He headed to the back of the church, and my heart skipped a beat as I watched him enter the confessional, the door to the left of the priest’s chamber to make his confession.

Only it wasn’t a priest in there. I snorted. Oh, shit.

I shook my head and opened the door, taking the hidden steps up to The Carfax Room. Not sure what she was up to, but who was I to ruin her fun? I had my own problems.

Closing the door, I looked around the room—seeing everything exactly as I’d left it. The bed still held my dent from when I’d laid there yesterday after escaping Martin, and all the old makeup still laid about the floor in front of the mirror propped up underneath the stained-glass window.

Walking over, I hung the dress up on a rafter and smoothed it out, looking at it with a flutter in my stomach, remembering last night.

Who else had worn it before me? Did their night beat mine?

Taking off my bag, I worked quickly, picking up the makeup, fixing the bed, and stuffing my clothes from yesterday into my school bag. My phone laid on the bedside table, and I took it, turning it on.

Fourteen percent.

The battery was almost dead, and I had umpteen calls from Martin.

And a message from Will. I opened it.

Morning! Smile.

Or don’t. It’s completely your choice. Don’t let a guy tell you you’re prettier when you do. You don’t need to be pretty for anyone. Your value does not rely on my opinion. Damn the patriarchy.

I laughed, shaking hard and my eyes watering. What a moron.

The smile slowly fell, though, knowing he was too good to keep. I sure liked him, though.

So much it hurt.

I typed a message to Martin, letting him know I’d be home right after school and I’d have dinner ready. Heading to class now.

Before I left the room, I walked to the window, peering through a wedge of clear glass and seeing two boys crossing the street to their cars.

Damon to his BMW and Kai to his Jeep Wrangler. Damon was in here this morning, too?

I kind of wondered what happened with Kai and that girl in the confessional, but I was going to be late if I didn’t hurry.

I sighed, watching them take off and head toward school. It was Devil’s Night and time to face the music, I guess.

I left the room, locking the door behind me.

• • •

“Devil’s Night!” someone screamed, racing down the halls and leaping into the air to snatch the Homecoming banner hanging over the hallway.

I gripped the strap of my bag in both hands, the excitement in the air raising the hair on my arms.

“Man, back off!” a girl yelled.

I turned my head to see Rika Fane pushing some guy away who had crashed into Winter Ashby. She just laughed, holding on to Erika’s arm as they scurried away.

“Did you see it?” Tabitha Schultz whispered to her friends as I passed. “David and I drove past this morning. It’s a mess!”

I faltered in my steps, but I kept going.

Was she talking about the crypt? My stomach churned, suddenly feeling guilty.

But…I wasn’t sad. I was sorry for the McClanahans, but not for my brother.

Please just let me get away with it.

I turned, heading into first period, but a hand swiped under my tie, flipping it up.

Will circled in front of me, a grin he couldn’t contain playing on his lips as he came down, ready to kiss me.

I nudged him away, making sure the classroom was empty. “Stop it.”

He grabbed my tie, pulling me in. “I can’t.”

My thighs warmed, and the breath from his mouth tickled my lips.

I licked mine, taking a deep breath and tasting him.

“It was just once.” I walked around him, toward a desk. “That’s what we agreed to.”

“I don’t remember that conversation. Was I present for it?”

I arched an eyebrow, seeing other students enter the room as I set my bag on the floor next to a chair.

He leaned down, his words tickling the hair by my ear. “It’s not enough,” he said in a low voice. “Not even nearly enough. All I think about now is how I want last night all over again, but this time in my car, in my bed, in your bed, in the shower, outside…”

I exhaled, sweat cooling my forehead. Whipping around, I put a hand on his stomach, keeping him at bay.

“And you want it, too,” he taunted, fisting my tie, “or you wouldn’t be carrying me with you.”

Yeah, I was wearing his tie. So what?

Have a little foresight. Come on. We liked each other. I loved last night, and I hoped he did, too, but life was more complicated than that. We wouldn’t make it, and at our age, it was ridiculous to expect anything more.

I’d sneak out a few more times, we’d have fun, someone would fall in love, and then we’d both fall apart as he got tired of all the things I couldn’t do and constantly worried about helping me fit in.

He would lose nothing.

“Everything is a game to you,” I said, about to slide into my seat.

But he took me and pulled me down into his lap as he sat next to my desk. “Not everything.”

I pushed against him, seeing Michael stare at us as he took his seat in front of Will, turning just in time to hide his shitty-ass grin.

“Will,” I muttered, pleading.

He took my jaw softly in his hand, giving me pause.

“I need to talk to you,” he said, his eyes serious now. “The bruises on your back. Did you have an accident or—”

I wrenched my eyes away, seeing Townsend walk in. “It’s time for class.”

I pushed out of his lap, but he pulled me back.

“I need to talk to you,” he gritted out, “and it’s not waiting.”

I swatted at him, my palm landing against his neck, and I spotted all the hickeys I left last night. Or maybe one of them was still from the theater. I couldn’t remember.

My blood raced, seeing the evidence of how different I was in the dark.

God, what did he do to me?

He searched my eyes, whispering, “Do you like me, Em?”

Needles instantly pricked my throat. I gazed at him, not wanting to answer the question but not wanting to lie, either. I just wanted to kiss him.

I inched in, his eyes dropping to my mouth as he wrapped his arms around my waist.

“Mr. Townsend?” Kincaid called over the intercom.

I sucked in a breath, stopping and turning my head to the teacher.

“Yes?” he answered.

I jumped out of Will’s lap and slid into my own seat.

“Would you be so kind as to send the following students to my office when they arrive, please?” Kincaid asked. “Michael Crist, Damon Torrance, Kai Mori, and William Grayson. Thank you.”

“Ohhhhh,” everyone in the class roared.

My pulse jumped, and I looked over at Will as Damon sighed and the other two rose from their seats.

He shook his head, trying to calm me. The crypt. I didn’t even think about that. Everyone would assume it was the Horsemen. Was that why Kincaid was calling them up?

“Take your bags and books with you, just in case,” Townsend told them.

Just in case of what? Expulsion? Arrest?

They trailed in a line across the front of the classroom, toward the door, every single one turning their heads and eyeing me.