Private (Private 1)

His face said it all. “They’re not the nicest people in the world, The defiance was gone instantly. I swear I saw fear in his eyes.

Reed. They have to be able to get hold of me.”

“Reed, no. Please. You can’t leave me. You . . . you love me.”

“God, Thomas. What are you going to tell me next? That all the

“Thomas—“

crap about your parents was made up too?” I asked.

“Reed, please,” he said.

176

K A T E B R I A N

That almost sucked me in. The begging.

“I . . . I need some time,” I told him.

“No,” he said, clutching my hand, keeping me in place.

“Thomas, please,” I said. “Let me go.”

He searched my eyes. I made myself hold steady. Finally he

THE LAST STRAW

released his grip, pulling both his hands back as if he were under arrest. Then he put them behind his head for a second and bit his lip. He was trying to think of something to say. He looked like he was about to cry. I couldn’t take it anymore. I stepped around him and took off for Bradwell.

This time, I was wide awake, obsessing about Thomas, when my cell

“Reed! Reed! Where are you going?” Taylor called, running to

phone beeped. I had silenced the ringer hours ago after the twentieth catch up with me.“Did you know about this?” I demanded, realizing angrily pleading message from Thomas, but had neglected to do the she had known exactly where to find him.

same with the text alert. I picked the phone up slowly and stared at

“Well, yeah,” Taylor said with a shrug. “He supplies everyone in the message.

Billings. How could you not know that?”

MEET BEHIND BILLINGS. U HAVE 3 MINS.

I tasted bile in the back of my throat. I was going to be sick. I I lay there for a long moment. I was not

in the mood. Not after didn’t know anyone. I didn’t know anything. I was a naive, ridicu-Thomas. Not after Taylor’s blithe dismissal of his dealings. Not now lous, newbie sophomore.

that I knew what I knew. I was in no mood to do anything for any-

“Are you okay?” she asked.

one. To trust anyone in the slightest. I was in no mood to move.

“I have to go,” I told her. Then I took off, sprinting into the My pulse raced. I stared at the ceiling. I could ignore them. I oncoming darkness.

could. I was my own person with my own thoughts and feelings. I would be fine.