AVERY
Thier and I walked into the dining hall to see Marcus and Courtney already seated at the table. Their heads were bent close, whispering in hushed voices, their shoulders drawn together like conspirators in the middle of plotting something.
But the second they saw me, they straightened up, too quickly, their expressions going blank with practiced ease.
I paused mid-step. “What?” I asked, brows lifting. “Is it something I shouldn’t know?”
Courtney shook her head a little too fast. She looked like she wanted to disappear right now. I felt a pang of unease, but I hid it with a smile.
“It’s okay if it is,” I added gently, trying not to sound hurt. “I know I’m new here, and I don’t need to be in on everything—”
“No,” she interrupted, and this time her voice was quieter, more conflict
