Page 60 of Mistaken Magic

"Outby the gym andForge.Ihave a friend here with me, soIthink we can get your girlfriend back to my dorm."

"Sister," he corrected, "and how bad?"

"What?"Becausemy mind had just stalled out.

"Howbad is she?" he demanded. "Canshe fucking stand,Rain?"

"Idon't think so,"Iadmitted. "Um,Keir, think you can carry her?"

"Ifshe lets me, then sure," he said. "Willingto let me grope you a bit,Aspen?Getmy hero complex satiated for a minute?"

Shehuffed a laugh. "Sure.Rain, tellTorto meet us at my place?"

"Iheard,"Toriansaid over the phone. "Pleasemake sure she's ok?"

"She'swilted, but mostly pissed,"Iassured him. "Keirdid something to make the blisters go away, andI'mpretty sure she just threatened half the school."Itried to laugh, but from the way she'd said it,Iwasn't convinced her words had been empty.

"Good,"Toriansaid. "I'mheaded to get supplies, then to her room.Seeyou in a minute."

Hesimply hung up.Ilooked at the phone, then atAspen, before passing it back.Shetucked the phone into her pocket, then nodded toKeir, giving in.Heleaned in, she dropped an arm around his neck, and the guy lifted.Yeah, maybeIchecked out his arms as they bulged, andAspenlooked extra-dainty clinging to him like that, but it was all a side effect of them being extra-pretty people, right?

Makingsure there wasn't anything left lying on the ground,Ihurried to catch up with the pair as we made our way back towards the school.Itwasn't too far, thankfully.Maybea couple hundred yards.Still, there was one thing rattling around in my brain.Allof this sucked, but she was safe now, right?Yether boyfriend wasn't her boyfriend, those girls had said things that made me think someone was a lesbian, andIhad some serious questions!

Idecided to start easy. "Uh, soTorian'syour brother?"

Sheleaned to look overKeir'sshoulder. "Whatdid you think he was?"

"Um, your boyfriend."

Hereyes flicked away and she touched the burn on her cheek, almost as if she were trying to distract herself. "Notreally into boyfriends,Rain."

"Ididn't know that either."Ilooked over atKeir, decidingIdidn't need too much more awkward here. "It'sjust thatTorianhugs on you so much, it kinda seems like typical relationship cuteness."

"No," she groaned. "It'susually him laughing at me when we're checking out girls together."

"IwishIhad a chick to check out girls with me,"Keirjoked, jerking his chin at the doors we were getting closer to. "Wannahold those for me,Rain?"

"Yep, got it,"Ipromised, ignoring all the lesbian talk right now.

Hurryingahead,Irealized this put us right next to the atrium, which meant only a few more steps to the elevator.Standingback,IletKeirandAspenin, then hurried around them again to push the button to call the car down.Itdinged almost immediately.Thrustingout my arm kept the doors from closing.Keirstepped on, turned around, andIpressed the button for the fourth floor.

"Notreally howIexpected to ask for your room number," he teased. "I'mjust hoping it's not on the far side."

"Rightat the front,"Aspenassured him. "She'sthe second door on the left.RoomB403.I'mB401."

"Isthat an invitation?" he joked.

Aspenthumped his chest. "Stillnot into guys,Keir."

"Wait, really?"Helooked confused. "I'venever met anyone with a hard preference, but ok.Cool,Aspen.Justglad you're starting to feel a little better.Thatwas a lot of iron."

"Fuckingcunts,"Aspengrowled as the doors opened.

Again,Iheld the doors open soKeircould carry her off, and thenIran to open the double doors that separated the elevator area from the girls' dorm area.Oncethey were through those,Irealized we had one more problem.

"Keys,Aspen?"

"It'snot locked," she promised.

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