“Did you talk to Kenn?”

She nods, releasing me. “Yeah. She isn’t going to say anything.”

“You’re sure?” I feel numb as I ask. I don’t even know if I care that much about people knowing about me. But Kingston—he can’t handle it.

“I’m sure. She came to a rather disgusting, selfish conclusion and decided she didn’t want anyone to know because people would . . .” she pauses, looking horrified with her nose crinkled, “think she turned him gay. Her words.” She shudders. “I’m so sorry. I have no idea how I am, or was, friends with her.”

“That’s pretty fucking gross,” I say, but I’m not that surprised. Kennedy is all about reputation in a different way than Kingston is. He wants to bring joy. She likes control. She likes people envying her.

“I know.” She pats my shoulder. “How’s Kingston?”

I shake my head, my stomach rolling. “I don’t know. I haven’t talked to him.”

“Oh, shit.”

I nod my head, heading to my locker while she walks with me. “I’m trying to give him some space.”

“Are you two . . . ?” She’s careful with her question as my eyes meet hers. “Are you together?”

I shake my head. “Nah. We never were. He’s not gay.” I keep my voice extremely low.

She doesn’t look like she believes me, probably thinking I’m trying to cover for him, but I don’t want to go through the details. It’s no one’s business, even LeAnn’s, who I do consider as a friend.

Who I know has my back. “He’ll come around,” she says softly, but I just shake my head because I think I broke him. This whole situation broke him.

“Thanks,” I say, and she heads off to class before I turn to see Kingston walking into the building. He’s never late. And he looks like shit. At least as much as he can. He looks like he hasn’t slept, his hair is messy, and his clothes look wrinkled, like he slept in them. He’s still beautiful as always. He can’t help it, but it’s clear he’s in distress. That he was dreading coming to school for the first time ever.

“Kingston.” He approaches carefully.

“Hey, I slept in.” He can barely look at me, and again, I feel like I might die. “I’m so damn late.”

“It’s going to be okay,” I repeat LeAnn’s words, but he just moves to his locker, grabbing his books. “I promise you. It will be.”

He doesn’t acknowledge that at all. “I’m going to be late for class. I have to move my ass.” He shoots me a quick, half-assed smile. “Talk later?”

I nod slowly while all I want to do is pull him to me. Wrap my arms around him and promise him it will be okay. “Yeah. Okay.”