Rayne wrote about kissing Nox in her notebook during English. She wrote about running her fingers through his hair in Algebra. In Spanish, Rayne wrote about pulling him down on top of her and—

Muy caliente.

She’d spent the entire day in a haze of hormones and curiosity. This was normal, surely. But… So very wrong.

It was better than facing reality.

Sagan sat with Justin and the other academic, athletic overachieving crowd at lunch. Rayne had never seen Sagan wear sweats outside of practice, but there she was, covered head to toe in silver and navy. No skin showing. No vibrant makeup—Hell, no makeup at all. Even her hair was flat and lifeless. Sagan looked scooped out, and that’s about how Rayne felt, separated from her all day.

From way over here, Rayne heard Stacia, the oldest girl at Sagan’s table, ask with ill-disguised disgust, “Why did you bring your own lunch? That’s so weird.”

Cecily, the youngest girl, copied their leader. “Yeah. Like… who eats steamed vegetables?”

Blond-haired and dark blue-eyed Lucy, twisted the curly ends of her hair around a finger, saying, “It looks pretty healthy to me.”

Justin shot Lucy a glare until she withered and shrank. Then he grabbed Sagan by the arm to lift her. “C’mon. Let’s get you in the lunch line. You need to put on some weight.”

To Rayne’s revulsion, to her heartache, Sagan complied without even the slightest protest.

“What’s her problem?” Tameka sat down beside Rayne and took out her lunch—grilled fish and steamed vegetables—same as Rayne. Only unlike Rayne, Tameka was actually eating her food.

The smell of it turned Rayne’s stomach.

Across from them, Kyle asked, “Are you all right?”

Beside him, Nikki finished a bite of her baked chicken with a dry swallow to add, “Did something happen?”

Raw and overexposed, Rayne looked away from the concern in her friends’ eyes. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

The kind, wonderful people surrounding Rayne dropped the subject and started discussing weapons.

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Kyle proudly admitted, “I’m all right with a quarterstaff, but I prefer projectiles.”

Tameka preened, “Xelan said I was a natural with a rope dart. He’ll let me upgrade to a chain one, soon. What about you, Nikki?”

The dishwater blond girl ducked her eyes shyly. “Well, I’m still learning blades, but we’re moving onto swords this week.”

When they glanced at Rayne for her input, there was no pressure or any forced expectations. They would simply let her fill in the silence if she was ready, and Rayne knew it. But her head… Her heart…

“I need some air.”

Rayne didn’t wait for them to acknowledge her statement or offer to come with. She burst outside the cafeteria and into the back lot, gulping the fresh March breeze. A weight on her chest made it hard to breathe, and her stomach somersaulted over the breakfast Rayne’s mother had forced her to eat.

Because now Rayne knew an important truth. An ugly one at that.

Rayne could only be herself with Nox.

Tears brimmed her lashes, threatening her mascara as Rayne came to accept this harsh new reality. Nox understood what she was completely, and he would never tell Rayne she was wrong for feeling this way. True, he would simply punch her and carry on per usual, but there was something to be said for feeling comfortable with ‘usual.’

“Rayne.”

Oh, this would hurt.

Trembling with this latest emotional crisis, Rayne turned and faced Sagan. Rayne swallowed, but still couldn’t find the words to speak.

Sagan took a step toward Rayne, but stopped as if she’d thought better of it. It was so strange for the girl putting them through this bullshit to look equally destroyed by it. Her voice even shook with it. “I’m sorry, Rayne.”

Rayne almost laughed. It seemed like the correct response to how insane her life had become. “I still don’t understand ‘why?’ Why choose ‘normal’ over me?”

Sagan winced. “It’s not like that—”

“We don’t hang out with the freaks.”

Stacia.

Sagan whirled to find the older girl behind her, arms crossed in disdain. Cecily mimicked her stern stance a second later, as if she’d just remembered her role as a copycat. Lucy stared at the scene as if considering her place in it, curious and undecided.

Rayne expected Sagan to defend her, to tell them she wasn’t a freak.

Instead, Sagan said, “Sorry. I just wanted to get something back from Rayne.”

Lucy murmured, “Justin won’t like it,” which prompted Stacia to agree.

“Don’t waste anymore time. Get what you came here to get, and we’ll walk you back inside.”

“Make sure it’s the last time,” Cecily added for good minion measure.

Rayne couldn’t help herself. She gaped at this bizarre scenario. Especially as Sagan crossed the schoolyard and threw her arms around Rayne.

As the trio of Justin groupies gasped and scowled, Sagan whispered into Rayne’s ear, “Please, forgive me.” When she pulled away, the color had drained from her face, and icy resignation clouded her violet eyes.

Whatever was happening here had cost Sagan, dearly.

Before Rayne could respond or hug back or drag Sagan off with her, her best friend turned and marched back inside like she was headed for the gallows. Stacia and Cecily sneered at Rayne before following Sagan, but Lucy stayed and measured her.

What was Lucy seeing?

Rayne had no idea. The girl eventually went back inside, leaving Rayne alone in the most off-kilter day of her life.

She actually looked forward to seeing Nox tonight.