ly, replaced by a cold numbing fear. I stumbled back, smoothing my hair and clothe. When I loo

avelly hum. He stepped out of the bathroom, partially blocking her view of me as he moved

of mix of suspicion and fake concern

grabbed Maddie, pulling her close like I'd never happ

a mess. I'd been crushing on him since I was ten, and for a fee minutes, I thought maybe-just maybe-he felt it too. But he tossed me aside like a

to calm down. Just get through the sleepover. Act like nothing happened. I

his. In my 8 years of coming to this house, I still haven't gotten used to that system. It was installed in ev

ome event. She was never home, always stuck in meetings or flying off somewhere. I sat up, hea

he looked at me like a physical blow. The movie. The coffee table. The way his hands felt on my waist. And the way he l

ked wrecked. I pulled on my hoodie, hiding my face. Find Zion, go home, avoid Noah. I

ed downstairs, hoping to avoid Noah. I found Zion in the kitche

n said, turning around with a smile. But then his eyes lan

g the hoodie tighter. "I am

er. And another. Zion lunged for it. His face went totally white for a second, then turning bright red. "Khi! The resul

off."Go check yours! We are going to be roommates in Cambridge! This is our d

crushed. Since we were ten, Harvard had been our "big plan." We used to stay up late ta

bs just to keep us in our tiny apartment and keep the fridge halfway full. The best she could ever afford me

ing the rejection letter wouldn't be fr

g as I pulled away from his grip. "My phone is dead, and I real

ady reaching for his bag, his eyes glowing. "I w

chest was tight. Our future was a lie. 2 secrets were choking me. I was scared Zion would see right t

's words were cut short by the soun

roz

id he have to come down now? He was shirtless, hair messy – looked too good after wrecking my head. The morning light, highli

e shouting abou

ow stiff I became. He practically lunged at his brot

ion, a small smirk tugging at his mouth. "Damn! Congrats

is smirk changed – he remembered the kiss. "And what about you, Khione?" Noah asked, leaning against the counter a

was looking at me with a huge grin on his face, waiting for my

to swallow but my throat felt dry. "I...I mean, the website was....I'll

hidden in my room and the way Noah was looking at

n my pocket, a we

sed, but his smile faded

wasn't my mom. It was a loc

," I wh

Kay?" A deep, off

t. Even Noah straightened

Station. We need you to c