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"You’ve rolled your ankle You can’t go to the ine you’re still walking on thin ice with the school?"

"Very thin" I sighed

He leaned down and wrapped his arnored the electricity I felt when our skin touched and the way ne surrounded us I took a deep breath as it enteredOh how I irl’s dorms before ere allowed in After n in and out of dorood to see that you’re back Miss Moore has already ed to use up your tilasses and looked down her nose at ainsta student out

"I’ and rolled her ankle She’ll be fine; I’ her to her dorm" Eli smiled

"In those heels I’m surprised she didn’t break her neck" Mrs Ploit scowled

"Yes, they are a bit high, aren’t they?"

I rolledspoken about like I wasn’t there Teachers, parents, and bosses do it all the time

"I’m in room four zero t," I interrupted

Eli raised an eyebrow and nodded his head atback?"

Eli asked as we reached ed to convince Aleksandrov into letting us share a room"

I pulled the dor a smile

"What? I don’t have a purse that matches my dress"

We entered and Eli sat me down on the bed with a purple satin duvet, my bed

"Do you have a first aid kit?"

I pointed to the bathrooot the kit and returned, then he kneeled before me and removed my shoe I swear I could hear the electricity that crackled along my skin as an aftering lided against one?"

A hint of frustration laced his words I kneas talking about the drinking

"No, this is a first," I muttered, intimidated by his cold voice "You didn’t have to helpyou alcohol all night He wouldn’t have done anything other than take adv --" his words were cut off by a deep exhale He closed his eyes, regaining his composure Eli’s lips were held in an impassive line

"He didn’t force me to drink it, he offered it and I took it I just wanted to stop thinking about you and… have fun"

Daue hard against the roof of , so far so good When Eli had finished bandaging my ankle, he sat on Mila’s bed, opposite … if it was payback for what I did to you, then fine, I get it, but you were gone for threein my eyes and my words choked in my throat "Three months, Eli I had no idea whether you were alive or dead, and my tattoo washed off in the shower … Hoas I supposed to take that?"

His usual bright green eyes turned bleak as he ran his fingers briefly through his dark hair

"I’h that, but now I’m not your problem and you’re not mine"

I flinched at the harshness of his words "What does that el You’re no longer being targeted by anyone specifically, you don’t needso needy and childish, but I did need him I tried for ht

"Because of you, I was interrogated forthrough that again" Eli’s voice was loud and angry Frustration marred his face All his careful control evaporated and afterward, ere stuck in a long silence

"What did the higher poant?"

"I didn’t see hioddesses and they wanted a reason why I killed Tay; you aren’t allowed to kill a fellow guardian angel Even a guardian angel that has co I also had to defend an inappropriate relationship between us" He paused as he conteot us both out of that shit-storm"

His calm demeanor returned and relief flooded my body Noas certain Tay wouldn’t coainst the relief I could see how upset Eli was that Tay was dead, and I was the reason why

"I have to go and register with the school again" He left the bed and walked over to the door, pausing before he opened it "Stay out of trouble"

I nodded and watched as he shut the door behind him Tears spilled over the ri so depressed? I had i months for, and yet I wanted it to be over already I hopped over tolike an idiot I think bed was the best option for me at this point I unzipped my dress from the side and stepped out of it as it fell into a ruhty over oose bumps to raise a little

Knock Knock

I paused for a few moments I was unsure if I wanted to see anyone, even Eli or Hunter I hobbled over to the door If it was Eli, it would be nice to drink in a fewto sleep The smile I met on the other side of the door wasn’t Eli’s

"Ruby, there you are!" Hunter sly overhere? And how did you get past Mrs Ploit?"

Or Eli

He leaned up against the frame of my door

"I told Mrs Ploit I needed to check up on my date I only have --" He checked his watch "Three h, she did ot back okay" He glanced briefly at the bandage on my ankle

The last part of his sentence was tainted with frustration … or jealousy I’ve only heard Hunter speak in a joking, sarcastic or smart ass manner, and that

"I rolled rabbed my hand

"How convenient," he ht, at La Hope?"

La Hope was a roe town