Callie’s eyes swarm with confusion. “What was that all about?”

I hook my arm through hers, deciding just to rip the band-aid off. “We need to talk.”

We push out the doors at the end of the hallway and step outside beneath the grey sky. Dry leaves gust across the grass and the trees move with the wind.

“Are you going to tell me why you’re looking at me like you’re about to tell me my dog died?” she asks as we head for the parking lot.

I drag out the silence for as long as possible, rummaging to get my keys out. “I have something to tell you and I don’t know how you’re going to take it.” I let go of her arm, unlock the doors, and get in.

I start the engine, crank up the heat, then scroll through my playlists on my iPod. “Kayden borrowed Luke’s truck.” I set the iPod down and internally cringe as I say, “To go back home for a few days... to go to prom.”

She buckles her seatbelt. “Okay, why are you acting weird?”

I shove the shifter into reverse and glance over my shoulder as I back out of the parking spot. “Well, because he didn’t say anything to you. Wait a minute. Did he tell you?”

She shakes her head. “No, but why would he? We barely know each other.”

I don’t like her reaction at all. It shows how little self-esteem she has, and makes me hate the guy that hurt her even more. It also makes me kind of hate Kayden for adding to her pain. “Callie, you made out with him last night and let him feel your boob.”

“Hey,” she protests, crossing her arms over her chest. “I told you that in confidence.”

I steer the car onto the road. “Relax, I’m just pointing out how big a step that was for you. An important step. You wouldn’t just do it with any guy.”

“I like Kayden, but it doesn’t mean he has to tell me everything he does. I’m not his girlfriend. “

“So what.” I turn down the stereo volume. “He should have said something instead of just taking off. He knew you’d probably want to see him. And you know his darkest secret, Callie, which is the hardest part about getting to know someone.”

I glance down at the scars on my arm and think about the secrets connected to them. The only person I’ve ever told was Callie and my mother. My mother refused to acknowledge anything happened. She wouldn’t let me report the assault, said no one would care. In a way, I hate her for it, for not being there for me when I needed her, for making me feel so ashamed.

Chapter 8

Seth

I’m still avoiding Greyson to the point that I cut out on English class again. I never replied to his offer of going to see the art show next Friday and haven’t heard anything from him since. I’m starting to think he’s given up on me and even convince myself I’m grateful. Clearly, I’m not ready for another relationship yet.

But if that’s true, why do I feel like a walking depressant all the time? I want to be my sparkling self again, the one who runs wild, laughs all the damn time, and feels comfortable in his own skin. I’m seriously one step away from going all emo, locking myself in my room, and putting the dreariest song I can find on repeat.

Thankfully, I have Callie and her problems to keep me preoccupied from doing so.

“Why do you keep making air quotes?” she asks me during class.

Even though she’s been reluctant to talk about how she’s feeling, I’ve keep pushing her to open up. I can tell she’s upset about the Daisy thing even though she won’t admit it.

I lean over in the desk and whisper. “Because I’m quoting what it said in my psych book?”

“Your psych book talked about my problem?” she asks, unzipping her bag.

“Not specifically, but it was close.” I chew on the end of the pen as I sit up straight in my chair.

She drops her books into her bag and I jot down a few notes before class lets out. We wait until the room has cleared before we head down the stairs.

Professor Jennerly, a gangly man who likes to wear sport coats with elbow patches and eighties style glasses, is waiting by the door when we walk out.

“My classroom is not for outside chit chat,” he scolds. “If you two want to talk, then I suggest you stay out of my class.”

“We’re sorry.” I glance at Callie and roll my eyes. “It’ll never happen again.”

He scowls at us as we exit the room. “It better not.”

I roll my eyes again. “What a drama queen.”

Callie giggles. “Well, we were talking through half his class.”

“That’s because it’s either talk or fall asleep.” I force a yawn then loop my arm through hers. “That class is seriously so boring.

She laughs again as we head down the hallway toward the exit doors. She starts staring out the window at the domed football stadium in the distance, the one where most of Kayden’s games are played.

“Are you thinking about him?” I ask, nudging her in the side.

She rips her attention away from the stadium and focuses on me. “Thinking about who?”

I shake my head. “Callie, you need to either forget about him or talk to him. You can’t just keep avoiding him, yet wanting him.”

“I don’t want him,” she lies. When I frown, she sighs. “Alright, fine. Yes, I think about him. A lot. But I’ll get over him. God, I barely know him.”

“Yet you two shared a lot,” I flatten my palm to the door and push it open. “You saved him. He was the first guy you ever trusted. He gave you your first real kiss.”