Marnie’s eyes widened from where she was sitting, legs spread apart on the toilet. “You called Veronica!?”

I gave her a sheepish shrug. “Lily and Dana weren’t going to help; they barely speak to us as it is.” Not like Veronica was any different, but I wasn’t about to text Hunter, Brandon and especially Silas over a girl matter.

Marnie groaned. “Kill me.”

Veronica crossed her arms and leaned against the doorway. Her shaggy haircut was in an updo, with strands falling effortlessly around her face. She looked halfway done with makeup for the ball already. “Are you struggling with the angle or the fear of losing it in the void?”

Marnie’s mouth dropped open. “I—I—excuse me?”

Veronica sighed. “Scoot over. Let me give you a physics lesson.”

“Physics?”

“Yes, now close your legs for a minute. I don’t want to see that the whole time.”

The next few minutes were a chaotic mix of teaching, instructing, complaining and a lot of swearing.

“Relax your muscles!” Veronica snapped.

“I am relaxed!”

“You’re clenching too much.”

I was dying.

I didn’t know how much longer it took until finally there was a long pause followed by Marnie slowly sitting up, eyes wide.

“Oh, my fudge... it’s in.”

Veronica clapped. “Only took you about fifty years.”

Marnie wiggled her legs and practiced a few unnecessary squats. “I feel like I just gave birth backwards.”

I was laughing so hard that I thought I’d need a tampon myself.

Veronica turned to me. “Don’t tell anyone I was here. Got it?”

I raised my hands in defense as she narrowed her eyes at me and then turned toward the door. When the door shut behind Veronica, Marnie again relaxed against the toilet seat and exhaled.

“I’m exhausted. And we haven’t even made it to the ball yet.”

I hesitated, chewing my lip. “Do you think I should even go to the ball?”

Her head snapped toward me. “What are you talking about? Of course, you should. Dress or no dress, we’re going.”

It wasn’t just that.

I stared at my hands.

“What’s wrong?”

I didn’t meet her eyes as I strolled toward the shower and leaned against the clear pane of glass. “I’ve done something terrible, Marnie.”

That got her attention.

My chest was beating too fast, and I thought about the countless times I’d kept secrets from her. But she’d opened up to me, protected me, and called me her friend when I was hardly a great one at it in return.

“I’ve—well—”

“Oh, please don’t tell me you’ve gotten yourself involved with someone.”

I was dead silent.

She groaned and facepalmed. “Grace, why—”

“It’s a natural thing!” I defended. “I’m—ugh—” I ran my hands through my curls, unsure of where to go from here.

She stared at me. “Is it Hunter?”

My chest squeezed. “How—”

“I’ve had my suspicions ever since he took you to the Healers Sector after your fight with Norah. Also, I found a loose condom packet inside your drawer.”

Oh...

My stomach dropped at the thought of her finding those. I should have been more careful—no, we should have been more careful.

“I may be innocent most of the time, but I’m not stupid. I was just hoping it wouldn’t all be true.”

I nodded slowly, my face burning. I wasn’t sure whether I felt ashamed or that I kept this from her when part of her already knew. Did that mean that others knew? Could they tell? Were we that obvious?

I was spiraling.

I buried my face in my hands. “I don’t know what to do, Marnie. There were moments when I didn’t care about risking it all. I just... wanted to be with him. But now...”

“You’ve fallen in love.”

You’ve fallen in love.

The word love drifted through me, slow and steady, seeping into every corner of my mind.

I thought about what it truly meant. I thought about the moment I walked away from Hunter after the Ecliptic Hunt, the way his eyes lingered on me like he was proud.

Something in me had finally clicked that day.

I had never known what love was before. Not really.

I didn’t understand how it could unravel you and hold you together all at once. How it could feel like standing at the edge of a cliff, the wind daring you to jump, but knowing there’s no solid ground waiting below.

Until I realized, that love was a little like gravity.

Think of it like gravity. Even the smallest things can pull you under if you’re not paying attention.

Hunter’s words played in my head. He was right.

