Page 254 of The Blairville Legacies

She walked lightly across the room and flopped down on my bed, which – by the way – she did often. It was okay because I had gotten used to it.

Her own gray-covered bed was full of photos, papers, and pens because she didn't seem to get along well with desks. On the wall above her bed were beautiful photos of various places at Vanderwood University, the kind you could only see in very brief moments. Namely, when you perceived this place as a university and not as the enemy's territory.

I realized how longing was rising in me, and I looked back at my phone.

I didn't know how to answer that. Since the day he had opened up to me and told me about his family, we hadn't said a word about Greek gods, even though he had wanted to tell me about Atlantis.

A lost city... How ironic that we both lived in one that had probably come close to sinking several times.

Out of nowhere, images of my last temple session with Gloria flashed through my mind and I tried to blink them away, but fell into a stupor without success.

Gloria had made me forget on Friday afternoon, had once again taken away my feelings, but by now my body was so used to it that the forgetting part no longer worked so well, but the numbness part did. I felt partly dependent on the stuff she gave me because it not only made me feel empty, but also less vulnerable. Something that enabled me to survive my time in Moenia without completely breaking down.

Funnily enough, there was only one thing the serum couldn't erase. If anything remained, it was the warmth that my friendship with Erik brought me.

“Do you get paid to be a drama queen here?” Larissa asked without taking her eyes off her camera. “If so, I'd like to apply.” Then she turned a cog. “And I thought Blairvillereallywas a bucket with a hole in it. But there seems to be quite a lot going on here.”

I had a feeling she was hinting at something, but dismissed the idea. Bay wouldn't tell her anything. Grace had talked to her.

Bay looked at me, then back down at her book.

“One question, Julie... What made your family so rich?”

I looked at Larissa in wonder, because if there wasonequestion I had never expected, it wasthisone.

“Why do you want to know?” I asked slowly, and noticed that Bay was looking at Larissa as if she had just said something she shouldn't have.

“Everyone knows you're rich. It's no secret,” Larissa continued, tilting her head with a knowing look.

I immediately thought of the business Amara always discussed with us at the table. Everything to prepare us. But I also knew what another one of ourmore officialmain sources of business was.

“Maple syrup,” was all I said and looked down at my cell phone, where the message from Erik had arrived in the meantime.

I'm sure he wanted to text me tonight, and there's nothing I'd rather do than that. Couldn't we just sink into a never-ending discussion about Greek myths?

His message arrived.

My breath stopped. My eyes widened.

Larissa snatched the phone out of my hand.

“Oh my God!”

Larissa looked at me as if I had found out who Erik was.

I took my cell phone from her hand in a panic and read it again to make sure I hadn't misread it.

I hadn't replied, which is why he had sent another message.

“What is it?” Bayla asked, closing the book and standing up.

“You won't believe what Erik just texted her.”

“Now come on...” Bay came over and sat down next to me. I let her read, because it was too late anyway.

“What?!”She looked at me, smiling. “This is your chance!”

Erik wanted to meet me. Here. In Blairville.