I’m the biggest idiot on the planet. I just tried to kiss Clay. Clay—who’s supposed to think I’m a bender. It’s not unheard of for two guys to do that sort of thing, but judging by his reaction he was definitely not into that. Not into me. How will I ever face him again? I tuck my knees under my chin and bury my face in them. Stupid. I’m so incredibly stupid. I’ll just hide here for the rest of my life. Sure, there’s dusty bunnies the size of, well, bunnies under here and I think I just spotted a fresh rat’s nest, but anything’s better than facing Clay. I don’t think I can do it. Ever.

I replay that moment in my head, but all I come up with is the desperate overwhelming feeling of longing. Longing for Clay. For his body next to mine. To feel his arms around me. I’ve ruined it. Now any time he looks at me he’ll think I’m trying to make a pass at him. I destroyed the comfortable friendship we had when I leaned in, mouth puckered.

I hear someone walking down the hall. Heavy footsteps. Not Ethan’s.

“Riley?” Clay calls. “Come back.”

I clutch my knees to my chest. I can’t face him now.

“Riley, come on. It’s not safe out here.”

He’s right. I have no weapon and we know for sure that someone was prowling around this morning, but I don’t care. My embarrassment is bigger than my fear.

“Riley, look, I’m sorry. Can you just come back so we can talk?”

His voice is close. He must be outside the office door. Then I hear him wander away, calling my name. I uncurl and peak over the desk. He’s scanning the classrooms for me. He’ll be at my door soon. Then I have the task of deciding to sleep with the dust bunnies or slink in there and pretend nothing happened. He wanders down the hall and calls my name one more time.

That’s when I see the dark shadow emerge from the boy’s bathroom.

Silent, statuesque. I wouldn’t have spotted him except for the twinkle of moonlight on a metal object in his hands. A man. He’s watching Clay from the darkness of the bathroom. My heart hammers dangerously in my ears.

He steps out of the bathroom and into the hallway. I see his rifle when he raises it and aims at Clay’s back.

“No!” I scream.

I jump over the desk and run toward the man. The shot explodes through the hallway. The bullet misses Clay by inches and blows a huge hole in the wall near his head. Drywall rains down everywhere. Clay dives to the floor.

But my eyes aren’t on Clay anymore. They’re on the stranger as he swings his rifle toward me.