Page 115 of The Academy

People are resilient,she thinks.They heal.

When Davi reaches the second-floor landing, she turns the corner.

Charley follows cluelessly… and then she gets it. The Senior Sofa.

Turns out, they aren’t the only ones with this idea. Dub Austin is sitting on one arm, Madison J. is on the other arm, and between them are Taylor on Hakeem’s lap and Willow Levy on Royce Stringfellow’s lap. Davi climbs up to sit on the back, and Charley plops down between Royce and Madison. The sofa isn’t particularly comfortable and it definitely has a smell, but Charley feels a sense of pride… and of belonging. She’s a sixth-former now, and these are her people. She wonders if everyone else is thinking what she’s thinking:This is just like Priorities, except…

“Hey.”

Charley looks up to see East loping toward them. “Is there room for one more?” His dark hair falls in his eyes, but Charley can feel his gaze on her.

“Course, bro,” Hakeem says.

East doesn’t move. He’s waiting for Charley to answer. Everyone else is waiting for her to answer. She feels Davi’s hand, featherlight, on her shoulder.

“Oh,fine,” she says, giving her most convincing eye roll and shifting over a few inches. “You can sit next to me.”