Chapter Nineteen: A New Normal | Part 6 “Seerla… I…” Something about those wide, innocent eyes made his nerve vanish. This wasn’t the time—if ever there would be a time. Instead, he swallowed. “I miss you. But I know it isn’t your fault. We just have to make it to the end of the term.Continue reading “Overturned”
Author Archives: Calley Jones
Tell Her
Chapter Nineteen: A New Normal | Part 5 Thirtyx spent most of lunch and his free period addressing envelopes for the apprenticeship applications he’d completed. While most of his law-aspiring peers were just starting to crack open catalogs, Thirtyx already felt behind. He’d chosen a whopping 47 candidates and painstakingly organized them not just byContinue reading “Tell Her”
Acceptance
Chapter Nineteen: A New Normal | Part 4 The next morning, Thirtyx glowered at the dining hall wall as Rhea unraveled the poultice-streaked bandage she’d wrapped around his hand the night before. “Hmm…” she muttered. “It looks fine now. Let me know what you think.” “I think I’m an idiot.” Benn gestured to Thirtyx withContinue reading “Acceptance”
People Do Wild Things
Chapter Nineteen: A New Normal | Part 3 After a long, bracing breath, Seerla picked up her head and ran the back of her hand across her damp eyes. “My parents… heard through the grapevine that I’ve been snubbing everyone else to hang out with you. They weren’t happy.” Thirtyx recalled their disapproving stares whenContinue reading “People Do Wild Things”
No Confidence
Chapter Nineteen: A New Normal | Part 2 “Wait just a frac! If I could have everyone’s attention for a moment!” Farish had pushed his way to the front of the room and was holding up his hands as if to stop the Service Club from exiting. Rhea crossed her arms. “Farish, if you hadContinue reading “No Confidence”
Breakfast With the Enemy
Chapter Nineteen: A New Normal | Part 1 The night before classes resumed, the trio assembled in Rhea’s room to await Seerla’s return. She never showed. Benn acted as the voice of reason as he tugged a dejected Thirtyx out the door at the last fraction before curfew. “There’s always a lot of traffic, withContinue reading “Breakfast With the Enemy”
Presents!
Chapter Eighteen: Solstice | Part 7 By the time Thirtyx returned to the twins, Rhea had talked Benn into a raid of the kitchen’s cake storage. It was entirely unnecessary—any of the staff would have tripped over themselves to serve the royal children cake on their birthday—but the planning and execution of the heist wasContinue reading “Presents!”
Mr. Wiggins
Chapter Eighteen: Solstice | Part 6 In the absence of physical presents, Grimmary gifted the twins the first opportunity in months they’d had to sleep in. Nevertheless, Thirtyx waited until he’d wished Benn a happy birthday and watched his animus depart for a birthday chat with Grimmary before he headed to the rec hall withContinue reading “Mr. Wiggins”
Last-minute Gifts
Chapter Eighteen: Solstice | Part 5 It took some coaxing, but eventually, the twins relented, and Thirtyx managed to keep them outdoors until nearly dinner. While Thirtyx had learned that, on some planets, the Universal Solstice was either boiling hot or incredibly frigid, Lamiakk didn’t have much in the way of seasons, and they’d gottenContinue reading “Last-minute Gifts”
Homesick
Chapter Eighteen: Solstice | Part 4 While they embraced the spirit of wallowing and brain rot for the first few days—Thirtyx and Benn with trashy novels and Rhea with doodles—reality crept back in around mid-week. Grimmary wanted Rhea and Benn’s apprenticeship applications before the end of break, and Thirtyx had better get started on hisContinue reading “Homesick”
Calley Jones 