Clear Lake Academy holds the worst of the worst delinquents from around the country. Each and every student there holds a notorious background that led them there and almost everyone avoids them.
After setting the tenth building on fire, which just...
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"Are you okay?"
Laken's voice invaded my thoughts, forcing me to focus on reality once more. He stared, concern swirling in his icy irises—like flakes of snow. His hair was ruffled—messy and stretching into his eyes. He sat in a set of dark blue pyjamas before me, a wooden table separating us.
I slowly nodded.
He blinked, clearly not believing me.
We'd spent the entire night on the rooftop; laughing and chatting into the late hours of the night—sometimes tussling, playing stupid games and sharing ridiculous jokes. But I'd made the mistake of forgetting to hide the bags under my eyes. Despite it being the new normal for me, I tried to keep them concealed to prevent any worry that would ultimately come from my friends.
I glanced away before his stare could unravel something deeper within me. Hendrix was slumped against the wood, fast asleep beside Laken. That left me to have the free bench to myself as we sat in the silent canteen.
Yesterday, one of the tables had been broken during a fight so maintenance had placed a temporary bench for the meantime whilst a replacement was ordered.
And it just so happened to be our table.
The canteen was bathed in bliss; silence that stretched across the dozens of tables, filling every corner of the usually noisy halls. The odd students were dotted throughout the room, sleep clouding their eyes. The early morning sun streamed in through the wide windows, giving an illusion of calm that wild soon be broken once the school awoke fully.
It was six thirty. On a Friday.
The double doors slipped open just as I considered lying down, bones heavy with a faint ache. Adir wadded through the open space, his half lidded eyes barely focusing as he subconsciously made his way towards us.
Without a word, he skidded around the table, plopping down onto the bench with a barely contained sigh. Without a second thought, he scooted over until he could lay down across the wooden seat, head landing neatly on my lap. I moved my hands out of the way as he made himself comfortable, feet planting on the floor. He was a goner a second later.
I leaned my head on the wall beside me, hoping I could fall into whatever world he'd flown too.
All too soon, the school halls were steaming with noise, bodies streaming in through the doors — disturbing the peaceful quiet. Stares lingered on Laken as people passed, but he pretended not to notice—for his own sanity. The rest of the group appeared one by one, all sporting their usual tired smiles.
I didn't bother looking away when Bentley took a seat, his dark eyes snapping to mine as if gravity pulled him close instantaneously. I only stared harder when Lila appeared, a delicate hand perched on his shoulder, her lips pulled into a cat-like grin.
She pretended not to see the glares directed her way, as if they fuelled her victory. Apparently, wherever Bentley went, she went too. They were a package deal now.
