Did you find it?
I have now. He looked right into my eyes again, and again I wondered what he was looking for. I feel bad about nearly killing you with a door. Let me make it up to you? I could carry this box full of hard-core sports attirewherever youre taking it.
No, thats okay. Like I was gonna let the pretty new boy anywhere near Peyton before Id had a chance to thoroughly stake my claim.
Since Im the one who gave you this bump He brushed hair back from my forehead, and I winced when his fingers touched a tender spot just above my temple. I think you should let me do the heavy lifting, until youre fully recovered.
Well, if you insist My afternoon was looking better already.
I smiled at him. Im still a little dizzy. Who knows how long that could take?
Ill clear my schedule. He replaced the shirt that had fallen out and picked up the box. Which way?
Take the next right, and head straight for the double doors.
We were almost to the hallway junction when Luca stopped in the middle of the floor. His eyes narrowed at nothing, then closed entirely, and when they opened, he lookedcautious. Like hed seen something or heard something weird. Or like hed felt a draft. But all I could hear were some locker door squeals and muted voices from around the corner, and I couldnt see anything but an empty stretch of hall in front of us. And there was no breeze.
Yeah. Lets go this way. He took my arm and started to turn back the way wed come.
I pulled loose from his grip. The gyms that way.
Is there another route? He frowned at the intersection behind me, and I turned to look again, but there was nothing therejust the junction of two hallways, with a set of restrooms on opposite corners.
Only if we go around the whole building. Are you okay?
Yeah. Luca fell into step beside me again, reluctantly this time, and I took a critical sideways glance at him. He was beyond gorgeous. But Eastlake High was full of pretty people who acted like total freaks. I blame the local water supply. Which was why I drank bottled water.
Still, Luca was new, and he was hot, and he was the first guy whod looked at me with something more interesting than pity in his eyes since my mom died and my boyfriend was committed to a mental institution. If the universe was finally throwing me a boneand lets be honest, it owed me the whole damn skeleton, after the year Id hadI wasnt going to throw it back without at least taking a good look at the offering.
We turned the corner, and I glanced up when the voices Id heard fell into a sudden hush. There were only a few people left in this corridor, and they were all staring at a couple in the middle of the math hall, making out like they were trying to swallow each other whole.
I didnt recognize the guys pale curls or athletic build, but I would have known her anywhere. Thin, curveless body that she didnt know how to showcase to its own advantage. Plain, thick brown hair that could be pretty, if shed use a decent conditioner or let me flatiron it. But she never did, so Id stopped asking when I was twelve, and I realized itd be easier to pretend I didnt know her than to try to explain how she could be so mousy when we sprang from the same genetic line.
Who is that? Luca whispered, and I had to swallow a groan. Of course the first things hed see at Eastlake were me, flat on my butt with a bruise rising on my foreheadnot my finest hourand Kaylee, starring in yet another public spectacle.
I shook my head. Ive never seen him before, but shes my cousin. And that is not her boyfriend. I swear, she is such a closet slut. Shed gotten double detention for public display with Nash two days ago.
Luca glanced at me with upraised brows. Looks like the closets open.
Great. The only thing worse than a quiet, crazy cousin was a slutty, skanky cousin with an exhibitionist streak. At least Peyton knew how to keep her secrets secret.
For the millionth time, I wished my parents had let me change my last name so people would stop mistaking me and Kaylee for sisters. Thats all Id wanted for my thirteenth birthday, and those little-girl diamond heart earrings were a poor substitute.
A second later, Nash and his creepy, goth-freak friend stepped around a corner on the other end of the hall and stopped cold, staring just like we were. I couldnt decide whether to stick around for the fireworks, or run from the drama before I became collateral damage by association. Again.
Kaylee? Nash said, and my cousin and the mystery hottie jumped apart like someone had lit a fire at their feet.
I ducked into a classroom doorway, behind a row of lockers, and Luca glanced at me in surprise. Thats her boyfriend. At the end of the hall, with the scary brunette.
Luca stared down the hall again, and when the shouting started, I grabbed his arm and pulled him around the corner with me. Youre right. Lets go this way. I started back the way wed come and he fell into step beside me, still carrying my box, as the drama behind us grew louder and even more embarrassing.
I take it youre not close to your cousin? Luca said, watching me with those beautiful eyes.
Im close to never speaking to her again. Does that count?
Why? Whatd she do?
You mean other than the Jerry Springer-worthy public display back there? She lived with me until this yearher own dad didnt even want her around for, like, thirteen yearsand shes been trying to wreck my life since junior high.
With serial public displays of affection?
No, thats a recent development. Thank goodness. Kaylees kind ofunbalanced.
Meaning, she falls over a lot?
Ha-ha. Shes nuts. My eighth grade dance recital? We had to leave before my solo because Kaylee had this stupid panic attack.
A panic attack?
She was totally faking. She just started screaming at the top of her lungs, for no reason at all, and everyone stared at us, and my dad had to carry her out like a baby. Every time she does it, they fuss over her like shes all fragile, when its my life shes turning into a public tragedy every time she opens her mouth.
And youre sure she does it on purpose?
So sure. Shes a social assassin. She sabotaged my run for Snow Queen. She got my boyfriend arrested and committed to a mental institution, and
Boyfriend? Luca looked disappointed, and my pulse rushed so fast I got a little dizzy again.
Ex.
But the worst partthe part I hadnt told anyonewas that she was there when my mom died. Kaylee did somethingor, at the very least, she knew somethingbut she wouldnt tell me what really happened. She couldnt even come through for me the one time I truly needed her help, yet she went to great lengths to hold me back from the social existence I was born to live.
The moral of the story is that my cousin is a malicious freak, and you should avoid her like the social equivalent of the black plague.
Lucas brows rose. That sounds a little harsh.
I shrugged. Survival strategy. If youre not careful, this place will eat you alive, and Kaylees like bait for the beasts.
You make your school sound like a war zone. Should I come dressed for battle?
Always. And it doesnt hurt to have designer labels on your chain mail. The key is to know which battles are worth fighting.