{Elira}
~**^**~
Everyone stilled. Even Tamryn looked back up from her bed.
"What happens," I asked slowly, "if I don't go?"
The room fell quiet again. They all glanced at one another—those small, unreadable expressions moving across their faces like shadows.
"If I were you," Nari said, folding her arms, "I wouldn't want to find out."
Then she turned and walked away, tossing herself onto her bed like she was done with the conversation.
Juniper took a step forward. "Is there… a reason you don't want to go?"
I hesitated for a breath, then sighed. "I might be going home on Sunday. I'm not sure yet."
Cambria's brows lifted with concern. "Is everything okay?"
"It's nothing bad," I said, a little too quickly. "Just… I might need to. I don't have the full details yet."
Juniper shrugged. "If that's the case, then yeah, makes sense. You will figure it out."
Then she walked away too. Only Cambria stayed.
