PTE

wall, and my feet slip

e inevitable crash landing when s

rced my eyes to look straight ahead

d to clear it. It didn't help. I couldn't get over the way t

t and the run-in, my

eel like hitting a wall. Like, what the hell? I ran my fingertips over the muscles, reveli

my

ropped my hand like I'd

st alone had jumbled my thou

a

over again, but the hands were still

r, but when I locked eyes with the brick wall and his scent invaded

some but gorgeous did

ir hung into his crystal-blue eyes, emphasizing their color. I wanted to get lost

ven more embarrassing; otherwise,

His jaw clenched, and his full lips mashed together in a

t it cut deeper coming from him. Seeing the warmth vanish from

my right chuckled. "I swear she's got d

s milk-chocolate-brown eyes danced with mirth as he ran a hand over brown scruff that was a shade darker t

e, his shaggy, curly hair ruffling in the breeze. "She was running." His honey- brown eyes seemed warmer than the others, but his body

er my mouth nor my balance was stable, but I despised being talked about a

s amusement anymore. "And yo

was still speaking nonsense. "I meant, I ..." How did I salvage this? At least I wasn't e

being that hated me, my

d it." Sexy Chest's de

his face. He dropped his hands from my shoulders, and I noticed a detailed wolf tattoo peeking from under t

ring if I could catch a glimpse

dging by your expression, I'm assum

Raffe, and she can barely put together a coherent sentence. She pr

away from them before I had an epic meltdown ... again. "It felt like I was being watched." I

us can check out the area?" Raffe said, a littl

ich irritated me. Why in the world would I want to obey someone I'd

And if something was chasing me, I'd hate for you to go out there and have

back into my space. For a moment, I swore his blu

ands into his khaki pants pockets and smirk

chicken, though most people didn't realize that. U

e type who bullied and berated people for being d

t was clear I'

ike I should have done already. The latter would let me hold on to a smidge of dignity. At least

, "Don't hurt the d

"Did you name her too? Let me

and after a few seconds, Keith huf

y happened around me. Something s

ugh freak inside me to last a lifetime without adding glowing eyes

he words had popped out before I processed my response. I couldn't stand

ered. "I can com

stared at me and frowned. "Please, head somewhere safe. If someone is out here, we w

d done it kindly, and I didn't wan

why I hadn't checked in. Without another word, I ma

to begin, but nothing happened. The three of

ced be

here. The other

umping, and his face twisted as if he were warring with whether to say something. Then he said tenderly, "B

zes remained locked. We both took a step closer

fed. "I need to check on them, but I c

me obvious. How stupid. It wasn't like

rried to my car, determined to forget Ra

ilac comforter was taking the brunt of my frustration. I yanked on the edges, smoothing out the wrinkles as I finished

ered to one another. They always thought I didn't know what they were doing, but it wasn

hades of purple were my favorite colors. I hadn't expected the room to have a small chandelier, but it was perfect for what I had in mind. I removed my lilac sneakers and

ot to do those ... things." Mom sighed

cause parents refused to let their kids attend class with someone who petrified them. I did believe they cared about me, but I didn't fit in with them. Hell, my own bi

us. We love you," Dad interjected.

s over my twenty-one years. You'd think they'd have rea

, and I stiffened. "Hey, my room

said excitedly.

s in the past five minutes. "I'll call or text you two later. Love you

ice called out, and my blo

d down the small hallway between our rooms,

ng caramel-brown hair hung over her shoulders, high

doorway, her hauntingly luminous gray eyes scanning my room and stopping on m

Adam, which meant the two of us probably wouldn't get along. "I'm Skylar. I got delayed too, and I don'

her gaze landed on the painting I'd hung on

and white flowers that appeared to be wet with rain. It brought me calm when I nee

to my chest, and I felt naked. I shouldn't have come here. I couldn't even escape to my

n an hour. They stayed open for students who arriv

ah, I should do that." I needed my books for tomorrow, and that was an amazing e

lf and a silver full moon. "Anytime." She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and ya

he was lying, but I woul

she was b

d anything." She lifted her phone then spun

what was it with all t

kitchen out the door. The hallway was surprisingly empty. In all the shows I watched, students were alwa

ined the light-gray hallway walls, and my sneakers

the double glass doors and headed acr

o bad as I walked between two massive brick buildings that we

nter. I watched as they laughed and joked with several girls who lay on blankets, all of

keeping my gaze focused straight ahead on the student

ars burning in my eyes. I'd been foolish to come here. I wanted to

em again. Something I'd

center, I blinked to clear my eyes. I

ass doors, an employee stood at the cash register. I scanned the area and saw that each section was m

ff

between us, but I wasn't an idiot. Someone like

strong, and con

d Science. A sizzle ran down my spine, and I somehow knew

ry books. This educational opportunity was important to me, and I

helved at the bottom, and I du

nd metal groaned. When I glanced