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"The question is why you presu about my family - or me - at all?"

Luce felt her sto: Stalker Alert flash in Daniel's alarain

"D" Roland came up from behind them and put his hand on Daniel's T-shirt-clad shoulder "You want to stick around to see if there's another yearlong lecture, or are we going to roll?"

"Yeah," Daniel said softly, giving Luce a final sideways glance "Let's get out of here"

Of course - obviously - she should have bolted several e any details of Daniel's file A sed the conversation, or changed the subject to so mouth shut

Chapter Ten

WHERE THERE'S SMOKE

"What are you waiting for?" Penn asked barely a second after Daniel had left with Roland "Let's go"

She tugged on Luce's hand

"Go where?" Luce asked Her heart was still pounding from the conversation with Daniel - and fro The shape his sculpted shoulders cut out in the hall seeer than Daniel hihtly on the side of Luce's head "Hello? The library, like I said in my note " She took in Luce's blank expression "You didn't get either one of , frustrated "But I handed them to Todd to pass to Caed his way in front of Penn and presented Luce with two folded scraps of paper held between his index and er

"Give me a break Did your horse die of exhaustion on the road?" Penn huffed, snagging the notes "I gave you those like an hour ago What took so long? You didn't read them - "

"Of course not" Cam pressed a hand to his broad chest, offended He wore a thick black ring on his ot in trouble for passing notes with Molly - "

"I was not passing notes with Molly - "

"Regardless," Ca the notes back out of Penn's hand and delivering the out for your best interests Waiting for the right opportunity"

"Well, thank you" Luce tucked the notes into her pocket and gave Penn a what-are-ya-gonna-do shrug

"Speaking of waiting for the right time," he said, "I was out the other day and saw this" He produced a small red velvet jewelry box and held it open for Luce to see

Penn nudged around Luce's shoulder so she could get a look

Inside, a thin gold chain held a small circular pendant with a carved line down its middle and a small serpent's head at the tip

Luce looked up at hi fun of her?

He touched the pendant "I thought, after the other dayI wanted to help you face your fear," he said, sounding alht not accept Should she accept? "Only kidding I just liked it It's unique, it reminded me of you"

It was unique And very beautiful, and it ely unworthy

"You went shopping?" she found herself asking, because it was easier to discuss how Cam had left caht the point of reform school is that we're all stuck here"

Cahtly and smiled with his eyes "There are ways," he said quietly "I'll show you soht?"

"Ca his shoulder A thin section at the front of her hair was French-braided and pinned behind her ear, like a perfect little headband Luce stared at it jealously

"I need your help setting up," Gabbe purred

Luce looked around and realized they were the only four people left in the classroo a little party inher chin into Caht?"

Gabbe, whose loss, and whose blond hair never failed to swoosh right in the second a guy started talking to Luce Even though Daniel had said there was nothing going on between theirl

Then again, you didn't have to like soo to her party, especially when certain other people you did like would probably be there

Or should she take Ca they sneak out? Only yesterday, a rumor had flown around the classrooue-pierced couple, didn't show up for Miss Sophia's class Apparently, they'd tried to leave ca - and now they were in some type of solitary confinement whose location even Penn didn't know about

The weirdest part was, Miss Sophia - who usually had no tolerance for whispering - hadn't shut theher lesson It was aline the worst possible punish any of their dictatorial rules

Luce sed, looking up at Ca Gabbe and Penn entirely "How about it, kid?" he asked, sounding so charot all about what had happened to Jules and Phillip

"Sorry" Penn butted in, answering for both of the Luce away by the elbow "But we have other plans"

Caure out where she'd co Luce feel like a better, cooler version of herself And she had a way of crossing his path right after Daniel had made her feel exactly the opposite But Gabbe was still hovering beside hier, so finally Luce just waved the hand still clutching Caift "Um,Cam and Gabbe confused in the classrooustine It felt creepy to be alone in the dark building so late, and Luce could tell from the hurried slap of Penn's sandals on the stairs in front of her that she felt it, too