Evan heads for the exit and Sebastian moves after him, towing me along behind as Clay follows and Hunter takes up the rear. The movement feels practiced, like this is the order they always move in, and I wonder if they do this at school.

It isn’t until we get to a car at the curb that I start to panic. What do they plan to do with me? I can’t get in that car; something tells me if I do then it’ll only end badly for me. “Let go of me,” I say, dragging my hand back in an attempt to free myself from Sebastian’s grip.

Ignoring me, he hands my backpack off to Hunter, who opens the trunk and drops it inside, then throws his keys to Evan, who smirks as he opens the driver’s door and climbs inside.

“I’m not getting in there, I don’t know you,” I tell him, yanking and fighting to get away.

“Get in the car, little bird,” Sebastian says calmly.

“Stop calling me that. Let me go or I’ll scream.”

Stopping, he turns to look at me, not releasing his hold on my hand as he closes the distance between us, wraps his other hand around the back of my neck and yanks me in for a hard kiss. Gasping in shock at his unexpected assault, my lips part and he takes advantage, shoving his tongue into my mouth.

I’ve never been kissed before. I feel pathetic even admitting that inside my own mind. Who gets to sixteen without kissing someone? Well, me, the nobody from the wrong side of the border, that’s who. Turns out it’s pretty easy to never play seven minutes in heaven when you’re not invited to the party. The only person who ever invites me anywhere is Courtney and as much as I love her, I have no interest in making out with her.

I don’t kiss him back, and I’m pretty sure he growls before he pulls his lips from mine, but stays close enough that our foreheads are touching. I can feel his hot breath against my mouth. “Scream all you want, no one will come, no one will intervene and no one will take you from me. You’re mine now, my little bird, and I’ll clip your wings if I have to, just to make sure you can never fly away.”

His words are soft and almost romantic in tone, but there’s no mistaking the threat in them. He’s a psycho, completely insane and dangerous, and for some reason he’s noticed me. I want to run, to fly away if I am the little bird he keeps calling me, but before I get a chance to try to escape, he lifts me and puts me in the car. Clay is blocking the door on one side, I’m stuck in the middle with Sebastian on the other side. I’m caged in, imprisoned, and I have no idea how I’m going to get free now that he has me in his clutches.