AS THE GIRLS STEPPED out into the sunlight, Fari stopped in front of the temple stairs and gazed up at it, using her hand to keep the sun out of her eyes.
“It’s so beautiful,” she said. “I’ve never seen anything like it in my entire life.”
“It wasn’t beautiful last night, and it never has been to me. I guess that’s how we’re different,” Akshara replied. “Come on. We’ll go to Heko’s house and I’ll introduce you.”
“Who is Heko?”
“The boy I was with last night. Trust me when I say he’ll annoy you as much as he does me. Or maybe you’ll both just be annoying.”
“I know you don’t want to hear this, but thank you,” Fari said. “I’ve never had a friend before.”
Akshara threw her head back and laughed. “You and I are not friends.”
“Oh,” Fari replied, defeated.
Akshara led Fari through the cit
