The Rejected True Heiress (Liora) novel Chapter 107

“Go back to leaving me alone,” I said curtly, and stepped out.

He watched me as I walked away, grinning. “See ya in class!”

Inside, the air of the dorm was warm, heavy with the faint smell of detergent and old wood, a safe, familiar contrast to the cold, polished steel of Zane’s car.

I barely had time to set the book on my desk before I noticed Mia.

She was perched on her bed, cross-legged with a pillow hugged to her chest, like she’d been sitting there for a while waiting.

Her eyes flicked up, too fast, too eager. “Well? Well? Wellll?”

I paused, halfway to pulling my boots off. “…Well what?”

She tilted her head, trying to look casual, but there was a too-bright spark in her eyes. “How was it? Your… date with Zane?”

The way she said “date” made something twist in my stomach. It sounded forced, like she’d rehearsed it.

My shoulders tensed. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

Her smile faltered, surprise flashing across her face. “Oh. Right. I just thought, you know… it must’ve been exciting. Zane’s such a—” she hesitated, fingers tightening around the pillow “—a sweet guy, right? I mean, when he wants to be. We danced at the dance you know! He actually seemed cool back then! Well, not cool but like, I don’t knowknow, maybe even nice! I mean, he says hi to me now in the halls. He’s a good guy I think. Really!”

I sat down on my bed and rubbed my temple, feeling the day settle over me like lead. “Mia…”

She blinked. “What?”

“I just need space,” I said, softer this time. “Today’s been a lot.”

For a moment she was quiet, then she nodded slowly. “Ah, of course. Yeah. No, I get it. Sorry.”

She reached for her bag by the foot of her bed, fumbling with the strap a little more than usual.

I glanced at her, and something in the way she wouldn’t meet my eyes gave me pause.

“Mia,” I said, quieter.

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