chapter sixteen

There's a small moment of silence, nothing but the wind filling the void. For a split second, I think she didn't hear, and I get ready to dash in the opposite direction as if I didn't just blurt the biggest load of crap under the sun.

"What?" Alessandra says eventually, though, turning around in slow-mo like they tend to do in movies and stuff. "Did you say?"

"Uhm," is all I can respond with, the wind managing to blow yet another strand of hair in my face despite the hood on my head.

Why did you just blurt that out?

I instantly wish I didn't just say that. I mean, it's not the first time Alessandra thinks she's better than other people. The key is usually just to stay out of her way, and if you're unlucky enough to come face-to-face with her (like me literally ten seconds ago), ignore her. At least, that's what Jia told me about a week after rooming with her.