She should've said no.
Amelia Sterling has always played by the rules, it's the only way she knows how to survive in a world like hers. That is until William Blackwood, the boy she can't quite bring herself to like, let alone trust, makes her an off...
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The morning after I got back, I went straight to Professor Hills' office. My stomach was in knots the whole walk there. Missing that presentation had to have tanked my grade, and I wasn't sure how I was going to explain myself without sounding like a complete mess. I don't have a doctor's letter to excuse not being there either, I'm totally screwed.
I knocked on his door, half-hoping he wouldn't answer.
"Amelia," he said, looking up from a stack of papers. "Don't worry, I've already been told."
I froze. "Told?"
"William explained there was a family emergency." He waved it off like it was nothing. "These things happen. You did your part in the assignment as best as you could. It's not ideal that you weren't there for the presentation, but you won't be penalized."
Relief and confusion hit me at the same time, leaving me standing there like an idiot. "Oh. Right. Thank you, Professor." I forced a smile, pretending like I was in on the story.
When he handed me the result sheet, I glanced down and that's when my confusion turned into something sharper. My name was listed under William's group. As if I'd been assigned with them all along. But I remembered clearly, I wasn't. I'd even double-checked when the groups were posted.
I mumbled another thank you, tucked the paper under my arm, and slipped out into the hallway.
This doesn't make sense.
Why would William cover for me?
Especially after how things ended the last time we spoke. He hadn't exactly seemed eager to do me any favors.
Something about this didn't add up.
~*~
I only meant to check on my horses, slip into the quiet where things made sense, where Shadow and Mist didn't care who I was or what disasters followed me around. Just apples, hay, soft noses, and silence. That's all I wanted.
But the clicking of hooves behind me warned me I wasn't alone anymore. I turned, expecting a groom, and instead froze.
Of course it was him.
William Blackwood.
My smile vanished before it could even fully form. His scoff filled the air like he'd been waiting for that exact reaction. "Wow. Try not to look so thrilled to see me."
I rolled my eyes and turned back to Shadow, pressing an apple into his waiting mouth. But despite myself, every nerve felt tuned to William's presence, the sound of his boots on the packed dirt, the way he moved like he owned the place. He slipped into one of the stalls, stayed in there a minute, and then came out with a halter in hand, locking the door behind him.
I didn't mean to stare, but apparently I did. Because when he caught me, his eyebrows shot up.
