b's

of her bag. Without a second thought, I reached for her waist, pulling her close as I steered her away toward our next clas

ead slightly as we walked. "You don't have to escort me

firm indication that I wasn't going to let this go. "You shouldn't go near that weird charity kid,

as she turned to face me fully, disbelief flashing in her eyes. "Wait, what?

going to go the way I wanted. "Yeah,

ghtly, her expression a mix of

now, more measured. "That's reall

lied simply. "I just-" I hesitated, running a hand through my hair. "I j

e someone, but that doesn't give you the right to be rude about them

aroline always had this way of calling me out when I was being unreasonable. But something about

I was going to win. So instead of pressing further, I exhaled heavily, shaking

her arms. "You're impossible," she murmured, but there was a flic

t squeeze before nudging her forward. "C

ll she wasn't letting this go

began, but s

ve you the right to say rude things about them. If you don't like her, you can

ought was absolu

out that...that...girl!" I scoffed. "Please...

th that cruel amusement she always had when she found someone weak to toy with. Aurora had been frozen, barely able to defend herself, and then,

s if she had expected the question.

ck. "Why did you help Auro

e shaking her head with a small scoff. "Mia wasn'

mattered to Caroline. Aurora could never be one of us, and the fact that

rn to stand up for herself if

ing mine, unwavering. "But that

aking my head. "You do

usement. "And you don't like Shane or Mia. But that's nev

ciating the way she flipped t

ause I felt her pain. I felt her fear. And I just couldn't stand ther

ing. "I really don't understand

ith a sharpness that cut straight through me, she added, "But maybe you shouldn't be so quick to ju

pical Caroline. I didn't say anything else, though. We just kept walking, side by side, heading to ou