"It is now," I said, gesturing for her to join me.
She set her tray down carefully, like she was defusing a bomb. "People are talking about what happened at that store."
"People are always talking." I bit into my sandwich. "Let them."
"The NEA takes unregistered abilities very seriously."
"Good thing I'm registered, then."
She leaned forward, lowering her voice. "Are you? Because what I saw on that video doesn't match any adaptive-type I've ever heard of."
"Maybe you haven't heard of all of them." I met her eyes. "Why are you sitting with me, Aurora? I thought friends didn't spend lunch together at this school."
Her cheeks flushed again. "I wanted to make sure you're okay. After everything."
"Everything? You mean the vigilante thing, or the you-kissing-me thing?"
"Both. Neither." She fiddled with her fork. "I don't know why I did that."
"Yes, you do."
"No, I—"
