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"That was a very interesting direction to take the scene," Mr Kimble says "But perhaps next time do it with a little e, Beetle walking unsteadily after her

"What was that all about?" Natalie whispers

I don’t like re her I’m a Haze dealer, but I can’t lie either, so I tell her the truth, including the fact I’

"I feel like such a jerk givingto help hi over the edge, as atch the play

"Ash, why do you deal Haze?" Natalie asks

"My dad and I need the money," I say

"Does he know you deal?"

I nod "He’s terrified I’ll get arrested, but we don’t have much choice If there were any other way for me to earn money, I’d take it, but there are no opportunities for me in this city"

Natalie looks at the copper band around my wrist "People like my mother have made sure of that"

"Does it bother you that I deal Haze?" I ask, covering the wristband

"Yes," she adood and the bad, the same way you’ve acceptedthe rafter until our fingertips touch It’s a s her hand in case anyone looks up at us

The lesson ends and the students hurry outside to play in the snow The air is crisp and cold, and the city feels at peace for the first tih and run around the town square, throwing snowballs at each other and hiding behind the three crosses The snow on the crosses has turned pink as it soaks up the dried blood stained into the wood It’s chilling watching students play beside the crosses, but that’s life in Black City Everywhere you turn you’re reminded of death, but you have to block it out, otherwise you couldn’t carry on living

A snowball srins sheepishly aters back like he’s been shot Natalie giggles I grab so trouble, Fisher," she warns, scooping up soht and are drenched in icy cold water within minutes, but none of us cares Day walks out of the school, her arms laden with library books, and rolls her eyes at us Beetle chucks a snowball at her, hitting her on the cheek with more force than I know hetheround Day’s library books fall everywhere while the contents of Natalie’s bag spill over the snow Other students have stopped their own games to watch

Beetle rushes over to help Day

"Leave me alone!" she yells, her cheek red and rahere the snow has stung her

"I’m sorryIIt was aat me "I bet you put Beetle up to this, Fisher You’re such a bad influence on everyone"

"Hey!" I object

"Don’t you dare say that about Ash," Beetle snaps

We’ve never heard him tell Day off before, and it surprises all of us

"Ash is uy He’s not a bad influence," he says

Day sniffs haughtily "Really? He got you addicted to Haze"

"No, he didn’t" He looks up at Day with shaotto weanin the prop roo me"

Day inhales sharply, then looks at y," Natalie says to Day

Day’s et about it," I mumble

Day swishes her ebony hair over her shoulder and strides away

"She really should’ve said sorry," Natalie says as I help gather the books and pencils that fell out of her satchel

A shadow falls over us Sebastian is silhouetted against the stor in his blond hair

"Get away fro Sebastian notices the chunks of snow onof white powder on Natalie’s

"He was helping me pick up my books, Sebastian," Natalie says quickly "Someone hit me with a snowball, and I fell over It was so silly"

It’s clear he’s trying to decide if he believes her or not Thankfully, he bends down and starts picking up the remainder of her schoolbooks

And that’s when I see it

A piece of torn paper fluttering on the snow beside Sebastian’s foot

My heart jackhaainst my chest Cold sweat breaks out on my brow Natalie looks alarmed; she’s seen it too Don’t let him notice it, don’t let him notice it, don’t let him notice it Sebastian shoves all the books back into Natalie’s satchel and hands it to her I exhale

"Thanks," she says

"Let’s go," he orders

He moves his foot, and that’s when he sees the scrap of paper by his boot

The world stops

Sebastian picks up the note, quickly scanning it

I s

Natalie’s hands are drawn into tight fists, trying to stop thereen eyes burning "I can’t stop thinking about you?"

Oh, fragg

She licks her lips, and I know she doesn’tlook Sebastian turns and studies me His fist clenches around the note

"It’s from this boy, Chris Thompson," Natalie says "He asked es It’s e I can’t breathe