Forgotten Rules (Rules 4)

“I—”

“Kass, wait.” A voice erupts behind me.

His voice.

I pivot to see Will standing in the moving crowd, slightly panting from running after me. His attention immediately shifts to where Luke’s hand connects with my skin.

His jaw twitches.

Then he sees my soaked cheeks.

And his features soften.

It isn’t long until he clenches his fists, the worry in his eyes morphing into anger. His murderous glare is asking me a clear, definite question: “Who do I have to kill?” In that moment, all I want to do is run into his arms. Cry until I can’t breathe. Tell him he was right. About everything.

But I can’t.

I’ll never be able to.

So instead, I turn Luke.

“Get me out of here.” I wipe my face.

Luke nods, his hand dropping to my lower back as he nudges me into motion. Heartbroken, I follow Luke out of the school, Will’s eyes burning into the back my skull.

It’s past five by the time Luke’s car slows down in front of my house. The day flew by, although I wish I could’ve skipped it altogether. The second I climbed into Luke’s car, I burst out crying—and I mean the humiliating, ugly crying I usually reserve for the privacy of my bedroom.

I hated being vulnerable in front of him, but Luke, being the supportive sweetheart that he is, made me feel comfortable. He was beyond understanding when I told him about Zoey’s betrayal. And, to my greatest relief, he didn’t once make a move or flirt with me. I think he finally realized we’re better off as friends.

I almost let myself forget, driving around town with him, why I skipped school for the first time in my entire life. Scratch that—I didn’t skip school. Not really. Zoey may be a bitch, but she isn’t worth getting detention over. I told my mom I was still a mess over my dad—which isn’t completely false—and I needed a personal day.

She agreed to call the school under one condition: that I be home for dinner tonight. My dear brother is finally returning from his “let’s hide from my mom that I got beat up” vacation, and she wants us all together for one meal.

I caved. It’s not like I have anywhere else to go anyway. Zoey’s place is no longer an option, and Morgan… God, I can’t even imagine what bullshit Zoey must’ve spewed to her today. I wanted to text her this morning, but after I called my mom, I powered off my phone, in desperate need of a break.

“So, William Martins, huh?” Luke’s voice brings me back.

I inwardly curse.

How did he find out?

“What about him?” I play dumb.

“Something going on between you two?”

I unbuckle my seat belt. “No, why?”

“I don’t know, it’s just… This morning in the hall, he seemed pretty damn desperate to talk to you.”

I snatch my backpack at my feet.

“Not to mention he looked at me like he wanted to break every bone in my body for touching you, but hey, that’s just a detail.”

I laugh.

“Believe me, he is not my boyfriend.”

“But you want him to be, don’t you?”