“Stop,” I say again, but then LeAnn walks through the trees and spots us, a worried expression on her face as she tries to catch up.

“What’s happening?”

Kennedy turns to LeAnn frantically. “He’s fucking Camden. That’s why he broke up with me. He wanted to be with a guy.” She hugs LeAnn tightly, and LeAnn turns to me, looking a little confused but also knowing.

“Okay, just calm down.” She pries herself free from Kennedy. “I don’t think that’s why you two broke up. And why do you think that?”

Kennedy’s voice is high-pitched and shrill. “They were kissing. Like full-on kissing.”

“You don’t know what you saw,” I say, trying to cover. Trying like hell to save Kingston from this, because I know he can’t do this. He’s the King of Kensley High. His reputation is everything to him. And in town, it’ll ruin him.

“I know exactly what I saw.” Kennedy turns to me, her eyes furious. “You were kissing him.”

“Hey, you and Kingston are not together anymore. What he does is his business,” LeAnn says firmly, and it’s good to know she’s on our side, even though the whole situation is fucked.

“But he’s gay,” Kennedy says the word gay like it makes her sick, and I want to scream.

“No, I’m not.” Kingston finally speaks, and it’s only to say that. My stomach twists, and my heart actually aches, but I ignore it.

“He’s not.”

Kennedy just shakes her head from side to side. “I’m telling everyone. This makes so much sense. This is why you broke up with me.” She’s crying, but there’s no part of me that feels sorry for her. Only hot rage.

“You aren’t going to tell a soul,” LeAnn says with an almost deadly edge. “I mean it.”

Kennedy turns to LeAnn, blinking like she’s shocked. “Did you know about this?”

“None of it matters. All that matters is you aren’t saying a goddamn word, or I swear to Christ, you’ll regret it.”

LeAnn looks a little scary right now, and once again, I’m glad she’s on my side. Kennedy looks horrified. “How can you defend them?”

“Because they did nothing wrong. And you will keep your mouth shut. It’s not your place to say anything.”

Kennedy turns to Kingston. “I can’t believe I let you touch me. Were you fantasizing that I was a guy?”

“Jesus Christ,” I say, disgusted with her.

Kingston doesn’t say anything. He’s in shock, and I know I need to get him out of here. “Come on, let’s go.” LeAnn grabs Kennedy’s arm, leading her away. “Not a word.”