I laugh. “Has hell frozen over?”
His lips form a thin line. “I’m serious.”
“Why would I have heard from her? You know she doesn’t speak to me anymore.” I grab the laptop from him. “Oh right, neither do you.”
“That’s not true. We’re talking right now.”
“Because you need something.”
He grimaces, unable to argue that.
I zip up my backpack. “Why are you so worried? Can’t go a whole day without her by your side?”
“Yes. I mean, no,” he says defensively. Too defensively, if you ask me. He runs his hand through his hair, making it spike up. “Something’s…never mind.”
He starts to walk away. I run after him and grab his arm.
“Something’s what, Finn?”
“Nothing.” The hallway’s crowded and he's visibly uncomfortable. Finn Holloway is never uncomfortable. Why would he be? He’s got the looks, the athletic ability, the girl… “She’s probably just screwing with everyone, you know? Making a dramatic stand or entrance or whatever she’s got going on.”
Drama is her favorite past time.
It’s just unlike her to mess with Finn.
I exhale. “If I hear anything, I’ll let you know.”
His green eyes soften. “Thanks, Kenley.”
I watch him walk away.
“What was that all about?” Alice asks from beside me. “He looked freaked out.”
“I’m really not sure.”
“Whatever it is, I’m sure he had it coming, jerk.”
I turn to respond, either to defend Finn or tell her what he said about Rose, but before I can decide, she’s already walked off. Alice Dalton doesn’t need to remind herself to let the two of them go. She already has.
3
Ezra
I announce my presence in the locker room by dropping my bag on the wooden bench. Walking into a smelly, sweaty, hormone-infested high school locker room shouldn’t be a big deal. It’s not a big deal.
Unless you’re Ezra Baxter.
Holloway stands by his locker, furiously typing into his phone. Word is out that he’s looking for Rose, and she didn’t come to school today.
I check my phone for messages.
She didn’t text me either.
After shoving the phone in his locker, Holloway finally looks up and blinks twice when he realizes it’s me.
“What are you doing here?”
He pulls off his shirt, revealing a ridiculously ripped physique.