“Hey everyone, I want to apologize for what happened yesterday.” Ileana’s voice was soft and sweet, her smile so gentle it was hard to turn her down. “My dad brought these liqueur choctes all the way from Europe, just for you guys. If you’ll ept them, I’ll take it as a sign you’ve forgiven me for my rudeness.”


    She held out the box, her posture impable, but after Lucy took one piece, no one else moved. An awkward silence settled over the group.


    Ileana’s smile faltered, just for a second, before she turned her gaze to Alessia. “Lessie, I said the wrong thing yesterday. I’m sorry. Can you forgive me?”


    Alessia looked at her with an ambiguous, almost amused smile, neither agreeing nor refusing. Ileana kept holding up the box, her arm steady, but as the seconds ticked by, her lips grew tight with strain.


    “If you’ll take one, I’ll know you’ve forgiven me. Please?” Her tone was so syrupy it made Ste bristle; the look of open distaste on Ste’s face couldn’t have been clearer.


    Alessia smirked and reached out, but before her fingers could close around a chocte, Ste’s expression changed. “Wait, you-<b>” </b>


    Alessia’s other handnded lightly on Ste’s leg, stilling her, and with the first hand, she picked up a chocte. She held it up to Ileana, that same half–smile on her lips.


    Ileana’s jaw clenched as she gripped the edge of the box. She forced a breath, then turned to the rest of the group, herposure restored.


    “See? Lessie took one. It’s safe, I promise.” With that reassurance, the others couldn’t very well keep refusing and making things more ufortable. They each took a chocte, murmured a few polite words, and drifted away. Pierce took one too, though he immediately handed it off to someone else. Only Ste refused altogether.


    Alessia toyed with the chocte in her palm, lost in thought, until Ste snatched it away with a huff. Alessia justughed, no trace of annoyance–if anything, her eyes held a note of fond exasperation.


    “What’s her deal?” Ste muttered, tossing the chocte onto her desk and leaning in close to Alessia, rubbing her arms as if she’d caught a chill. Her disgust was as obvious as her words. “She acts like apletely different person. Is she


    possessed or something?”


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    <b>14:42 </b>


    Alessia chuckled. “Who knows<b>?</b><b>” </b>


    Ste arched an eyebrow, deciding to drop the topic.


    “My dad wants me at the Tate family’s dinner tonight. I heard the two ck sheep are finallying home.”


    Alessia’s smile turned sly. “You should go. Tonight’s bound to be interesting.”


    “Really?” Ste’s face lit up, her earlier boredom forgotten.


    “Those two? One’s crazy, the other’s crazier.”


    “But Scott Tate’s famous for his dignity. He’s really going to let them run wild at an event like this?<b>” </b>


    Alessia just raised an eyebrow, lips curling. She didn’t say anything more, but her silence said plenty.


    Ste grinned back. “Guess I’ll make sure I’m front row tonight.”


    The day dragged on until school finally let out. Ste hadn’t brought her scooter, so her family’s driver was already waiting at the curb. Ileana had been picked up earlier by the Tate family’s chauffeur–no doubt to get ready for tonight’s big event. “I’m off! I’ll give you a live update,” Ste called over her shoulder.


    Alessia waved,ughing, and watched her go–just as Zachary emerged from the school gates and walked over.


    “Ready to head home?”


    “I’ve got something to do first. I’ll be hometer, so go on without me.”


    Zachary paused. “Is this because of the dinner tonight?”