Page 46 of Of Flesh & Bone

Greeting the new dayis exciting, with a freshly cultivated plan for how I'm going to start earning Adam's forgiveness.However, the execution of said plan will have to wait until after my appointment with Nathan.If all goes according to design, I won't have to tell Adam about my monthly appointments since he typically practices late on Wednesdays.

Now that the football coaches are back from their retreat, Adam says practices will be pretty frequent.He leaves me with the impression that he expects me to sit and watch him practice like a fangirl with nothing better to do.Is he prepared to be a fanboy for me?......Yeah.Definitely.He would sit through every practice just to make sure no one talks to me.

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It turns out that I have a class with Cal too.It's a testament to how oblivious I am to my surroundings that I had never noticed him before because he almost never shuts up.He's hitting on girls and cracking jokes with the professor throughout the entire 50-minute class.I've stopped pulling the hoodie over my face, although I do still wear it, so he's easily able to zero in on me as soon as he walks into class.He tells everyone that Adam is a rabid dog over me and not to look at me lest they risk turning to stone.So, is Adam possessive?Or am I Medusa?Pick a plot line, dude.

I feel curious eyes on me the entire class period.My skin starts to feel heavier than normal, and it takes every ounce of courage I possess to leave the hood where it is.I can't look up from my desk for fear that I might catch someone's eye.I'm fine one on one with Cal or anyone really.It's the crowds that set my nerves to buzzing.I'm not afraid that they'll hurt me.I just feel an intense need to ensure my survival when groups of people are near and, like a child if I can't see them, they can't see me.Ergo, the hood.I can't wait to tell Nathan about the strides I've made this week.

This is a good feeling.I'm proud of myself.New friends and even a boyfriend.I wonder what Nathan will say?

Cal walks me to my next class, claiming, "Cap is my brother.That means we look out for each other and protect what's ours."

I squint both eyes like I can't see him clearly.

"Calm down.I'm not saying you're mine.I'm saying you're his and he's my brother, so I'm looking out for you.If you think about it, I'm doing every male who would've spoken to you a solid.Me walking you to class is saving lives, Belle.We should tell the Peace Prize people about this.I feel like it qualifies."Cal's face is thoughtful like he's actually considering turning himself in for a Nobel Peace Prize as a viable option.

I laugh when he starts talking about the lives he's saving, but it may just be funny because it's true.Cal and I part ways at the door of my next class.This class is much larger than Real Analysis.This one is full of freshman and lively chatter.Finding my usual seat at the back and sliding further down into it, I hope no one notices me.However, my thin veil of hope is immediately shattered when I look up and see none other than Ada Davenport walking in.I am almost certain that she isn't in this class, but I have been wrong before.

Ada stands in front of the first row of seats, looking all around the room.She's looking for someone.When she catches sight of me, her face splits into the most beautiful grin.She's looking for me.And what is it with this family?Do they promise the souls of all their offspring to the devil if he agrees to give them superhuman beauty?She's coming this way.Why is she coming this way?

"Hey," Ada says to me as she slides into the chair DIRECTLY BESIDE ME.

I clear my throat."I didn't know you were in this class."

"I'm not.I'm here for you."

My eyes dart to her face.

"How did you even know I'd be in here?"

"I ran into Cal in the hall.He doesn't have a class over here, so I asked what he's doing.He explained the whole protection detail thing and I saw a golden opportunity to force my presence upon you in an environment where you couldn't easily scalp me."

"So, your plan is to...what?Skip your own class to sit in this one and annoy the shit out of me?"

She looks at me with that beautiful smile stretched across her perfect face and exclaims, "Whatever it takes."

I huff a deep sigh."Well, this is suboptimal.You do remember that you are the main character in my supervillain origin story, right?"

Ada bursts out in beautiful laughter.How is laughter beautiful?How is she so beautiful while doing it?Nothing in this obviously alternate reality makes sense anymore.

What's her angle?The comment wasn't that funny, and it lacked originality.She must want something from me.

"I do recall you mentioning that yesterday during your down with the Davenport's tirade."

"I'm glad you find my trauma funny."

"I don't.Truly, I don't.I find YOU funny.You have no idea how hard it was to contain my laughter when you told my brother that he was an admiral in the asshole ranking system.No one talks to him like that.I was scared for you for a while there, but you just carried on like you had zero sense of self preservation and then when I witnessed that scene outside...I knew."

"Knew what?"

"That you are each other’s someone.He doesn't look at anyone the way he looks at you.I've never seen him scared before, but he was terrified when you left.Desperate even.I mean, I understand why you did it, but I hope for both of your sakes that you never do it again."

"I won't."

She smiles, but it's softer this time.Affectionate.

"I know I don't deserve it, but we're sisters now and I'm going to earn your forgiveness.You just need to be open to it."

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