Private (Private 1)

and I hugged my stomach, struggling not to cry. What had I just done?

ALL LIES

“Think it’ll all be worth it?”

My hand flew up as Thomas pushed away from the wall. His dark

jacket was soaked and raindrops dripped from his hair.

“What the hell? Why are you always lurking?” I demanded,

scared half to death.

Turned out I didn’t have to figure out a way to get Kiran alone. When Thomas smiled slowly and leaned toward me. Even in all the

I walked out of Bradwell the following morning with Constance and roiling emotion, my heart had the temerity to respond.

the others, she stood up from the nearest stone bench in the quad.

“Don’t get in over your head, new girl,” he said. Then he looked I could see the nervousness in her eyes.

me up and down. The covetousness in his eyes both flattered and

“I’ll see you in class,” I told Constance as I split away.

unnerved me. It was as if he believed that I in some way belonged to Kiran drew herself up with a breath as I approached. By the time him. “I don’t think I could handle it.”

I got to her, any uncertainty was gone and her imperious, blasé For a split second he loomed even closer, I could feel his breath demeanor was back in place.

on my face and I knew for sure he was going to kiss me. But instead

“Hi,” I said. My turn to be uncertain.

he smiled and turned and walked off into the rain.

“What did he say to you?” she asked point-blank. “Not that I

care. I just need to make sure that he got the message.”

Lies. All of it. Lies.

“He got the message,” I told her. “Don’t worry.”

She stared. The gold flecks in her eyes seemed to pulsate. “Well?

What did he say? ”

I cleared my throat. “He said he’s sorry,” I told her. “He said to get you alone and tell you that he’s sorry.”

94

K A T E B R I A N

Kiran blinked. “He said that?”

“Yeah,” I told her, my curiosity overwhelming. “Why would he

say that after what I did to him?”