outside Wistonia High School, dropping off

clutching my old schoolbag, feeling

hl

f a black sedan and

is tie perfectly straight, looking so bright and

me and took my wrist as

lm was

hout thinking, but he ti

inside." He led me thr

. Some were curious, some asses

eption paused. "Et

sfer documents and raised his voice. "A g

d up and cove

" I hissed, the tips

is eyes curving like cresce

nd back as if I

hen the teacher led me into the class

ne loo

Chloe Parker," the homeroom teacher

wept over

indow, Liam was asleep w

eside him

pointed. "Chloe, sit

lled out the chai

but did not o

rough the e

book and tried h

The professor had just assigned the tas

ed my

rubbed his neck, his gaze drif

am up with

arby heard

ghing, followed by mo

ightened aro

oice, calm and steady. "At leas

ghter s

oked him straig

ow, as if a li

f the Hayes family name were stripp

m fell compl

were very dark, clouded with

ly smiled. It was not mockery.

the word, turned back aro

and glanced at our blank discussio

out the words. "I just g

im, looked at me, shook h

rner seat with my tray when a g

led hair, perfect makeup,

from me with

Vanessa Collins, captain o

lways appeared in the school paper, ad

ok a bite of

yes family suddenly has someone new living with th

ghtened in

..

nswer when Ethan's voi

t guest of my father. It i

thing in the world, then slipped an arm around my shoulders wi

's smil

kind of important guest ne

miling, but his tone had coo

drained across

exchanged looks and t

ed her smile back into place. "Sinc

left unw

ed, and I turned to

piece of rib into my bowl.

he tight string inside my che

as Liam sitting alone t

between his teeth and was

rom tense to relaxed. He w

itation shot

culo

held herself together and refused

himself to

the old man had brought home. S

being targeted by Vanessa, none

s tray, and walked tow

n and Chloe's table

licked over from the

into Chloe's bowl and

ears a little red, her lips pressed toge

ed his tray into the retur

l crashe

udents jumped and

f the cafeteria and left Chloe