Chapter 73
Celeste’s parents had been absolutely terrified.
She turned to Caitlin, her eyes bright with curiosity. “Miss Hero, are you taking the Central Academy entrance exams too p>
“I am,” Caitlin replied with a gentle nod.
“No way! Me too!” Celeste grinned and slid onto the bench beside Caitlin as if they’d known each other for years. “Miss Hero, last time at the police station, you were gone when I woke up. After I got better, I asked the officers for your address, but they said you never left your name. Made it really hard to track you down! Oh, by the way, my name’s Celeste, but everyone calls me March. If you don’t mind, you can just call me March p>
“Sure, March. I’m Caitlin, but you can call me Catie p>
March’s eyes sparkled with hope. “Do you think we could be friends?” she asked softly.
She genuinely wanted to be friends with Caitlin. Really, really wanted to.
Having a friend like Caitlin would be an absolute honor.
“Of course we can,” Caitlin said, her eyes crinkling with a warm smile.
“Thank you, Catie! You’re the very definition of kindness and beauty, you know that? By the way—are you from Silverhaven?” March continued, almost bouncing in her seat.
Caitlin shook her head. “No, I’m actually from Stillwater Bay. What about you p>
“I just moved here from The Port Metropolis. My hometown’s back near Riverside City,” March replied.
Sometimes, the start of a friendship between girls is as simple as a few
exchanged words. With just a handful of sentences, the distance between them shrank without either of them noticing.
If it weren’t for the looming exam and the need to return to their seats, March would have gladly talked with Caitlin all morning.
The first exam of the day was Literature.
They had two and a half hours for it, then Math and a foreign language would follow in the afternoon.
At eleven sharp, the morning session ended.
March waited outside the classroom for Caitlin, and when she spotted her, she naturally linked arms with her. “Catie, let’s get lunch together! I heard the Central Academy’s noodle casserole is legendary p>
“Sounds perfect! I love noodle casseroles p>
March beamed, delighted to discover yet another thing she and Catie had in common. It felt like fate.
“So, Catie-how do you think you did p>
“Pretty well. What about you?” Caitlin asked.
March grinned. “I did alright too! I just hope we end up in the same class after the placement exams p>
In the dining hall, they queued up for noodle casserole together.
It was the end of the exam period, so the third floor cafeteria was packed. But the girls didn’t mind; they chatted away as they waited in line. Whatever March had just said, Caitlin’s face lit up in laughter.
She was radiant when she smiled, like the world itself had burst into bloom.
Suddenly, a guy-nudged forward by his friends-sidled up, looking a bit nervous. “Hey, which class are you in? Mind if I add you on WhatsApp p>
Caitlin politely declined.
“That’s the sixth one now,” March murmured.
Caitlin turned, puzzled. “Sixth what p>
March grinned. “We’ve only been in the cafeteria for twenty minutes, and that’s already the sixth guy who’s asked for your number p>
So this was the power of a beautiful girl!
March giggled, then asked, “Catie, you’re so gorgeous—do you already have a boyfriend p>
“Nope,” Caitlin answered seriously. “Right now, I just want to focus on my studies p>
And get into a great college, so her family could brag about her.
March kept going. “Have you ever dated anyone before p>
“Never dated-but I have been married p>
March burst out laughing. “Come on, Catie, don’t joke like that p>
“I’m not joking. I was a bit rebellious back then. I just got divorced, actually.” Caitlin had never thought of her divorce as something shameful.
Everyone makes mistakes in life.
March didn’t seem to take Caitlin’s words to heart, squeezing her hand. “Catie, I’m getting a fried egg on my noodle casserole, plus some bamboo shoots and roast pork. What about you p>