“Really.” She frowns. “I thought they were just being guys.”

“Oh, they were,” I assure her. “Relax, it was all for fun and he got to kiss you just like he was trying to do the whole night.”

She hugs a pillow to her chest. “Yeah, but did he seem a little offish when we left?”

“He seemed tired, but not offish.”

She fastens her hair into a messy bun. “So, what was that thing with that guy you were talking about?”

My pulse quickens just thinking about Greyson. How easy it was to talk to him. How amazing it felt when he touched my hand. Even though I acted like a weirdo toward the end, it was still a great night.

“We hung out for a while on the Ferris Wheel.” I take out my phone. “I got his phone number earlier and we were texting for like half the night. It was pretty amazing.”

“I’m so happy for you. Are you going to go out with him?”

“Maybe.” Deciding not to dwell on the negative, I relax in the bed and smile. “God, it was such a great night.”

She stares up at the ceiling with a content look on her face. “It really was.”

A few minutes later, I doze off dreaming of Ferris Wheels, soft circles, and the way Greyson kept staring at my lips.

Eventually the dream shifts, though. I’m no longer at the carnival, but on the ground. Feet and fists are slamming against my side as people shout hateful words at me. They don’t even know me; they hate me simply because I’m different. So much hate pollutes the air that I can barely breathe. I use my arm to protect my head from the blows and feel the bones snap as someone stomps on it.

As blinding pain shoots through my body, I blink up through the blood and dirt and see a familiar face looking down at me, only it can’t be right. Braiden never looks at me like that, like he hates me so much he can’t stand it.

The look hurts more than the fists and the kicks.

Chapter 7

Seth

The next day I wake up with a pounding headache and an overwhelming urge to skip out on class, so I do. I spend the morning going through my clothes and putting outfits together, working on my homework, and avoiding Greyson’s texts. Deep down, I know he’s not Braiden. He’s already proven that by simply being seen in public with me, but the nightmares make the wounds on my arm feel too fresh.

Around eleven, I’m waiting outside of Callie’s dorm room while she gets dressed so we can go get some breakfast. My phone buzzes from inside my pocket and I tense as I open the message.

Greyson: Hey, haven’t heard from u. Hope everything is okay with Callie. Anyway, call me when you get a chance. Jenna’s making me go to this art show next Friday and she suggested I bring u too so we can double date.

As soon as I finish reading the message, another text buzzes through.

Greyson: Okay, so I totally just reread my message and realized how lame a double date probably sounds. I promise, though, it’ll be fun. There’s free wine and food and we can leave the moment it gets boring.

My finger hovers over the buttons as I deliberate how to reply. He’s asking me out on a date. Like a real date date.

“Hey, man.” Luke strolls up to me, zipping up his jacket. “I was actually heading to your dorm.”

“Why?” I ask, shoving my phone away without replying.

“I actually need a favor.”

“Are we to the favor stage yet?” I joke as I tame my hair with my fingers.

He chuckles then bobs his head from side to side. “I was kind of hoping we were.”

“Okay.” I wait for him to explain.

He huffs out a breath. “I need to borrow your car.”

My brows knit. “Where’s your truck?”

“Kayden borrowed it so he could drive home for prom.” His jaw tightens in annoyance.

“Prom?” I frown. “What the hell?”

He lifts his shoulder and shrugs. “His girlfriend back home is a senior and he promised her he’d take her.”

My lip instinctively curls. “Seriously? He’s still dating that Barbie bitch I met a couple weeks ago?”

Luke barks a laugh. “I really like that description of her.”

I don’t find it funny at all. “I thought Kayden broke up with her.” I glance over my shoulder at Callie’s door, hoping she can’t hear.

“He did, but he promised Daisy he’d go with her before they broke up,” he says with another shrug. “Honestly, I don’t get it, but for some reason, Kayden can’t seem to just tell her no. He’s always been that way, though.”

Suddenly, the door behind me swings open, and Callie walks out, slipping on a hoodie. I try to keep a lock on my expression, but my smile falters when she grins at me.

She immediately stiffens. “What’s wrong?”

Luke has a guilty look on his face as he waves at her. “Hey, Callie, what’s up?”

She self-consciously combs her hands through her hair. “Nothing much. Seth and I are just headed out to get some breakfast.”

“Yeah, we were just talking about that.” Luke backs down the hall, totally bailing out on the situation. “I was asking Seth if I could borrow his car, but I’ll just find someone else.”

I glare at him for leaving me to break the news to her, and he quickens his pace.

“Why? Where’s your truck?” Callie calls out.

“Kayden took it somewhere.” He waves at us, then spins on his heels and jogs down the hallway like a coward. “I’ll catch up with you two later,” he calls over his shoulder.