Free Hopeless Magic by Rachel Higginson

this entire time.
    “Avalon!” he hollered again.
    “What?” an irritated Avalon swung around to face Jericho straight on.
    “Sebastian Cartier is here? In Omaha? Why haven’t we been informed?” Jericho demanded.
    Damn it Eden, you just had to go and open your big mouth . Avalon sent me a direct and irritated message. I blushed, but turned right around again towards the opposite side of the barn. I had 110/711
    apparently done enough damage; I didn’t need to get into the middle of a fight between those two.
    I noticed Angelica towards the back of the barn, talking to some girls who looked only a little bit older than me. I contemplated joining them, but couldn't find the courage. Avalon was usually my social crutch around here, and unfortunately he was currently in the middle of a battle between need-to-know basis and left-in-the-dark. I rolled my eyes, inwardly laughing at the precarious relationship Avalon and Jericho seemed to hold-sometimes best friends, sometimes leadership rivals.
    “Eden, won’t you join us?” Angelica had noticed me wandering around aimlessly. I had hoped to avoid what would assuredly be a socially-awkward situation for me. But apparently I was just not that lucky today.
    “Hello, Angelica,” I greeted her sweetly, remembering tenderly that she was close to my mother at one point. I had yet to garner any details from her, but I didn’t tend to give up easily.

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    “Hello, dear.” She returned my smile and brought me into a warm hug. Her lighter, almost efferves-cent magic wrapped me in a warm bubble and I felt oddly comforted. “The other teams have arrived. Have you met them?”
    “Um, no, I haven’t. I mean, Avalon was introducing himself to them, so I just thought I would connect with him later,” I blurted out, feeling like I needed to explain what I meant by our twin connection, but I decided not to get into detail. I mentally reminded myself that I was not actually part of the Resistance and therefore not actually obligated to meet anyone.
    “Eden, don’t rob yourself of the opportunity of getting to know others like you. Remember you are who you surround yourself with,” She smiled knowingly, and I shrugged off the feeling of irritation from the clear dig at Kiran. “Anyways, these girls are too sweet to let Avalon do the meeting and greeting for you. Besides I think they already know Avalon,” When she looked at them, they nodded in confirmation. “Eden, this is 112/711
    Fiona Thompson and Roxie Powers. They are part of the Czech team, Ryder’s team,” she patted Roxie, a short, hard-looking Latina, on the arm before leaving us alone. Roxie returned the gesture with a smile and I got the feeling it was almost painful for her to look so nice.
    Roxie had long dark hair like mine, but it was in a low pony tail on the back of her neck, falling in smooth, loose curls down to her waist. Her small frame barely cleared five feet, but her stature ex-uded a strength that intimidated me. Her chocolate brown eyes searched my face as if looking for a reason to punch me in the nose. I flinched self-consciously before turning my attention to Fiona.
    Fiona was much nicer looking, in personality I mean. They were both beautiful girls. Fiona had perfect porcelain skin that looked like milk next to her shoulder length auburn hair. Her overly large green eyes, maintained a look of both innocence and shrewdness. She stood tall as if in a position, of leadership and her slender fingers were folded together in a proper sort of way.

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    “I’m Eden,” I said obviously after Angelica had walked away. After Angelica had left me. After Angelica had abandoned me.
    “We know,” Roxie sneered and my suspicions about her were confirmed.
    “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Fiona covered for her friend. She did not attempt to shake my hand, however, and for some reason that bothered me.
    “Y-y-you’re Fiona?” I addressed the more polite of the two, asking another obvious