PAST
SELENE’S POV:
Homecoming had come and gone in a blur. It was all a little too extravagant compared to the events at my old public school.
Back there, I had thrown myself into everything—volunteering, showing up. I loved it, managing stressful events, dressing up, dancing to my heart’s desire.
But here, I had not bothered.
Partly because I couldn’t stomach the thought of looking pathetic, standing around a dance floor without a partner. But mostly because nothing in this place felt like mine yet.
And I wasn’t sure it ever would. So I stopped waiting for that feeling.
I swung my bag over my shoulder, rubbing absentmindedly at the streak of graphite on my hand as I headed for the door, barely paying attention to anything around me.
“Miss Hale, a moment?”
The sound of my name br
