now or never

8

"Be honest, something happened between you and Bodhi, right?" Violet asked me. She had dragged me into her room right after the bell rang and was looking at me expectantly. I stood at the window and looked at the sky before turning to her. "We kissed." I answered her question. Violet jumped up from her bed, her whole face beaming. "Do not celebrate too early." I told her. "He said it was a mistake and he's right. I can't start a relationship here because I have to lie to everyone here." I slid down the wall and held my head in my hands. "Oh Alice" Violet knelt next to me. I don't know why, but a tear ran down my face as Violet hugged me.

There was a knock on the door. Violet got up and opened the door. "Hey Vi" "Hey Ridoc." She let him into the room and I stood up. "Oh, that's right, this is Elana Graycastle. We've known each other for a while." Violet introduced me. Ridoc looked at me and his eyes widened.

"You finished Durran earlier. Awesome. I'm Ridoc Gamlyn, I'm glad." He was boisterous as he shook my hand and was smiling ear to ear. "If you ever need someone to spar with, let me know. Even if you need someone for something else, my door is open to you." Violet just huffed and I shook my head. "Sawyer was right, you really have problems."

I had to smile at the thought of Sawyer. He reminded me of Halden, very caring, making little jokes and being attentive. Even though I hadn't known Sawyer that long, I had already taken him to my heart. And in fact he had already warned me about Ridoc. He said that Ridoc was very nice and a friend of his, but Ridoc seemed to think more with his dick than with his brain.

Ridoc beat his chest dramatically. "Oh really? What did he say to you?" asked he. I shrugged and walked past him. I still have to study, I'll see you later Violet." She just laughed and slapped Ridoc on the arm when he complained about Sawyer. What a group of friends.

I walked down the hallway and entered my room. Unfortunately I had to share the room withSloane and I found her tolerable. It wasn't there, so I rummaged through my backpack until Ifound a small box. Halden had given it to me before Cam and my departure. He had said itwas my birthday present and that I should open it on my trip, and now I did. My eyeswatered when I saw the contents. Inside the box were pictures of me and my brothers, anenvelope and a small, dark red box with a silver A on it. I reached for the pictures and let thetears fall.

The first picture was of me and my three brothers looking at the night sky in the summer.That was the last day I saw Alic.

Two others showed me and Halden fighting with wooden swords and talking to each otheron swings

Another picture showed Cam, Halden and I running through thehalls and escaping class. I was sixteen at the time and we had gotten into a lot of troublefrom our professor.

The last image took my breath away and my eyes widened.

It showed me and my parents. That must have been a few weeks before my mother died.She died when I was five. After her death, the family went down the drain. My father couldn'tlook at me for years because I looked too much like my mother and when I got older hestarted beating me. I swallowed and put the photos aside. Then I opened the envelope. 

Dear Alice, my dear little sister.Happy 20th birthday. I have to say that it scares me to know that you too are getting olderbut will always be my little sister. I want you to know how much I love you and that I willalways have your back no matter what you do. I know you've made a decision, and so hasCam. Do not die! I do not want to lose you either.I love you, little sister, my sunshine.with loveHalden 

Oh brother, if only you knew. I opened the box and looked at a silver chain with a small sunpendant. I smiled. As a small child, Halden called me his sunshine and I called him hismoon. He was probably the most important person to me and I would go through fire for him.