Castleside Academy

Epilogue

Luther leads me into the room, his hand gently over my eyes. “It’s like two in the morning, Luther. What are we doing here?”

Luther chuckles. “Calm down, love.”

“Love? You must really be tired. And committed to this.”

“You sound tired, too. Just hang on. Okay, stop right here.”

He uncovers my eyes.

We’re in the great hall alone. The room is dark except for the lantern that Luther places on the floor next to us. “Lexina, I know you’re staying at Maya’s for the summer, so I just want you to know that I’m going to be thinking about you all summer.”

I smile gently, despite his corny words. “Why are we here?” I ask, stifling a yawn.

He laughs again and pulls out the ring. My eyes widen. “How do you keep getting that!”

He grins slyly. “I can pick a lock.”

I nervously laugh.

Quickly, Luther wraps his arms around me and pulls me to his chest. With one hand, he slides the ring onto my left finger and rests his forehead against mine. “I won’t see you for a really long time, Lexi.”

“You’ll make it,” I whisper.

“Dance with me. One more time. Please?”

I giggle. “I love you so much.”

I slip my shoes off so I’m barefoot. Luther pulls the hair tie out of my hair, letting my hair free. What a way to do it.

I honestly can’t remember what we did five minutes later because it’s so late, but I remember him picking me up in the end. I fell.

“It hurts,” I whisper, grasping my ankle.

Luther strokes my hair. “I’m sorry. It’s all my fault.”

“No, no, no,” I say. “Don’t worry about it.”

He wipes a (dramatic) tear from my cheek and lifts my chin. “It’s too late for this.”

“Dancing?”

He laughs and suddenly kisses me. “I should’ve done this the moment you fell.”

“I forgive you.”

“I’m going to miss you, Lexina,” he says.

“It’s not forever, Luther.”

“I know.”