ed to know. This boy, with his enigmatic smile and his always perfectly measured words, seemed to hide much more

sity cafeteria. Two girls at a nearby table, engaged in animated conversation, had menti

tly straightened locks. "Don't you think? He doesn't talk t

at fell over her glasses. "But there's something ab

"weird" boy, but it was true that he didn't mix with the others. He was ofte

came across Adrien, a classmate she vaguely knew, a

with an innocent smile.

" Not really. He's more l

cent curiosity card. "Oh, nothing. Just that

t's a polite word for weird." But be careful, Lila. He has this reputa

aroused his curiosity. Who was Lucas, really? Why did it see

s in mind that she received a

free tonight? I

a beat. She answered him almost immediately

, I'm free.

se did not

e surprise. I'll pic

lized her. He was never entirely predictable, and that added to his charm. As she got ready, choosi

front of the mirror, her phone vibrated on the table. S

la. I have to canc

ffect of an icy shower. She remained still, staring at the

r being the o

. She tried to rationalize. Maybe he really had an emergency. But a little voice in his head, the

his episode. But as she walked across campus late in the afternoon,

h a man she had never seen before. Tall, with an imposing build and an

ot to intervene. Lucas, for his part, seemed tense. He nodded from time to time, b

wasn't an ordinary conversation. The man made a sharp gesture

one. He stood still for a moment, looking at t

him what was going on? But before she could d

she had just seen confirmed what she feared: Lucas was h

ould find out the truth, n