The Institute

by Kayla Howarth

CHAPTER FOUR

  “Hey, we should do something fun tonight,” Drew suggests as we walk to school from the train station.

  “We should?” I eye him sceptically.

  He touches my arm lightly. “You don’t need to give me that look, Allira. You’re allowed to have a little fun, and we haven’t technically been out on a date yet.”

  So we are dating then? Did I miss the part where he asked me? Or is this his way of doing it?

  His heart-melting smile makes it too hard to resist. He does have a point. I can’t think of a time recently where I haven’t been worrying about Ebbodine or remembering Jax’s face as the life drained from it. Drew has been a great distraction, but everything else is always at the back of my mind.

  It’s been a lot to take in, and I know it won’t be long before it starts getting on top of me. Maybe a night out isn’t such a horrendous idea.

  “Okay. Where exactly did you have in mind?” I ask.

  “I know exactly where we can go. Meet me after school?”

  I nod.