TER

at the ground in hopes of containing whatever w

ome, I'd had a true haven where I could be alone for

skin, and the ground beg

quake? Surely not. "Hey, are you

and the ground moved unde

said, and a hand

t was enough to take my focus away from my internal turmoil. This guy wasn't near

air. The guy dropped his hand and bit his thin bottom lip. "Sorry, I

My anxiety lessened, reducing the energy in my blood to a f

ours. What was it with all the men here resembling models? This guy had the whol

feel as if I were under a microscope. My

t else to say, I took a step forward, but the

ant they were his, and my blood was dangerously close to humming again. Though I never understood how, I could som

g to make you late, but I want to make sure you

ased. "My roommate isn't thrilled about rooming with m

t hasn't been long. I'm su

ars, but the more time a person spent arou

ministrator." Why was I spilling my guts to him? I ru

her loss

to see a condescending expression, but

ose. "What? Yo

n't sure how to a

is right cheek, adding to his good looks. "Well, I do. I

? My stomach fluttered. "Li

elfish or who didn't care wouldn't be up

fish reasons. You don't know." People assuming things about others caused a lot of p

For some reason, a knot of disappointment twisted hard within me-whi

the campus map. Science classes were held in the Ho

ng around. Back at my old school, the classes got fuller as th

me. My sneakers squeaked on the shiny vinyl floor as I caught my balance. The person did

e

t to the third floor. My classro

sn't sure what I'd expected. Something similar to Hogwarts, old and fancy, like I'd seen

ck-row seating, but that was fine with me. I picked a front-row seat to ensure I maintained focus. I needed to be enga

pt my mouth shut, not wanting to scar

I heard a familiar chuckl

blinked as he sat in the seat next to mine.

meant to get to know each oth

don't have to sit next to me." I flinched. I hadn't meant to be rude, but he was a talker and observan

er. "Is that your way

fted my hands. "I meant don't feel obligated to

n finish that sentence? I s

he chance to sit next to a gorgeous woman will make micro

nted him to think was that I was manipulating him. After b

ed his head back and groaned. "Y

they had to, let alone tried to kiss me. "No boyfriend, but ... I'm here for the

d, and then N

hance. It might just take so

d I had no idea how to respond. Even though I wanted to make friends, dating someone was more than I

ince we're friends, we should kn

ylar." I shook his hand. That was wh

ture, and I finally felt normal as I listened and took not

pen into my bag, ready t

now?" Slade asked as h

ck and tossed it over my shoulder.

d slightly. "Well

n my own, but thanks. You don't ne

Skylar." His words so

ading across my face. Slade was nice, and something about him was comforting. He didn't lo

uilding and headed down the stairs. Luckily, the bu

ts were out, and I got stuck behind a group as I

sat lazily in the back row of the class. His attention was already on me, and when our eyes met, his softened. A few gu

If I didn't have my back to him, I'd gawk at him during class. I was thankful he'd sat in the back; it would've been

hear what I said

back and her tight black shirt highlighting her slim frame. Thankfully, I'd s

rtly, the same tone

I s

ied. "I already have plans wi

tarted up again, bringing with it the urge to change seats to get closer to him. This was fucking

ughed a little too loudly. "It's the cheerleaders

est of the football team are your friend

e room, a slight smile forming on my lips. I

ade plans," R

chest relaxed marginally. "Fancy meeting you h

yes. "May I sit here, or will you

"In fairness, I didn't tell you

the seat next to me. "You kinda did, but at least I came prepa

dn't done that since ... hell, I couldn't remember ev

me. I thought you were having fun."

ked. I glanced over my shoulder. Raffe's nostrils were flared, and hi

his hand, the easy go-with- the-flow

that I wanted to know every single detail. I'd bet the problem was

top dwelli

ask. I forced my eyes to look away from Raffe and foc

on returned, though his eyes weren't as bright. "Let's just say the Wrights and their

re." I clutched my pen, not as eager for ec

e with his hands. "Of course you'

bottom lip, wondering why I was defending them. They'd done more for me than

wore he was about to ask a

f him and directly in line with the whiteboard. Besides that, he'd made it clear he had no interest in talking to me, so the last thing he'd be doing w

le pen down too hard and broke

e class, I tossed my things into

ter me, but I was already

n't want to go back to the apartment in case Lucy

ng to get away from here,

ed my arm and turned me around. A scream strangled me

sped, "What the fuck is it