LOVE, LIKE BLOOD

rs of Ravenshollow High, the bell had alread

omewhere between Sebastian's words and the long walk through gra

kers clanged in the distance, a teacher's voice floated from an open classroom, a

t all like a ghos

, peeling off toward the science wing

gy rounded the opposite hall. A girl in full school colors, red an

asked, bright-eyed and breathles

I said c

. Head cheer captain. We'

s lifte

class. Coach saiThe coach used to run track in your old school. But

ad. "You want

ook that was both p

lf our current lineup. And honestly? We could use someone with presence. a Yo

prise. I'd considered trying cheer back at

he sharpness always buzzing under my skin, running competitively felt like

tained. And maybe, just maybe, it would help

rying out," I admitted.

pressure," she added, already pulling a glossy flyer from her bag, "but I think you

en have

"Oh, and Sebastian walking you in this morning? Bold. You're

the hall, her red sneakers squ

long moment, the fly

aper thin and bright between my fingers.

old bare la

SQUAD - TRYOUTS NEXT WEDN

at day, I smiled. Bar

dges as if the news had smudged the

d, every shifting figure in the hallway, hoping to catch a g

th a strange tension in my chest-anticipation

much I wanted to see

th leftover energy from the cafeteria. Students were laughing, leaning ove

en-I s

leg stretched out under the desk, the other bent, post

that easy, familiar sm

e a secret he w

into the seat beside hi

nt a ripple straight down my spine-intense, unreadable

oice barely above a whis

hat made everyone jump. The wall gave a low thud, and a girl

d in one hand, her fa

half-shouted. "Ash is dea

l into a stu

laughed, awkward and u

on the force. Ash was reported missing the night

the room-and

stigating. She wouldn't say wh

The laughter, the conversation, th

at Aide

face was perfectly still like he hadn

The way Ash had grabbed me. The way Sebasti

even respond, the interco

e report to the pr

asured. But the timing

of eyes

didn't

led, like every movement was being

alked out, shoulders

o had delivered the news seeme

h tension-too many quest

the shaking deep inside. I stared ahead, prete

I wa

was

d been c

verything felt

ded a

more afraid to get them fr