Chapter 64. I Didn’t Expect You Would Make It

Calista’s POV

The first day back at school was like stepping into a pressure cooker. Everywhere I turned, there they were: the three guys who had just confessed their feelings for me. But Cedric—Cedric was impossible to forget, especially after last night.

We’d found ourselves on the rooftop, the stars stretching above us like a canvas. Cedric had brought an array of food and little gifts, insisting I deserved a break. No one had ever done that for me before. It was disarming, making me appreciate him even more. And then there was Lysandra, who had left earlier that evening, leaving me distracted and vulnerable. Cedric’s thoughtfulness had caught me completely off guard.

I can still remember Cedric’s words, clear as day: he’d focus on courting and pursuing me, not worrying about the competition. That was the last thing he said before I had to leave. I didn’t let him walk me home; Eve showed up just in time, blissfully unaware that I’d been with him.

“H