Love was silent and invisible but inescapable like gravity. It pulls you in slowly at first, so subtly you barely notice. Then, all at once, it drags you under. It doesn’t ask for permission. It doesn’t care if you’re ready.

And Hunter...

He was my gravity.

“Is he...” Marnie trailed off after I didn’t answer, but I knew what she meant.

I shook my head. “I haven’t even told him what I feel.”

Hunter was impossible to read. One moment, he was distant; the next, he was risking everything to protect me. But feelings? I didn’t know if he could even let himself feel something like that for me.

“Grace... this isn’t just some harmless modern-day romance,” Marnie said, her expression softening as she studied me. “You’re talking about Hunter—an Ascendant. If anyone finds out, especially the Council—”

“I know ,” I snapped, not meaning to. My shoulders slumped immediately. “I know,” I repeated, quieter this time.

Marnie moved closer, leaning against the glass beside me. “You know, despite all the chaos you keep dragging me into, the one thing I’m actually glad about is becoming friends with you.”

I blinked, caught off guard.

She gave me a small smile and nudged me with her shoulder.

“No, seriously. I know I’m dead set on becoming an Ascendant, but I still have your back.

You wanted to be a Warrior? You’re crazy but amazing.

You wanted to help Hunter find his brother despite how dangerous Riftkeeper’s are?

You’re loyal to a fault. You’re in love?

Well... I guess I’ll just have to tag along with you and your endless emotions.

Like I said, Grace, I’ve got your back. Even if that means dealing with more tampon emergencies. ”

I let out a small laugh, feeling a lump rise in my throat.

“Thank you,” I whispered, leaning my head against her shoulder.

We stayed like that for a moment—quiet, steady—until a knock at the door broke the moment.

One of our roommates peeked in, giving us both a strange look. She’d definitely heard some of the chaos from earlier.

“Uh, Grace? Joe’s here to see you.”

I sat up straighter, blinking in surprise. “Joe?”

Marnie raised a brow. “Well, that’s my cue then. I’ll let you two talk.” She pushed herself off the glass and started toward the door. “I’ll be in my room, getting ready.” She smiled, passing by our roommate before I followed out after a few minutes and found Joe by the kitchenette.

He stood there, looking awkward and unsure as he stared at the bright pink utensils by the counter.

“Hey,” he mumbled, holding a box in his hands.

“Hey.” I motioned for him to sit on one of the stools, but he hesitated before dropping onto one.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then Joe sighed. “Grace, I—”

“I know,” I said, green eyes snapped my way. “And I’m sorry too.” For a lot of things.

“About what happened with Matias...” he added, shaking his head, “I should have known.”

A nauseating swirl of anxiety rose in my throat at the thought of him. “Where is he now?” I asked, my trembling voice betraying my ability to act calm and collected.

“London. With his family. They... he doesn’t remember any of this. He believes in another life, one where he went to school, university...”

Guilt twisted my stomach, making me stir uncomfortably on my feet. Matias had no idea. No memory of this world. Of what he was. Of what I was to him.

Joe cleared his throat and pushed the box toward the end of the counter. “I got you something.”

I frowned, walking up to the delicate frill decorating the white box.

“I know it’s a crappy way of apologizing, but—”

My breath caught as I opened the box and saw a gown inside. “You didn’t.”

“I know how hard I’ve been on you, not letting you go out when others could, forcing you to change dorms. The least I could do was gift you a dress.”

I looked at him, the corners of my eyes stinging.

He smiled softly. “You never did get to celebrate your school prom.”

“That’s because we had to move.”

He nodded slowly. “Yes, but even then, I had already bought you this dress, just in case.”

Oh.

I didn’t know what to say.

If I spoke, I might risk crying like an absolute fool in front of him, not that it would be the first time doing so. But this meant a lot... a lot, a lot.

He rose from the stool and leaned in, kissing my forehead softly. “I’ll see you down there,” he said before quietly slipping out the door.

I stared at the gown, my heart heavy, as I wondered how much disappointment there would be if he knew everything I’d done behind his back.