Hereditary by Jane Washington Page B

come.
    This made me want to laugh, but then I began to seriously consider his offer. If there were more people around, it might prove more of a distraction for me, and as an added bonus it would prevent Nareon from showing up unexpectedly.
    Thank you , I wrote back.
    When the bell sounded and we headed outside for lunch, I was surprised that Hazen didn’t immediately wander off to his usual table, instead lingering back with Cale and me near the greenhouse. He seemed to teeter there for a moment, and then, much to my surprise, lowered himself gracefully down onto the grass, and pulled out his lunch as though he did this everyday. Cale acted much the same way, laughing and joking in his usual manner, though it died off a little when the rest of their group appeared, hovering around us confusedly. They greeted Cale and Hazen, and ignored me completely. All except for Kaylee, who shot Hazen a sullen look and stormed off.
    “Trouble in paradise?” laughed Cale.
    One of the other boys, whose name I had learned to be Alton, threw me a grimacing look and answered for Hazen.
    “She’s upset with all the… changes around here.”
    “What changes?” piped Cale innocently, making it my turn to grimace.
    “I heard about the party tonight, what’s that all about?” interrupted Rose, who didn’t seem so afraid of me anymore, though she still kept her distance.
    “I just felt like having a party,” Hazen answered without so much as batting an eyelid.
    Wow, why can’t I lie like that ?
    Kaylee came back just before lunch ended, and drew Hazen away for a ‘talk’, which Cale and I embarrassingly stumbled upon on our way back to class. I’ll admit, it was strange seeing the sullen, non-emotional Hazen in such a compromising position, though it really did appear as if Kaylee was the one doing most of the work. He was leaning up against the side of the building, and she was plastered to his tall form, her hands fisted in his hair and her mouth locked onto his.
    I must have made some sound of surprise, or perhaps it was Cale’s sudden laughter, but the couple broke apart, and while Kaylee looked equal parts embarrassed and angry, it was Hazen that held my attention. He didn’t look to Cale, who was now saying something to deepen Kaylee’s embarrassment, but instead to me, and perhaps that was why I blushed. I had never really seen Hazen smile, but he did in that moment, and the transformation was breathtaking. There was a single, roughish dimple in his left cheek, and an enchanting glimmer in those sable eyes of his that always seemed so arresting. My flush deepened, and I quickly muttered my apologies, turning on my heel and stalking in the other direction, ignoring Cale’s calls to wait.
    The last class of the day dragged out, possibly because of my nervousness, and when the bell signalled the end of the Academy workday, I was almost trembling. Thankfully, Cale had waited to walk me to the castle, and we set off to arrive there before the crowds, with him chatting along the way and me occasionally agreeing with whatever he said. We got there before even Hazen himself, but it seemed that Rose had taken over the ‘party’ idea, and was busy ordering the servants into preparation mode when we walked into the entrance chamber. She greeted Cale warmly, and me politely, and then did a double take, flicking her eyes over the loose dress that I wore, and then moving on critically to my book bag.
    “Tell me you have something else to wear in there?” she asked skeptically.
    It took me a moment to realise that she had directed the question at me, probably because this was the most that she had ever said to me, and I almost felt disappointed that I couldn’t offer her anything.
    “No, sorry.”
    She winced and then gave Cale an imploring look, which he chuckled at.
    “Alright, she’s all yours, I’ll take over party preparations.”
    The fae girl seemed so excited about this prospect that I was momentarily mollified into