Chapter 159

Aria

It’s finally morning, and Lucas and I are all set to head out. The air is calm and sharp with cold, the kind that bites through your clothes, so we both throw on our winter jackets for extra warmth. We didn’t pack much, just a school bag stuffed with a few essentials, and Lucas had said if we needed anything, we’d just buy it along the way.

“Be careful okay?” Mia pulls me into a tight hug, her voice soft but laced with worry.

Theo, Damon, Mia, and Lily had all shown up at Lucas’s apartment just to see us off, and the thought alone makes my chest feel heavy.

“Thank you, Mia. And please, take care of yourself too,” I say, pulling back from the hug. I move to Lily next, wrapping my arms around her, then Theo and Damon, and Lucas does the same right after me.

“Okay, let’s calm down. It’s not like they’re leaving forever. They’re gonna come back.” Damon tries to lighten the mood, though his voice gives away how damn nervous he actually is.