“I’m glad we’re talking again,” he whispered. “I missed you.”
There went the damned butterflies. Farrah loved all living creatures, but those butterflies needed to die.
“I missed you too…brother.” She punched him in the shoulder.
Oh god, I did not just say that.
Blake frowned.
By the time they reached their hostel, dusk had settled over the town. Voices filtered through the open doorway of the complex. FEA had booked the entire building, which was large enough to house all 70 students if they crammed four to a room.
Farrah stepped into the courtyard and found the rest of FEA eating dinner at the tables scattered throughout the space. The smell of pork and noodles wafted through the air, eliciting a growl from her stomach. She’d planned on showering before she ate, but she was ravenous.
“Guys, over here!” Courtney waved them over to the group’s table in the back corner.
“Took you guys long enough. We thought you died.” Luke reached for the near-empty plate of dumplings. “I understand why Farrah took so long, but what happened to you?” he asked Blake. “You’re supposed to be in good shape.”
Farrah stuck her tongue out at him. “Thanks a lot.”
“Dude. Blake and Farrah haven’t eaten yet.” Sammy knocked Luke’s hand away.
“I took it easy.” Blake glanced at Farrah as the hostel staff brought out another round of steaming home-cooked food: stir-fried tomato with scrambled eggs, kung pao chicken with white rice, spicy dry-fried green beans, and shredded pork in sweet bean sauce.
Farrah wolfed down her first portion and went for seconds. She’d endured more physical activity today than she had in months. She could eat a cow right now.
The staff watched in stunned silence as the students devoured every morsel of food in fifteen minutes flat.
“Damn. That hit the spot.” Luke leaned back in his chair, patted his stomach, and burped.
Beside him, Kris wrinkled her nose and scooted closer to Blake.
“I’m showered. I’m fed. I’m ready for bed.” Olivia yawned. Her eyes drooped with exhaustion.
“You can’t go to bed!” Courtney checked her watch. “It’s only seven.”
“How? It feels like midnight,” Olivia moaned.
“We woke up at seven this morning,” Farrah pointed out.
“Great. A twelve-hour day is enough for me. I’m beat.”
“I agree.” Leo, too, failed to stifle a yawn.
“Stop. We’re young, and so is the night. We are not going to bed.” Courtney planted her hands on the table. “We’re playing a game. Does anyone have cards?”
Silence.
She sighed. “Fine. Never Have I Ever it is.”
The last thing Farrah wanted was to play Never Have I Ever, but she sat through one game to indulge Courtney. Otherwise, she’d never hear the end of it.
“Never have I ever received a grade below an A,” Nardo said, causing a wave of eye rolls around the table. “What? I haven’t.”
“Big. Effing. Deal,” Olivia said. “Neither have I.”
“Then keep your finger up. That’s how it works.”
“Fine. Never have I ever been rejected from a college.”