he grass sharing anecdotes while others watched them pretending to study. Selena walked among them, clutching a brown folder in both hands and p

ry class?" asked someo

s red backpack torn in a corner. A calm, easygoing guy who didn't cause

replied.

later in the cafeteria? I'd l

she saw Adrián standing a few feet away,

to Sergio. And she changed course, taki

classroom and during the line to buy coffee. It wasn't her imaginati

he wall facing the door. And to avoid feeling uncomfortable, she started making a to-do list: homework, calling her mom, shopp

ir opposite her. "Consider it a courtesy to make amends. My brothe

ng," Selena replied as s

ere either. You seem so..." She ge

f her jacket. Her perfume mingled with Selena's. A delicious, soft contras

his isn't the time

was holding several books and a glass of water. He

d by both of them. Then she changed h

lacing the books on his lap s

ee how she chews?"

," Elias repl

eared. He didn't sit down, but rather

tes. Go, Adrian," Luciano or

, baring his teeth as he bi

annoyed at the con

e center, rejecting th

ake care of myself," she said fir

d. "Don't worry, that's not why we

ised her

hy, I want

rvened befo

ood during the day, but campus

to running into three people; I've always

d his head. Adrián tensed, s

on't get

oyed, and grabbed he

telling me

she left the three of th

ay, Sergio handed her

are this before

uched Selena, who knew

And she apologized for not wa

wells cause such discom

t. They really liked to draw attention

could see one of the dark

u to the library

replied. And the

án, who, leaning on the railing, followed them with his ey

like tha

Adrian insisted without ev

ted your reality. You're doing exactly

how to do thing

n the discussion

iron in the Engi

r in silence. The smell came from ano

erimeter," A

" Lucian

e library," El

atch Selena; there was no ne

ry, everyone occupied a cubicle; Selena wa

ll me and I'll leave

" she replied, smiling. S

indow. When he returned his gaze to the table, he found Elías at a nearby tab

you going to the writing wo

answe

do you have a highlighter I

highlighter case and

see if it helps," she cl

ehind her

get mixed up," Adri

ded them for distr

dying," he said to Adrián, as he

that

mate," he reto

nopportune, and Elías shook his head, ann

don't want to cause you

ed his fangs for the first time. Without anothe

o you later,"

t go,

ly, but inste

ard," Lucia

s isn't the place?" Elías complained, br

ight she didn't think she had started. Plus, she was making a fool of hers

addressing the three of them. "I don't need you to watch over

want or what

ess until she f

othing more. With

red his thro

st look and gathered

we belong in very

lt a chill; the air was very cold and smelled

a bad feeling creeping in his throat. He ignored i

It's that smell a

oming from outside

ecognized

night, and certai

d softly, as if

ther night while Selena would re

n't yet met had set