Ariella Harlow. @SharpSongbird

@BadassLikeMom My lips dare to form a small smile as I wave a dismissive hand. “Consider it forgiven and forgotten. Let’s just start over, okay?”

@ValorousTornado +bed and turn to you again. “I’ll see you around, Felicia. Close the door behind you, please.”

@ValorousTornado “Will do.” I step into my room, opening the closet to find some of my stuff already there. I grab something to sleep in, throw it onto the+

@ValorousTornado +everything goes according to plan.”

@ValorousTornado “Goes without saying. I’ll be careful.” I offered you another, firmer nod, glancing into my new room. “I guess I’ll see you then, if+

My insecurities have officially entered the building.

@BadassLikeMom +you’d prefer that. I mean, there has got to be a map of this place somewhere around here.”

@BadassLikeMom “Are you sure?” I turn to you again, uncertainty in my dark eyes. “I don’t want to bother you. I could go for a walk in the Warehouse, if+

@ValorousTornado “Midnight. I can do that.” I nod eagerly, shaking off my doubts. Hey, this could be a great experience! “Where are we gonna meet?”

@BadassLikeMom +first place. “Do you happen to know how long an impromptu meeting with the Regents takes? I’m kind of stuck here until Claudia comes back.”

@BadassLikeMom +leave now, I guess, before I make things even worse.” I turn to walk back through the umbilicus, when I remember how I got here in the+

@BadassLikeMom +about it. “Rubi, I… I was never gonna try to blackmail you with anything. I’m sorry. I just have a terrible sense of humor. I… I’ll just+

@BadassLikeMom +it’s a proven fact that I’m not good at that, so maybe I shouldn’t have started trying with you. Time to clear this mess up and forget+

@BadassLikeMom I mentally slap myself. This is just amazing. Do you actually think I’m serious? I was just joking around and trying to make a friend. But+

@ValorousTornado +can’t really resist that. “Okay. I’m in. When?”

@ValorousTornado +simultaneously a strong suit and a weak spot of mine. And add the chance to bond with you, find someone here I can connect to? Yeah, I+

@ValorousTornado I hesitate for a moment, because I really don’t want to get in trouble with my superiors on my first day. But what can I say? Music is+

@BadassLikeMom +sure this will come in handy one day.”