Chapter 7

After fighting in the cafeteria, Alex, Xavier, and Illya were disciplined for their behavior. Things were quiet for a few days, but old habits died hard. Alex cracked first. He waited for me outside the dormitory in the morning, holding a bag of greasy bacon sandwiches. "You should eat something. You've lost weight." Alex sounded as if he were giving me orders. I accepted the sandwiches with thanks. Then I tossed them into the rubbish bin. Xavier chose to go the nostalgic route. Finding me at the library, he approached me and said in a low voice, "Grace, I actually thought you looked familiar a long time ago. "We've met before in middle school, haven't we? Back then, you were really quiet. Quite different, I'd say." I lifted my gaze and shot him a slightly confused yet shy smile. "Is that so? I don't quite remember." Xavier's eyes lit up as he thought he stood a chance. I snorted to myself. Different? That was probably why he thought I was good enough to be the subject of a bet