i

out. Come Friday, it was all anyone could talk about. It was like they for

. This was something I remembered every single

aid. They weren't going to be th

think he was trying to seek me out. I jerked away as if I had been burned,

urred, grinning

blonde locks, clearly having just g

, trying to mak

ainst the wall. He had me pinned wi

? I don't have to be on stage for anothe

s. He was too close to me, so close

out through clenched teeth.

e too!" Colby pointed

her anxiety, wishing she

Simone

duck underneath his right arm and put a

Colby said, giving Simone a look. "I guess w

ff, making

you o

ing his usual t

up and down, ca

I'm checking to mak

e me. I've told you

eah, but I've never seen it up clo

hat's not going to go well fo

er thought about wh

ked. "

be they ha

t in midd

are still expressing their feeling

nt to think

ase everyone start head

f us shar

ly," Simone whispered to me

*

sure none of them noticed me. But even though Simone and I had positione

r classes. Simone and I were among a handful of students to leave. The others stayed behind,

get out of there w

t my coming-of-age ceremony was coming up in just a few

" Simone whispered to me. "Do you wan

up. "Are y

to pay? I can't believe you

good to be able t

a month and there's a limit of how much I can take out. You, on

was to get good grades and get into college. With my brother and I not h

e in front of the

to officially get out, I left with my bag slung over my shoulder. My mind was focused on the t

ou off to in

ning against the brick, a sm

Ironside?" I whispered, ta

braid, almost resembling my own. His equally dark brown eyes wer

to the rugby team here. If some of them play their car

ky t

in front of me. He leaned down,

way. He didn't budge an in

and Rain doubl

e look on your face! Did you

not wanting to give Rain the

hy do all of you have

ged. "It

hat almost sent me raging, but

tle wave, pulli

Did I get yo

. "Yes. Lia

o push my anxiety so far dow

okay,

st my brother's fr

though nothing had happened. Why when any of those guys got close to me did I feel this shiver of fe

spot a little harder. Simone grabb

you o

'm fine

eck so hard I'm afraid yo

tly. "It's fi

did he b

at?

think any of your brother's friends would do that

ld never

heir teasing, but he would never accept them forcing a bite on me. That was

rubbing at

hat was left in its wake. Biting down on my bottom lip, I settled for shoving my hands into

I'm

't know about that but I guess it's f

e and I were always able to go out and have such fun, but with my comin

eem like it

g is going to change," I said

ou're going to find out who your chosen mat

r me it marked a change in

get some coffee. I need somethi

my shoulders, putting so

s good