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A strange, new light was burning in Yasuo’s eyes, and it kept drawingme I didn’t knohat that expression meant I had to see what he’d do Who he’d becoht It sprang back into place as he let go "Well? Do you have a name? Or are you mute and deaf?"

This wasn’t the Yasuo who’d sat next to uy with the spiky , bitter His eyes had been drained of their warmth, and for an instant, he looked like aVaathered up every inch of what I estiave her best conteh--she hadn’t been one of those girls in her high school--and I read her story in a flash It was all in the way she held her shoulders, that flicker in her eye She’d thought herself a loser back home Maybe she’d been knocked around like I had, orflahere there were none, which was kind of like

"Regina!" Danny crowed He’d rhyerated by his thick British accent

No friends, I reminded myself No pity Just survival I cru involved this tiina marshaled her expression and spun in her chair to face him "Like I haven’t heard that before"

So not the way to deal with this particular probleh, I couldn’t help but pause and watch just a second longer

Gangly boy bodies closed in, loo the fury in her eyes But she had spunk, this one, and she snarled, "Go crawl back under your rocks"

I should’ve left then and there, but it was like watching a train wreck--one that I’d been on before lued to the seat Here it came, in five, four, three…

"Aw, don’t be like that" A Trainee named Colin plopped down at the table He was blond and cute, looking like the high school star quarterback

I hated Colin

"We’re the welcorin h-school-quarterback-who-buried-victio That was my cue I scooted back my chair Outta here

I picked up my tray, but Rob had appeared atht have ascended to Initiate, but I’d still be called Acari, at least until the time when--or rather, if--I survived to becoinally irls were ticks, and Rob had enunciated it like he wanted to reain "Going so soon?"

CHAPTER FOUR

"Actually," I said, "I was thinking I’d skip this particular party"

Keeping his hand planted where it was, Rob eased into the chair next tostarted"

"And I was just finishing" I tried to tug lass, ave up and let go--there’d be no battle of strength with these guys Ever I’d always be the weaker one, and I hated it

He slid the tray away, grinning at onna stick around here with us for a little while instead"

I was in it now I’d learned there were times to show fear, and this wasn’t one of the to talk to souffawed, like he’d just made the funniest joke ever

I rolled estively "Thoughout, you andsuch a bitch"

I scowled "Thanks, but no, thanks, Romeo Not in the mood"

"Hey," Colin called from the other end of the table "El Trainee Roberto A little focus here Eyes on the prize Isn’t that right, ladies?" He gave a s at her lunch like she was trying to bust out some telepathy and bend her cutlery with her eyeballs, so he turned his attentions to Pretty Girl instead "You need to come to the castle," he told her Then his eyes lit "In fact," he added, "all you first-years have to"

The girl actually said, "Really?" She was studying hih, as if he h to look past his evil little soul

I rolled o directly to the door to collect your Darard now

"Oh, totally," Colin said, sensing her interest