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I get up as soon as class ends and saunter out the door as Paige gives me a last withering glare, holding my gaze for a full minute before ripping it away to whisper something into Kelsy's ear.

I sigh as a huge weight contracts in my chest. I feel heavy and weighed down, like cotton clothes that have absorbed water.That weird way of walking when you get out of a pool and drain your t-shirt out at the drain? This is exactly what it's like.

As soon as I step out of the official boundary of the East Wing, I spot Jack standing at the end of a dimly lit hallway, conversing with his "crew" friends. He raises his eyes to meet mine, and for a brief second we stare at each other before I hear a squeal in my ear.

Paige skips across the corridor and crashes into Jack as Cody lets out a low whistle. Paige jumps up and wraps her arms around his neck as he enfolds her in a forced embrace.

He looks at me again as Paige burrows her face into his chest. I let out an exaggerated sigh and he points at his tongue in a retching motion.

I stifle laughter and continue down the hallway before Cody or Aiden catch our encounter.

I think that was the first time I've laughed all day since I wasn't exactly grinning with pleasure at the thought of giving up all my hard work to Paige of all people. However, I will be grinning at imagined tortures I hope to inflict on her.

Hopefully, before these four, now almost three, months breeze by, Paige won't find a way to make my life any more unbearable. Isn't this all torture enough?

The court case is in less than two weeks, and I haven't spoken to Jack about our appeal. What will be our case? 

The obvious choice is the family tie piece, but I'm sure Jack won't let me use that for fear of his father's "all mighty wrath."

I'm actually sort of starting to believe in that bit. Mr. Travels is a pretty scary guy...

I shake my head as I rack my brains in for a stronger case. Something that could overpass any sort of bribe or bias. 

There's nothing.

If Mr. Travels bribes the court, there's nothing I could use against him. All I had to hang onto was the family tie. What am I going to do now?

Before I go too far into my thoughts, a shoulder bumps into mine and I look up to see Astrix standing there, grinning at me.

"Why so glum?"

I raise both eyebrows. "You know exactly why."

Astrix shrugs and pulls on the straps of her purse. "I mean...Your mood usually picks up by this time, since it's the end of the day and all. You'll be seeing Jack, right?"

I smile a little and nod. Maybe it was a mistake telling Astrix about the kiss. Or kisses. But after a while, I couldn't find it within myself to keep something so massive away from her. Now she never comes over to help sit Amara because she wants to give me and Jack "space."

She's even come up with a ship name. "Jacklyn." How utterly...Astrix...

I let out a hearty breath like I have the weight of the world resting on my shoulders.

"Paige gave me another...Command...Today."

"Command?"

Astrix furrows her brows and then immediately widens her eyes, stopping in her tracks. I stop with her and cross my arms.

"Yeah. She wants my labs for the college application. Apparently she hasn't gotten the brains to hand in anything else acceptable."

Astrix opens her mouth and a small squeal escapes her lips. "What!?"

I nod. "I know, believe me."

"My hamster has a higher IQ than her, but seriously?"

I tilt my head. "You have a hamster and you never told me?"

Astrix shakes her head. "It's an imaginary hamster. And even then, it has a higher IQ."

I grin and press my tongue behind my teeth to keep in a laugh. Astrix bites her bottom lip and then starts walking towards the parking lot. I trail behind her.

"You can't let her get away with this."

I shrug. "She already has, I'm afraid."

"But there must be something you could do..."

I shake my head. "No. I won't risk it, and either way, I can't afford to."

Astrix smirks. "But I can."

She reaches her car and leans against the doorframe. "I'm willing to hit her in the face like karma. It'll hurt like a bitch...But she would know that since she's been a bitch her whole life. She'll be used to the constant pain."

I laugh and open the door to my own car, which is parked to her right.

I'm about to tell her not to do anything stupid, and not to worry about me, but the truth is, I want to see Paige suffering in some way. Maybe this is for the best.

"Don't get into any trouble."

She tilts her head before slipping into her seat. "I'm always careful. You know me."

"That's the problem right there. I know you."

Astrix revs up her engine and pretends she doesn't hear me before racing out of the slot and down the road. I sigh and turn around, getting into my own car and making my way home.

Jack and I have a lot to talk about today.