icer went to fetch Kiesel. My hands felt numb as I sign

like cigarettes, playi

efore he could open his mou

pulling her double shift at the hospital. She didn't need to s

ty. The alert still sitting on my screen like a ticking

e coming tonight's p

sitting in this quiet apartment, staring at my community college flyers and thinking about Noah's gift, was w

It was still early afternoon. "Pick me up

into my eyelids. When the sun finally started setting down, I dragged myself up to my closet. I didn't have fancy

a little more like a girl with a plan. I pulled my hair into a messy updo,

r. It was way better than my rattling metal trap. I grabbed my purse and took a deep breath. I

entire block. "Okay, who is this girl and what did you do with my best-friend?" She hyped, h

t, and totally grounded. She was gorgeous, with glowing skin, deep hazel eyes, and a crown of perfect brown 4a curls that I was

hem feel like they were the ones lucky to be there. Plus, it didn't hurt that

," I said, sinking into t

rattling metal trap. As the car rolled down the road, my mouth felt he

lia every five second. She noticed. She always noticed everything. "Khi, what's w

yeah," I stammered, my heart doing the familiar beat

for the volume knob to loud the music, her hazel eyes already scanning the road

pressure in my chest finally snapped. I

nd I kissed!"

ent break. My seatbelt locked, jerking me forward as the tire screeched again

g wheel so hard. She turned to me, her 4a curls bouncing

ion's brother?" I could only nod, my face was burning up. I bit my lip, tasting a m

n ears. "I still do! He is arrogant, he's a bully, he treats me l

being serious. "The guy has spent eight years making your life a living hell. He's the reason you spent most of middle

I don't know, X. For a second, when he was holding me in the bathroom, the world just stoppe

r opened, and the mask came back. He tossed me aside for Maddie like

barely a whisper as she fina

bout me applying not applying for Harvar

d feeling like l

hat? Khione, you guys have been planning that since we were ten! The ma

around the kitchen, so happy, talking about us being roommates. I had to stand there and fake a smile while my chest was literally collapsing. How am

to pay, or his dad would,and then I'd just be a permanent project for the Graves to w

nted to blurt out something out-something about the way Zion's eyes always tracked me acros

tion and pity. "Khi, you really think he's only doing this because he is a good friend?

Not about the kiss, and definitely not about Harvard. I can't afford to lose him. Zion is the only piece of my life that doesn't feel like it's falling apar

t agree with me, but she finally nodded. "I promise, Kh

finally leaning back and letting the c

have to think. 30 minutes later, we pulled up to the lake house. You

Xalia's car look like a toy. The house was glowing, lights spilling out onto the l

ne. She looked at me. "One party won't kill

y black dress, and checked my hair in th

l of expensive cologne sweat hit me like a wall. Th

e hiding under my hair. I was trying to find my way through the crowed hallway, just l

gave out. A hand reached out, gripping my arm to st

opped. Of course. God really decided

nreadable as he drawled, "Do you hav