came way

g soggy in front of me, eyes glued to t

suburban neighborhoods. They don't pop out of the woods like some... discount hor

o my mouth. It tasted

rther, my phone buzzed.

me before school?" I

too awake. "Because I coul

cornflakes

not that interesting. But school-trending.

so hard milk splattered

yesterday." She drew out the word moment like it was a dirty secret. "People swe

re were no violins. No slow-motion

re still obsessing ov

m barged in. "I'm not obsessing. I'm... confused

kled. "Su

nightmare. I hadn't even made it to scho

lockers, when my mom popped her head in. "You're going to b

Maybe I'll just drop out. S

h, good luck with that. See yo

ic

real, wishing I could crawl in

ley whispering lover girl under her breath, and one very suspicious glare from a math teacher who d

dropped onto our usual bench with a tray of mystery pizza

tables over,

just loud enough to carry. "Did you see th

he actually picked up her books

went n

thickens!" She nudged me. "Did you hear that? They

my pizza. The crust fo

ward me, then toward him. Because of course he had to be here too,

scrolling his phone. He was just... sitting

this stupid t

aring at you. Oh my Go

like a weapon. "He's probably glarin

You've been targeted." Riley l

afeteria noise. One of the popular girls, of course - perf

or half the room to hear, "yo

swiveled.

w me whole. Instead, I squeaked, "What?

ed back. He stood, slow and delibe

ent quiet.

st walked out. The doors

spers d

le, eyes wide, grin feral.

iding I was officially Done™ with school. Not that I cut classes-n

Straight home? Too obvious. Main road? Too crowded. So I

Definitely not

ered, "Perfect. Totally safe. Zero c

to your

ard I almost

ike it was his throne, arms crossed, eye

Bad Boy, in

ds. "What are you-a

low, deliberate. "Why

're, like, starring in some tragic romance novel?!" My

. "You should

rumors? Do you think I want people thinking I-" I cut myself of

nce between us in three steps. Way too cl

t. You don't want to get it. Stay a

shield I had. "Wow. Very dramatic. You practice

hed, like he was fighting a smirk.

ke? You have no idea wh

ut something snappy, but the way his eyes glowed fain

enough I could feel th

where yo

kicked into over

eadable. "Go home. S

hat, he turned

wall, heart doing somersaults, brain

he walk home replayin

ou live. Stay

t even suppo

ing? Creepy

actics. Bad boys love their cryptic speeches, right? Probably in the handbook som

zzed. Riley

d I answered. "Because people are saying he stormed out o

That's not swoon material, that

h. And

I paused, teeth worrying my lip. "Ok

hattered my eardr

ght? Just... threats. W

p of her life. "Girl, you're living a Wattp

back, something cu

ong. Low.

wl

y cheek. Riley's voice crackled,

ain. Closer this

the window. Pulled the curta

here

tree line, something moved. Bi

Gold, locked di

e floor. Riley's voice shouted from the screen,

rtains shut with shaking hands,

hat thing was... i