Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel

available. For you to grow not only academically but as young adults. Here at Wickham you are the best example of this country’s future. And as the upper school, you are the example for the rest of Wickham Boarding School.”
    “Blah blah blah,” Tony whispered in my right ear, and my chest warmed. I was grateful to have him by my side.
    “Before we dive into the highly anticipated schedule changes there is some preliminary news. We have accepted only four new students to join the upper school this year. Can you all come down to the podium, please? Lenah Beaudonte, Elizabeth McKiernan, Monika Wilcox, and Lois Raiken.”
    My stomach dropped. This was not going to be good.
    To my left, three students stood up and began the walk down the long aisles toward Ms. Williams. I looked to Tony, my eyes wide and my mouth dropped. He held his hand over his mouth. His big shoulders bounced up and down. Even though his mouth was covered, I could see the apples of his cheeks were red with glee. If only he knew what my tattoo meant…once I stood up, everyone would see it. Everyone would ask.
    I stood up. Don’t fall, I prayed . Don’t you dare fall. I stepped down, one sandaled foot at a time. I ripped off the floppy hat so the brim squished in my right hand. Slowly, but surely, I made my way to Ms. Williams. I was careful not to look anywhere but at the stairs in front of me. I could already hear some whispering. The tattoo was small. No larger than average textbook print, but the scrawling cursive was specific. It was Rhode’s handwriting etched into my skin with ink, blood, candle flame, and a small needle.
    Ms. Williams stepped to the left of the podium to allow room for us. The other three students faced the audience, I did the same. Then I felt a hand on my left shoulder.
    “Why don’t you go first, Lenah? Just tell them a little about yourself,” she whispered. I stepped up to the microphone. I could only assume I was supposed to talk into it, as I had seen Ms. Williams do. It exaggerated her voice, and I already had an even, smooth cadence.
    The student body stared. Hundreds of mortal eyes looked at me and waited for me to say something that would define me within their world.
    “I’m Lenah Beaudonte, and this is thoroughly mortifying.”
    Laughter erupted. I could feel that they were laughing with me and not at me. My hands gripped the side of the podium. I searched for Tony, who gave me a thumbs-up. It was then that I noticed Justin Enos sat in the seat directly behind mine. My heart thumped in my chest, and I had to look away. He had also seen the tattoo. He must have. Either way, he looked unbelievable. Delicious, even. His skin was bronzed, a golden color that one could only achieve from being in the direct line of the sun. I wondered for an instant if I touched him how warm he would be.
    “I’m from a small town in England, if you couldn’t tell from the accent. I’m sixteen, and…well, I guess that’s it for now.”
    I walked back to my seat, this time exposing my tattoo to the teachers who were seated behind me. The whole time I stepped up the stairs I locked eyes with Justin. His lips made it clear what he was thinking. I felt like a hybrid: half beast, half human, because it was easy for me to read him. He looked straight at me, with a smirk. One where his lips just rested on the edge of a smile. He didn’t have to speak to me in the rain. He didn’t have to say anything out loud because he said it all with his eyes.
    I want you.

Chapter Seven
    As soon as assembly was over, everyone started to move toward the exits. I didn’t want to seem eager to Justin, so when Tony and I finally stood up to make our way to class, I turned around casually. But Justin had gone. I didn’t like this position. Wasn’t he supposed to be following me? I wasn’t supposed to be wondering about him, hoping he was behind me. How frustrating.
    Once we were in the hallway, I pulled my backpack close to my body so that my