Abnormal {Book 1: Completed, Book 2: Ongoing}

Chapter 32

We have a 48 hour period to rest before the final task starts. Valerie immediately invites me to her room to party, and I gladly accept the invitation. As soon as I arrive in front of the familiar dorm, Valerie bursts out of the room and drags me inside.

"It's been so long since we've talked!" She gushes, looping her arm through mine. We sit down in the common room, where the boys are hunched over their screens, as usual. Aveline emerges from the girl's room, carrying a bag full of sweets. She hands me a piece of candy and gives me a bright smile.

Suddenly, I notice a new presence in the room. It's Tori, perched on the windowsill with a book in her hands. Her red hair is pulled up into a messy side bun, and she is dressed casually in yoga pants and a plain gray T-shirt. She must have noticed me staring at her, because she looks up from her book to look at me. Then surprisingly, she returns her attention to her book without saying anything.

I frown, confused at her reaction. I expected her to yell at me, or at least confront me in some way other than silence. 

Aveline tugs at my arm, and leans closer to me before whispering in my ear. "She's been like this ever since she got dropped to the beginner's level. She goes to her meals and lessons, but other than that, she just sulks in the corner with her book. She almost never talks to any of us." 

My eyebrows raise in response. Because of our encounter on ranking day, I think of Tori as loud, obnoxious and ill tempered. Now she just seems extremely withdrawn, which is concerning. 

I sigh and return my attention to my friends as Valerie tries to lighten the mood. "I heard that you won the second task! How was it?" 

My mind wanders back to when Adrius held me in his arms while trying to protect me from the bear. I remember how his heart was beating fast in his chest, but he deliberately slowed down his breathing to calm me down. I remember how blue his eyes were as he pulled me back from the cliff's edge. I remember how he chose to ignore Heather as she writhed in the quicksand. 

My lips curve upwards at the memories, and I stare dreamily into the distance...or more accurately, the blank TV screen, until Valerie elbows me and Aveline giggles. 

"I heard that...Adrius helped you during the task," Aveline says in an excited tone. "Are you guys..."

My cheeks flush bright pink as I realize what she's implying. "No...of course not! What are you talking about..."

Valerie rolls her eyes dramatically. "He wouldn't help you unless he really likes you. We're not blind, Lyanna, we can see the way he looks at you. And also he stands up for you in public all the time, how can you possible not notice how..."

"Oh my god, stop!" I push her playfully, and she falls onto the couch, snickering loudly. Adam and Everett finally decide to peel their gaze away from the screen and come over to hang out with us. 

"What's going on?" Adam asks, his lip curled in his signature smirk. 

"It's Adrius!" Aveline blurts out, then covers her mouth with her hand immediately, hiding her laugh.

Everett shakes his head exasperatedly. "The third task is tomorrow, and you girls are here talking about our general?"

Adam punches his shoulder lightly. "Why you gotta be so serious?" Then he turns to us again. "What about Adrius?"

"Nothing!" I reply indignantly. I glare halfheartedly at Valerie and Aveline. "I have no idea what they're talking about!"

Valerie snorts. "Sure, sure. You have no idea what he..."

I elbow her to cut her off before she says anything inappropriate. "Let's all go down to the mall," I say loudly. 

We throw away the candy wrappers strewn all across the table, and the boys check to see if both the inside rooms are locked. Then we leave the dorm, heading towards the mall. As Adam locks the dorm room door, I turn my head, half expecting for Tori to follow us.

Of course, she doesn't.

In a few minutes, we arrive at the mall. Last time I was here, Valerie insisted that I check out the dresses, so I didn't have time to explore the other stores. There are hundreds of people here, some crowded in the food court, some in the gift shops, and some groups of girls shopping for the newest, trendiest outfits. 

As we wander through the various shops in the mall, I realize how much I've missed my friends. I miss their random conversations, their carefree smiles, and their bad jokes. It's so hard to have any fun in my new dorm room with only Raven as company. Although she's always nice to me, there seems to be something...off about her. She's always so mysterious, as if she has secrets that she's hiding from the world. 

I wonder if I'll be able to unlock her secrets before the Trials end.