Page 113 of All of You

I collapse on top of her, winded, struggling to inhale and exhale like normal. Sweat dots my brow, and I roll off Delia, careful to keep my hands on her. To not break our connection.

I never want to stop touching her. Kissing her.

She rolls to her side, facing me. “That was…” her words halt mid-sentence.

“Yeah.” I agree.

Still gently panting she says. “I didn’t know it could be like that.” She’s flushed from head to toe. I did that. I made her glow.

I shake my head and smile. “No. That was extra, for sure. That was the magic of you and me.”

She looks at her watch. “It’s only nine. We have a lot more hours for…stuff.”

I grin. “Stuff huh?”

Delia laughs and I swear I could drown in the sound of it.

Fifty Six

Delia

Ithink Januarys are Earth’s angry, depressed tantrums. The kind of behavior that feels like having an icy cold wet blanket thrown over you while peacefully sleeping, warm and safe. It’s so dry outside that my nose feels like sandpaper. The snot wants nothing to do with it and decides to hang out in the back of my throat.

College applications.Ugh.I’m struggling to get them all finished. Langdon keeps hounding me to tell him where I’m applying but I get a little thrill out of keeping him in the dark. I have two more to complete and then I can just sit back and wait.

And don’t even get me started on the FASFA this year, although since Mom makes likenomoney, at least I should qualify for some decent financial aid. I rub my bleary eyesand stare at the application screen again.

“You aren’t supposed to be able to kill snake plants, but I’ve killed half of the one I have. What does that say about me as a person?” Lyra asks.

I look up from my laptop screen and blink. “What?”

She cocks her head left. “I’ve killedhalfof the snake plant I bought from you. They’re supposed to be indestructible. What does that say about me?”

I bark out a laugh. “I don’t know… that you’ve tended to it too much? Just leave it alone and let it thrive.”

“Leave it alone? Isn’t that how people kill houseplants?”

“It’s a snake plant. It’s antisocial. It wants you to forget about it,” I say closing my laptop.

Lyra sighs. “I’m not ready for our meet tonight. I’m so tired. Winter break was not long enough.” I groan my agreement. Lyra shoots me a look. “As if. You’re only tired from your overnight shenanigans with Langdon. You still have that stupid glow all over your face.”

My eyes bug out. “What? What glow? Like do you think my mom can tell that… you know… I had sex?”

Lyra doubles over laughing.

“I’m serious!” I squawk.

She sucks in a breath and straightens. “No. Well… maybe. Your mom is definitely the kind of mom who would be able to tell or notice little things like that.” She shrugs and all the blood drains from my face.

“Oh my god. I can never go home again.”

“Says the girl who literally spent her life dying for one spot to call home and finally found it.”

I smack her arm playfully. “Ouch.”

Lyra brushes her hair over her shoulder. “Just saying. I mean, your mom was basically your age now when she had you so she definitely knows that you’ve probably had sex. She’s not even old enough to forget what sex is yet.”

“People don’t forget what sex is as they get older.” I giggle and slide my laptop into my bag.

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