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“Don’t ruin my joke with geography.” Anna pretends to scowl at Rakel, stealing one of her grapes.
“Make more accurate jokes.” Rakel sniffs, snitching Anna’s apple in return.
Rakel and Anna have formed their own brand of friendship, where they’re free to be as grouchy with each other as they please.
“Where’s Leo?” I ask Anna.
“Finishing up a history paper with Ares.”
“I wanted to congratulate him. I saw he’s Captain again for theQuartum Bellum.”
The vote was posted this morning. It was no surprise that the Juniors chose Leo once again, after he led them to victory the two years before.
“I think he regrets ever wanting to be Captain in the first place,” Anna laughs. “The challenges are so goddamn grueling and the pressure’s sky-high. Everybody expects us to win.”
“You will win!” I say, with full confidence.
“You’re not supposed to cheer them on. You’re supposed to helpourteam win,” Rakel reminds me.
“No, I’m on Miles’ side about this,” I say, taking a bite of my sandwich. “The sooner we’re eliminated, the sooner I can stop worrying about something horrible happening to me in that cursed competition.”
As I set my sandwich down once more, Dean carries his tray of food past my table, flanked by Jasper Webb and Bram Van Der Berg. Our eyes meet as he passes, but he doesn’t speak to me.
I watch him cross the dining hall and take his seat on the opposite side. He’s facing me, and his eyes hold mine as he spears a carrot on the tines of his fork, placing it in his mouth.
Chay clears her throat.
“So . . .” she says. “What’s going on with our friendly neighborhood sociopath over there? You’re eating with us, and yet I can’t help but notice that Dean seems more interested in you than his carrots.”
“It’s not like that,” I say, dropping my eyes to my plate. “He doesn’t . . . like me, or anything like that.”
Even as I’m saying the words, I’m remembering the way Dean kissed me up against his bedroom wall. I’ve never imagined that a kiss could be so ravenous.
Anna is watching me, not with anger or jealousy, but with something very like understanding.
“Dean has his good points,” Anna says. “I understand that better than anyone. Just be careful, Cat. He can be cruel—and dangerous.”
Chay leans across the table to rest her hand on my arm, her blue eyes seeking mine out.
“He tried to kill Leo,” she tells me. “In our Freshman year.”
“Is that true?” I ask Anna.
She nods, her expression somber. “Yes, it is. Dean tried to drown Leo. And it almost worked.”
I look across the dining hall again, at Dean’s stern and unsmiling face. He’s still watching me. Does he know we’re talking about him? Does he care?
I can’t imagine Dean ever apologizing. Ever showing remorse.
I pick up my tray, ready to return it to the kitchen staff.
As I walk toward the kitchen window, I hear steady footsteps intercepting me. I know without turning that Dean is standing behindme. The tiny hairs rise on the back of my neck, like the charge in the air before a lightning storm.
“Did you enjoy your lunch?” he says quietly.
I return my tray and turn to face him.
We haven’t stood this close since our kiss.
