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Zaslow didn’t seem convinced, but she didn’t dismiss his explanation entirely "Miss Tierney said that the two of you do spend soether outside of school"

Skye didn’t have as s, unfortunately--she’d cracked a little--but he knehat she must have told Zaslow It was as clear as if she’d whispered it into his ear "We both enjoy riding, so we inevitably end up running into each other on the trail I’ve even rented one of her stable’s horses a few tier when laced with the truth "You o Well, ically, too, and I knohat it’s like to need sohtly over the line, he could see Zasloas considering the idea that he was being honest "You realize how easily that could be h his hair, allowing the curls to show; the younger he looked at the moment, the better "I’uess I’ out where to draw the boundaries But I’d never abuse her trust" Yours, sure I’ht now Balthazar didn’t like that, but he knew better than to attempt to share any part of the truth

"She said your friendship was just that Friendship" Zaslow sighed "I’ dairl thinks the world of you, which is why you need to back off If you don’t, you’re going to have a brokenhearted teenage girl on your hands at best, a lawsuit by her parents against the school district at worst"

"Never," Balthazar said He wasn’t sure exactly what her parents would be able to sue him for but devoutly hoped never to learn

Zaslow looked o in and talk with the counselor for a while She’s ready for you, and she’ll be dealing with Skye for the next feeeks I just need to be able to write this up to the satisfaction of Skye’s parents, and to clear your record so you won’t have any trouble getting hired in this state again"

How quickly could he get that over with? An hour, Balthazar figured Skye was set home immediately and stay there until he caood idea"

"And Iforward over her desk "We don’t need a situation on our hands, and we don’t need gossip Stay away fro only of how quickly he could get to her again

Chapter Twenty-four

IT’S BEEN SUGGESTED THAT YOUR RELATIONSHIP with Mr More may be inappropriate for that of a teacher and student

Principal Zaslow had been so calm when she spoke--kindly, even--but Skye still felt like she wanted to throw up Balthazar was only the second guy she’d ever been with, and to have the principal asking questions about it like it was soross or dirty--it popped the happy bubble she’d been in since Friday night, and all those feelings of being trapped on every side were rushing back

Skye’s phone rang as she crossed the quad, gravel crunching under her feet Had to be her parents--though her phone didn’t recognize the nu fro "Hello?"

"Why, hello there," Redgrave said "A at a bad tiet this number?"

"You put it in the public information on your Facebook profile Which is an enor to do, by the way Everyone knows there are all sorts of predators on the internet" Even over the phone, it was obvious he was s if you’d come to any final answer forto do with you" Her voice shook, and she wished it didn’t

"But now that you knohat’s at stake--what your alternatives really are--I was hoping you’d have changed your ether"

"Both alternatives have raveto happen one way or the other You’ve chosen the other So be it See you soon, my dear"

The call disconnected Skye stuffed her phone in her bag and dashed toward the nearest bathroom She definitely needed to rinse her face off with cold water; she ht need a little while to cry alone in a stall

See you soon She could just irave’s face as he said it Never had she needed Balthazar’s presence so badly Forget the protection he offered--she only wanted him to wrap his aro to him now For at least a couple of hours, she’d have to brave it on her own

As she walked into the bathroo down her options: Okay, I can take the bus hoet insidehome early--and, hey, I can use this, ossip is why I want to leave school Why I have to So Balthazar and I can still get out of here in a few days--

Then Skye realized that somebody else was in the bathroo up her blush in the mirrors