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He tried to convince himself that this was true, but he knew in his heart that he was bordering on obsessive and stalker Neither of those were things he had ever thought he could be It was a brutal realization to know that one girl could nize But then again, it had been another girl that had coed him in a way he had never expected before

But Cassie was an exceptional girl, she was a unicorn, he realized with a start as she reeined find, but one that he was never going to release again She even reolden hair, and bright violet flecked eyes

Her sirls by her side He had only known her for a few days, but he had come to realize that she was never alone There was always so fact, especially when she was so giving of her tinored and avoided the hell out of hi in like a et He walked briskly, with a stride that was not to be deterred Devon’s senses went on high alert; he stiffened as he sensed an undercurrent of anger and ih the boy He arrived at Cassie’s side, touching her elbow to grab her attention

She turned slowly toward hihtly as she took a sh Devon as Mark ht as an intihtly over her Cassie’s eyes narrowed fiercely, her shoulders straightened as she tilted her chin up proudly Though Devon was ith and defiance, he also wished that she would simply back away He sensed an instability and anxiety within Mark that worried him, and he knew that the boy would snap if pushed too hard And Cassie see him away

Devon rose to his feet, with every intention of intervening Her safety was his number one concern, and around Mark, he knew that she was not safe

Chris appeared at her side suddenly, using his shoulder to push slightly past Mark Chris shtly at Mark, but there was tension in his solid frame, and no sparkle in his sapphire eyes He spoke briefly to Mark for aCassie further back Cassie did not look pleased to be pushed out of the way

Chris finally h Mark glared after thelass doors at the back of the cafeteria He suddenly recalled Melissa’s words on his first day The senior’s sat outside when it was nice out Until now, he had not noticed that a fair airls, and they would not leave his side as long as he reht now, they would only follow The last thing he wanted was a gaggle of giggling teens following him around while he tried to talk with Cassie He watched her as she ht in her hands, her head held iht He could feel the stress radiating frohout

He also felt the snapping point when she lost the struggle and her head turned slowly toward hi bolt as it seared through hih his dried veins and caused his deadened heart to vibrate with pulsing electricity

She hesitated briefly, her eyes warhtly; a wave of heat flooded her porcelain cheeks Her long dark lashes swept swiftly down, shadowing her startling eyes as she bowed her head Her golden hair fell forward, hiding her face as she hurried on She dropped her sunglasses back into place before following Chris outside

Disappointer sparked as he caught sight of Mark He was staring after Cassie, annoyance and irritation radiating fro and slinking over to a table packed with boys just as large and old jackets with a white horse on the back of the the same coats, but they seemed to think that the jackets were special as none of the boys were taking theh the cafeteria was hot Devon shook his head, not understanding hue custo to drive hi out exactly why he was so drawn to Cassie

And thatcloser to her

He turned back to Marcy, deciding to use her clinginess to his advantage for a change "What do you know about Cassie?"

Marcy was slightly taken aback as she leaned away fro fiercely He should have taken a different approach, he realized belatedly, as he recognized her jealousy and anger instantly "Why?"

Devon shrugged negligently Leaning closer to Marcy, he placed his hand briefly upon her ar to soothe her "I am simply curious; Mark seehtly, but her eyes still radiated distrust "He’s liked her for awhile, but she just strings hi"

Devon quirked an eyebrow, tension and anger radiated fro wave of jealousy He wondered if it had been Mark, or Chris, that she had liked before he had walked into this school and she had becoht she and Chris were just friends"

Marcy shrugged, her eyes darkened as her nose scrunched slightly "That’s what they say, but I doubt it There is soe about that relationship, neither one of them really date anyone else" Her bitter tone confirmed the fact that it had been Chris she liked

"Come on Marcy, you know they’re just friends," Kara interjected, leaning forward as she rested her chin on her hands

"He sleeps in her room Kara," Marcy retorted sharply "You can’t tellhas ever happened between them!"

Kara shook her head as she rolled her eyes She turned toward Devon, her pretty face softening from irritation to kindness "They’ve been friends since they were little Cassie’s parents, and Chris’s dad, were killed in the same car accident when they were only a year old" Devon kept his shock over this revelation hidden as Kara turned narrowed eyes on Marcy "So yes, I believe that nothing has happened between them"

Marcy rolled her eyes but tried to keep her irritation hidden from Devon She failed miserably "Cassie’s parents are dead?"

Kara nodded; sadness crept over her delicate features "Yes, and so are Melissa’s"

Devon started in surprise The three of the at least one It was a strange coincidence, but it also explained the strong bond that they seeh they were all popular, always surrounded by people, yet they still remained aloof, separate froether they were like one unit A unit that was able to communicate without a word, but with a simple look or a touch

He had been ahtness of their bond But the fact that they had all experienced the loss of a parent explained the closeness they shared Unwillingly his gaze went to the s, but he could not see Cassie a and ht out and a pickup ga