I collapse onto the ground, not caring about the dirt smearing against my face.
Blaze follows, pulling me against his body despite how hot and sticky we both are.
“You’re the worst,” I whisper contentedly.
“Feel free to drop out of school if you think that,” Blaze answers. His hand trails down to my jeans, and he fumbles with the pockets. The only thing he finds is my phone, which he tosses onto the dirt next to me. “Where is it?” he demands.
“Where’s what? Your dignity?” I roll away from him and grab my jeans and panties so I can pull them up. “You’ll have to ask yourself that.” I grab my phone and backpack and jog away from him, back to the public path.
“Pandora!” Blaze shouts, but he has to fumble with his own pants.
A grimace spreads across my lips. I got swept up in Blaze, even though he might be the man who murdered Rachel.
I need more information.
I’ll need to remind River that he can’t fail the pledging process. We need to know more about that frat.
11
PANDORA
I go back for my charm a few hours later, and thankfully it’s exactly where I’d tossed it.
I don’t know what I would have done if it was gone entirely. Probably stabbed Blaze properly, revenge and mission be damned.
My charm is irreplaceable. One of a kind.
I stroke the grooves of my charm. Three pieces, held together with wire, warm and smooth after so many months of me clutching it.
My phone buzzes, and I put the charm away so I can check the text I received.
Cry Me A
Asch says they’ll be accepting my bid. Pledging starts on Saturday.
I grin.
Pandora
Told you! You fit right in with those frat douches.
It takes a few secondsfor River to respond.
Cry Me A
So I’m a frat douche now?
I smile at the phone. I’m ready to type up a witty response, or if not witty, at least something that will annoy River, when I spot a familiar face sitting on the bench outside the greenhouse.
It’s Carly, wearing jeans and a loose sweater that looks way too warm for the weather. Her thick dark hair is pulled into a messy ponytail, and she’s staring at something in her lap, her cheeks blotchy.
She’s definitely crying.
I tuck the phone away and look around. The other students are going about their own business, not a single one of them stopping to look at Carly.
I approach her and sit down next to her. She startles and pulls her paper closer to herself.
“Sorry,” Carly mumbles. She tries to scoot away, but I reach out for her hand. She immediately freezes, then looks up at me. “You!”
