For whatever reason, those are the two words that allow me to clue in that something isn’t right. I take in the way his eyes are darting in every direction, even though no one is paying attention to us.

“Mason,” I murmur. “Is everything okay?”

His frown deepens. “I don’t know. That’s what I need to talk to you about.”

“But you can’t talk about it here,” I clarify.

A look of irritation flashes across his features. “Meet me later tonight.”

My heartbeat stutters. “Where?”

Mason opens his mouth to speak again, but we’re joined by someone else, causing him to stand up straight, clamping it shut. I reluctantly look away in time to see Zoe sidling up next to us, looking determined.

“Allie,” she says, placing a gentle hand on my arm, and I’m instantly uncomfortable. “Are you free after school?”

“Um, I don’t know.”

“I’d really like to talk about what happened on Friday.”

At that, Mason looks my way curiously. Zoe seems to notice him for the first time, sizing him up with a calculated expression.

“Is that necessary?” I ask.

“Please?” She clasps her hands, attention returning to me. “Let’s go for coffee.”

The warning bell rings overhead, but Zoe doesn’t seem to mind, continuing to bat her eyelashes. Mason gives me one last meaningful look before turning to head down the hallway. It seems every time we’re about to have an actual conversation, we get interrupted somehow, and it’s starting to get on my nerves.

“Fine,” I give in, shoulders slumping.

“I’ll see you later,” Zoe says, touching my arm softly again, and I nod, hugging my books to my chest and watching as she walks away.

The end of the school day comes too quickly.

My classes didn’t prove to be enough of a distraction, and I ate lunch outside in the courtyard to avoid seeing Damien and the others. I wait for Zoe in the parking lot, standing next to her car. I already texted Audrey and told her I don’t need a ride today, but I really wish I hadn’t.

Sprinkles of rain land on my shoulders, and I pull the hood of my coat over my head, bouncing on the balls of my feet. Across the lot, Mason is heading to his car, and I think of his words to me this morning and the troubled look on his face.

Despite knowing whatever he wants to talk to me about must be something serious, the prospect of meeting him outside of school foolishly makes my stomach flutter.

Before I get too lost within my mind, Zoe exits the building, hurrying down the steps. She looks relieved when she sees me standing next to her car, and she pulls her keys out, unlocking it.

“Thanks for waiting,” she breathes. “Chemistry lasted for an eternity. Mr. Bromwell can never seem to shut up.”