I raise a finger in warning. “Fuck off,” I say to him, and he snaps his teeth at me, making me pull my hand back immediately.

Brighton and Christina both giggle behind me, and I glower at them. They pointedly look away but keep side-eyeing me in a way that makes me want to scream.

“All of you deserve better than whatever all this—” I gesture to all of Emmitt “—is.”

Emmitt takes a step closer, his arm brushing against mine. “What exactly is all this?”

I narrow my eyes at him. “Don’t make me stab you.”

“Kinky,” he says idly.

“You are incorrigible,” I say, pushing him away with one hand. He goes easily, but there’s an impish grin on his lips now. I swear to God, he’s making a game out of pissing me off. “Stay away from the underclassmen. In fact, stay away from everyone in film club.”

“Does that include you?” Emmitt asks, leaning a shoulder against the wall, his eyes dancing in amusement. Dickhead.

“It especially includes me,” I say, before turning back to the underclassmen. “Back to the front of the auditorium! Come on! We only have a few minutes left in the break.”

“Okay, Mom,” says Andie, a sophomore. She turns a cheeky smile on Emmitt. “Bye, Dad.”

“Andie,” I say sharply, but she’s running off with all the other freshmen, their laughter filling the room.

“Bye, dear!” Emmitt says, waving his fingers flirtatiously.

I jab my elbow into his ribs, grumbling under my breath, before following the underclassmen down the aisle.

I try not to look back, but my body betrays me anyway, and I meet Emmitt’s dark eyes as he winks.

Ugh.

16

The next day, I miss half the school day alongside all the other seniors for the Senior Movie Event. It’s one of the many events our school throws together every year in the spirit of celebrating our last year in high school. I think they must know most of us aren’t exactly paying attention in classes anyway, so skipping a few periods for a movie won’t affect any of our grades.

At least it’ll give Emmitt some insight into what a normal American high school is like. I don’t know if he’s really learned anything since coming here, but if this is what Firebrand Studios wants him to do, then I’m not going to be one to question it.

The school event makes it so I don’t have a chance to talk to Rosie in the morning. When I finally catch up to her, she seems to have all but forgotten the day before. She’s all sparkly eyes and soft smiles as she waves for me to join her in the back of the auditorium.

“Horrible choice,” she says, gesturing to the projector, where they’re booting up the live action version of The Lion King.