e his cologne, a rich, woody scent that filled the enclosed space and made it hard to breathe.

y oblivious to the war raging inside my head. I hadn't spoken a word since we left

very compel

inty was killing me. I glanced up at the rearview mirror. Dean's eyes were already there

watching a mouse in a field. The intensity of his gaze made my skin p

But here, he was laser-focused on me. My presence, my lies, my background-everything about me ha

't wait for Dean to open the door. I grabbed the handle, shove

ut, already taking a st

hl

. I slowly turned around. He had stepped out of the car and was walking toward me. He mov

reached his shoulder. I had to tilt my head back to look

"Blackwood isn't just a school. It's a battlefield. A

advice, but a statement of fact. He knew something

to Hannah, and then the sedan purred away, disappearing into the night. I stoo

o you?" she asked, frowning. "You look like you've seen a ghost.""Just

g at the icy shock. I looked at my reflection in the mirror. My face was pale, my eyes wide with

me. His interest in me was growing, and if I didn't do something, I wo

invitations. I would avoid the places Dean frequented. I would becom

rm for the next morning. Just as I unlocked the screen, i

al words: "Lamb little hello..." Spam, probably. Some poorly translated phishing attempt. I swiped it away without another though

y chin, staring at the ceiling. I had to be stro