“You don’t need to worry about that because that’s not going to happen. I won’t let it.” He smiles and furthers himself from me to call a cab.
He comes back two minutes later.
“The cab will be here in five.”
I nod. His eyes flash.
“Hold on.”
He sprints to his room. I hear him move stuff around until he finds what he’s looking for. He walks back into the kitchen with…
Is he serious?
“I want you to have this.” He hands it to me.
I crinkle my nose. “Pepper spray?”
“Keep it with you at all times, okay?”
“Is it really that bad?”
He knows where I’m going with this. Are his fighters coming after me? Should I be worried?
“No, it’s just… you never know what could happen. Promise me you’ll carry it everywhere.”
I exhale. “Haze…”
“Winter, promise me.” His piercing pale eyes drill into mine.
“Okay. I promise.” I give in and go drop my new friend into my backpack. When I come back, Haze pulls me into his familiar arms, kissing my forehead and playing with my hair. He doesn’t want me to worry, but I can’t help it. He’s kidding himself if he thinks he can be with me and still lead them.
If there’s one thing that I learned about the street fight community… it’s that they’ll find out eventually.
They always do.
27
Disappearing Act
Marching down the crowded hall like a prisoner walking to their death, I try my best to seem somewhat excited that I’m going home.
I’m usually the first to squeal in joy when the bell rings, but strangely, I can’t even muster a smile. Today is Friday and I have nothing—and I mean nothing—to look forward to. I don’t have plans with the guys, I don’t have plans with Kass, and I especially don’t have plans with my boyfriend.
That would require having one.
As though this day isn’t bad enough already, I turn the corner and see her leaning against my locker. Bianca. I’ve been avoiding her at school for five days, and I’d say I’ve been pretty successful so far. At least, until now…
“What do you want?” I groan and attempt to access my locker, but she won’t budge.
“Don’t mind me. Just came to see the miracle woman up close.” She snorts and cocks her head to the side.
“You’ve seen me. Now, move.”
“You know he never let me spend the night. Never. Not once.” She twists her dirty-blonde hair around her finger and checks out her nails. I’m really not in the mood to hear her talk about Haze right now.
“Move,” I repeat, and she finally takes a hint.
“He never introduced me to any of his friends. He wouldn’t even allow me to be seen with him in public, can you believe it?”