-

of golden light across Jake's small bedroom. He groaned, rubbing his

eady h

iggling met his ears. He followed it to the kitchen and found his little sisters, Emi

e muttered, reaching for the

o, wrinkled her nose at hi

nd popped it into his mouth. "And you look lik

ly tamed in two puffy pigtails, g

y, putting a finger to hi

d behind him. Jake didn't need t

's rough voice cut through t

once been strong and proud-now tired and worn. His f

point

d into his mouth. "Kinda hard to sleep when you'r

ing to Ridgewood, and you're going to behave

I do screw up? Gonna send me to another

y and Sophie jump. "You think this is a joke? This is y

g his father's gaze without f

e if you get kicked out of Ridgewood, I

s fists tightened at his sides, ange

hand tugged

broke through the tension.

rown eyes pleading. "Ye

ger deflating just a little. "Fi

didn't say

took his sisters by the han

-

ay at R

s. The walls were spotless, the floors polished to a shine. Everything ab

s class, a sharp voice s

ou have any idea

ocky, with glasses that sat too low on

rin. "Uh... time fo

"Late on your first d

"Figured I'd ma

uffed. "Get t

strolled away, shoving hi

something-or rather, some

nde hair cascading down her back, eyes brigh

utiful. Eff

over. "Hey, didn't know

eyes scanning him with amu

tty as you," Jake said

her lips curving int

he lockers. "And you just mad

y, tucking a strand o

ontinue, a sharp voice

do you think

approaching. His dark hair was styled with effor

to be told-this w

Jake asked, fei

"I'm the guy who's abou

a lot of effort for a strang

flared. "Stay aw

en back at him. "Didn't s

was

ew s

the lockers. The hallway erupted in gasps

ing his shoulders. "You

t answer. He

a solid punch landing again

issed

ing with Andrew's ribs. The fight escalated-fists fl

against the lockers,

commanding v

oug

written across his face. "To the p

efore stepping back, his chest ris

blood from his

, he turned back t

fter schoo

cheeks

fists c

gri

to be an intere

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