“More Medina bullshit,” Maxx growls out, and we all pause as the bell rings to signal the end of lunch. “They know Parrish and Chas are like this.” He crosses his fingers together and then shakes his head. “Seems like a big risk to me—especially considering the guys have left you alone this whole time. Now they’re on the attack? The very day that Parrish is supposed to return to school?”
“Unless we’re thinking of these problems as originating from one source,” I suggest, bending down to grab my book bag and cringing at the pain that ripples through my body. All three boys look like they’re about to leap on me and carry me off for cuddles and hot tea or some shit. I ignore them, standing up straight and letting out a long exhale. Doing well on my exams means seeing Maxine; I won’t allow anything to stop me from doing that—not even this. “But maybe we ought to consider opposing forces?”
“Meaning what, exactly?” Parrish queries, but I don’t know yet. I’m just not fucking sure.
“No idea,” I admit, glancing back at Chasm. He pushes up from the wall, takes a tentative step, and then exhales sharply. It hurts, but he’ll survive. Same with me.
But I’m not just going to let this go; I can’t.
Does Justin know that? Did he arrange this? Or is it something more than that?
“Let’s stay together, walk each other to class one by one, and then Maxx can wait for us in the library or something?” I give him a hopeful smile that he returns with a reluctant one of his own.
“My visitor’s pass is good all week; Ms. Miyamoto thinks Parrish needs emotional support right now.”
“Lucky me,” Parrish grumbles, taking my hand as Maxx hauls Chas’ arm over his shoulder for support, and we head out the door.
“After school,” I start, but Chasm’s already scoffing and scowling at me. He knows before I even think up a clever euphemism what I’m trying to say here. Lumen. Her note. The hedge maze. Because I haven’t forgotten about my girlfriends just yet.
“No, Little Sister. Absolutely not. You have nothing important to do after school except go home.”
But I do. Lumen gave me a note in secret which means one thing: she knows she’s being watched.
That’s a telling clue all on its own, now isn’t it?
It’s hard to focus during my exam—especially after accepting a dress code violation with grace—but that’s not unexpected. I got my ass kicked; I’m cut up all over; my naked form might be splashed across the internet. I’m too afraid to look; I don’t want to see. For now, I just have to focus on this.
If I need to score well on these tests to see my sister, then that’s what I’m damn well going to do.
During break, I stay in the classroom and text the boys—just not about the possibility of me being nude online. I don’t want to know until after I’m done with this damn test. Instead, we keep our conversation absurdly light, almost fluffy.
We could all use a bit of fluffy right now.
After I finish my test, I wait just inside the classroom for Maxx. He’s been in the library for hours now, but he appears within minutes of me sending a quick text his way. The sight of his large, muscular form filling the doorway brings me peace.
It occurs to me that he’s not anymore immune to being attacked by the students here than anyone else—especially since his family isn’t rich. But I guess the bulging biceps and the dangerous glint in his eye is enough protection for now.
“How did it go?” he asks, and I shrug, wince, remind myself not to shrug for a while.
“It went well … I think.” I bite my lip as we approach Chasm’s classroom. It’s next door to Parrish’s, thankfully, so it’s a one-stop boy shop.
“You make me proud, naekkeo?” Chasm asks as he joins us, and then he, too, cringes slightly, glancing over at Parrish. The Prince of Sloths sighs heavily.
“You’re annoying me, but you also got beat up today. Don’t test my good will.” Parrish softens the words with the barest hint of a smile, and then all the boys come to a halt as I continue down the hall when we should rightfully hook a turn toward the parking garage. “Where on earth do you think you’re going?”
“Firstly, Chas, I really do hope I made you proud. Also … I have something to do before we leave.”
Maxx gives me a harsh look because he knows exactly what it is that I’m up to. Chas and Parrish, too.
Chasm frowns hard, moves down to his locker, and opens it up. I dump my book bag—with both phones tucked into it—inside. The boys do the same, and I take off toward the hedge maze.
