The cafeteria thinned out as morning classes pulled students away in waves. Jordan dragged himself toward the door with the enthusiasm of a man being led to execution, Javier trailing behind with his notebooks clutched to his chest like holy texts. Belle packed up her laptop with the care of someone handling nuclear launch codes, which in her mind they probably were.
"Vault," she said without looking at me. "Before Friday. I mean it."
"Yes, mother."
"I will end you." She snapped the laptop case shut. "Also Aurora texted. She wants you to know that Vermillion Dawn's lead scout watched her demonstration this morning and quote, looked like someone had shown him God, unquote. Her words. She's insufferable when she's winning."
"She's insufferable when she's losing too."
