I shrug. “She was in love with him and she knew it was the only way. Admittedly, he probably scared the bejesus out of her, but she took a chance on her man.”

He grunts. “Really? No one wanted them to be together. None of the gods approved. Who’d love the king of the underworld?”

“The right person.”

He inhales.

Jolena walks past our table and gives Knox a withering look, and I pause.

That black eye…hmmm.

“Your eye has to hurt. It’s like it’s sentient, like it might step right off your face and tell a story. If it did, I’d ask it why the hell Knox Grayson lost control the night of Chance’s party.”

His eyes flare at me.

“Fine. I can tell you’re clamming up as usual. Let’s discuss the fight you obviously got in. I saw my mom with a couple of shiners, you know. Tyler’s dad, Cooper, was a real winner—no job, on drugs, angry. Once, he had her pinned against the wall while he smacked her face. One side. The other. Back and forth. Red welts. Her feet dangled right off the floor, just like in the movies—can you believe it? Vodka bottles rolling—geeze, always with the dang vodka. He looked over his shoulder at me and said, ‘Leave or you’re next.’ I ran.” My chest rises rapidly at my admission.

He leans in. “Where did you go?”

“I didn’t come home for three days. Went to my inner-city school, ate lunch, and went to the tents at night. There were always open ones I could crawl in and no one would notice, plus it was spring and the weather was nice.”

He scowls. “Shit, Ava. Under the bridge? Anything could have happened to you! Why didn’t you go to the police?”

“Rich kid, please. You don’t get it. If I went to the cops, they’d call social services and put me in another foster home. No thanks. I’ll take the devil I know any day.”

A long exhalation comes from him and I see his hands clench. “What happened when you went back?”

Shrugging, I say, “They were fine, all kissy-kissy. She was pregnant and I was just sticking around for my little brother to arrive anyway.” I pause. “Sometimes I wonder if she’s still alive.”

“What about your dad?” His eyes search my face.

“Ha. He was the lottery winner. He left Mama before I was ever born. Last I heard, he worked on an oil rig in the Gulf.”

A brief frown flits over his face, then it softens, his lips parting.

“I don’t want you to feel sorry for me, Knox. I have Tyler. He’s mine. He’s everything.” I touch my locket and his eyes follow the movement, his gaze drifting over me until I feel flushed, until surely he can see I’m not thinking about anything but him and how he makes me want to tear off his mask—

I clear my throat. “You really should put some ice on that, or a steak or something. Don’t you have a minion who will run to get you whatever you want? Tylenol? Blowjob?”

His lips twitch.

“Did you get in a tussle over a girl? Doesn’t seem like your style, to be honest. You keep tight control on your emotions—that is, unless you’re under the bleachers.” I flash him a grin.

He reddens but gives me an amused smirk.

Piper dashes over, pushing her cute glasses up on her nose, and I give her a surprised look, so caught up in Knox that I realize I’m barely aware of anyone else in class. She gives me a hug, and some of the dread from walking through the entrance today fades away. “Girlfriend, the dorm news is so awesome! Score! You’re only five minutes from me now! Party time. We can study together too!” She does a little fist pump in the air. She looks over her shoulder when Dane walks in and takes his seat at their table. “Oh, great. My pompous partner is here. He is so…ugh. Gotta go. I’ll come by tonight and we’ll celebrate with Mountain Dew and Taco Bell—your favorite, right? I’ll bring them. Talk later, ’kay?”

And then she’s bouncing away and plopping down in her seat next to him.

He gives me a long look. “Her parents are the ones who took you to the hospital, right?”

How…

He smirks. “Your mouth is open.”

I close my lips. “You’re so weird. I never thought you ever paid any attention to my comings and goings. Also I never told anyone that. Maybe she did?” I eye him warily.

“No. I asked about you once. She told me to jump off a building and stab myself on the way down.”

“Sounds like her—cute but sassy.” I look back at Piper. She’s glaring at Dane, and I distinctly hear her say, “Just watch the stupid movie already, jockass. Yes, the spider dies. I’m sorry you can’t handle it! God, you are such a baby.”

Dane just looks at her like she’s an alien. I bet he’s never even talked to her at Camden, and now he’s stuck.

I turn back, laughing a little.

“I’m glad she’s your friend,” Knox murmurs.

“Even with Piper, I feel so weird here, like I’m on the outside looking in. I’m not the same anymore.”

He stills and I tense up.

Gah, why am I blabbing so much? I just can’t seem to stop.

“But you…you rule the school,” I say. “Girls adore you. Guys are envious. Everyone wants to be next to you, wants to bask in your glory. You’re never lonely. Praise be.”

“Mmmm.”

Oh my God, his noncommittal answers are driving me up the freaking wall!

Mrs. White still hasn’t started class yet. I wish she would so I’d shut up.

“So tell me about the shiner,” I say.

He lets out a heavy sigh and leans in closer, closer, until I can smell his ocean scent.

“Someone pissed me off.”

“Obviously, but who would dare?” I make a pretend gasp and clutch my heart.

He huffs out a laugh. “You keep surprising me, Tulip.”

I’m about to comment—with what, I don’t know, but I do know I enjoy sparring with him—when Mrs. White dims the lights and begins The Wizard of Oz.

“Today we’re going to watch an iconic movie, and I want you to take notes on the metaphors and symbolism you see…” I tune her out, having a hard time concentrating, my mind still on Knox.

He passes me a note, his handwriting neat and careful. He didn’t use script writing, though, choosing to print the letters. We still on to watch Dirty Dancing soon?

I glance up to make sure Mrs. White isn’t looking; she’s settled in at her desk and looking over a textbook.

Sure. Nine good? Tomorrow? We can use FaceTime if we want to talk while it’s playing? Or we can just chat after it’s over? I don’t care. I slide the note back over to him.

Hmmm…if you don’t care, why don’t we just watch it together? I think that would be easier than trying to FaceTime. That way we can bounce ideas around for the essay and take notes. More organic. You can come to my house. Suzy will be there if you want a chaperone. She’s kind of our nanny/manager.

I read it over twice to make sure I didn’t misunderstand him.

Cold and Evil wants to watch it together? With his nanny? Good Lord. He still has one? I smirk. And at his house? I assumed we’d watch separately and then figure it out later. That’s what we agreed to.