Wall

skin. I cried out, jumping to my feet as th

I yelled, my voice shaking with p

, I am so, so sorry! It was an accident!" She reached out as

recoiling. The pain was intens

the attention of the other

under her breath, her sweet facade dropping for a second

e coffee. This was deliberate.

putting on a show, dabbing uselessly near my arm, her touch making me flinch.

way fro

up to this?" I demand

ver! I was just trying to help her out, that' s all. You should know your place

d out of the café, ignoring the stares and whispers, my arm screaming in protest. A small

y mother gently cleaned and bandaged the bur

, Chloe," she said, her voice fi

calls go to voicemail. I couldn' t face him. I couldn' t pretend to be happy for him when his

bell rang. It was Holden, hol

rrowed with concern. "Fabiola told me what happ

y lips. Of course. He was here

voice flat. I kept my gaze fixed on th

the box into my hands. "I don' t want

e weirdness is a permanent resident

th Fabiola' s friends," I sa

. You don' t have to interact with her." His loyalty,

I asked, my voice barely a whisper. I had t

Tiffany? No way. She' s not like that. You' re

a girl he' d known for a few months over me, his seventeen-year-lo

"Maybe you' re right. I' m just tire

al, and after a moment

the gift. It was a pair o

had a whole conversation about it last year when I'

shopping trip. She' d been complaining about a gift from Holden. "He bought

s reject gift. A hand-

dn' t even be bothered to wipe it away. With a su

e, and my vision went black for a terrifying second. I gripped the

Mom," I called out, forcing a bright

normal. I ha