*Esmerelda*

It took me a moment to realize that Elijah had asked me a question. I cleared my throat, trying not to avert my eyes from his like I wanted to do. “I got hungry and was trying to find the dining hall,” I said, hating how pathetic that sounded when I said it aloud.

Because of how cold he had just been in class earlier, I figured he would start to ridicule me for not being able to find the dining hall. I was shocked when instead, he nodded in ...