Octavia's Point of View
The last of the breakfast crowd begins to thin out, trays clattering and chairs scraping against the polished floor. The smell of coffee and maple syrup still hangs in the air as I push my empty tray away and glance at Clary. She is still talking animatedly with Eli about some new combat simulation that is being introduced next week, her hands moving as much as her mouth.
I smile faintly, but it does not quite reach my eyes.
“Are you ready?” I ask when there is finally a pause long enough to slip in the question.
Clary looks up, brushes a strand of hair behind her ear, and nods her head. “Yeah. Let’s go before we are late again.”
We grab our bags and stand. Around us, the others are still lingering, Kai is leaning back in his chair, saying something that makes
