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“I can drive you.”

“No, I’m going to do some homework there.” I knew I sounded like I didn’t want him to know where I lived.

He was a fast driver and we were almost there. This time alone together would be over soon. In spite of myself I wanted to know more about him while I had the chance.

“So, what about you?” he persisted. I looked at him, confused.

That’s what’s odd. She doesn’t blink.

I blinked.

Okay, so maybe I’m wrong.

“I want to get into UT,” I said automatically.

“Have you ever wanted to go out of state?” he asked, genuinely curious. He was thinking about how the article said the group all stayed in Austin, always remaining near each other.

“No. We’re big UT supporters.” You could say that again, if it meant donating millions of dollars.

He looked at me curiously. He surprised me by starting to laugh.

“What?” I asked, confused.

“Nothing. It’s funny this is the first time we’ve talked since Barton Springs.”

I didn’t laugh. I put up the armor immediately.

Am I supposed to pretend it never happened? That feels ridiculous.

“It’s just a bad memory,” I said, surprising myself.

“How did you know about your sister?” he finally asked.

I folded my hands in my lap and stared out the window, trying to work out what I was going to say.

“Haven’t you ever had a premonition?” I asked. “It was like that. I felt like…I don’t know. Anyway, I shouldn’t have behaved so erratically.” All that was true.

It seemed like a hell of a lot more than a premonition. “Erratically? You saved her life,” he stated.

“Thank you. No one else saw it that way.” That was too much information.

“What about what happened with the metal? How did he do that?”

“I don’t know. It must have been old. What ended up happening with the police?” I asked, and then regretted it. It was the wrong thing to ask when we were in such close quarters, but I’d been wanting to know if it had been taken care of.

“They dismissed the charges. Now I’m working on getting my record expunged so legally I can say it never happened.” The tone shifted in the car again.

He was remembering how I’d allowed him to be arrested and charged.

Thankfully we’d arrived at our destination. “Can you pull up to the back parking lot?” I asked as we turned toward Mozart’s. It was steaming hot, so it was hard to explain why I would want to be that far from the entrance.

“I can drop you in front,” he said.

“Actually, how about right over there?” I pointed to the back corner of the lot.

He thought I was meeting someone I didn’t want him to see, and he suddenly felt like an idiot and thought I should have called my BMW boyfriend for a ride. I hadn’t realized he’d seen Angus at the tennis courts.

I know my family’s not rich, but I’ve never had a girl be ashamed to be seen with me.

He parked in an available spot as directed. Crap. I didn’t see them. I was sure they’d be here. I very slowly and deliberately began to gather my things. He watched my every movement, not quite believing I was in his space, knowing I’d be gone for good in a second and we’d probably never be alone like this again. I put my hand on the car door, pensive and frustrated. He waited for me to say something first, beginning to pick up on my odd behavior and wondering why I was suddenly so reluctant to leave the car.

I couldn’t stall anymore. “Thank you for the ride.”

“No problem.”

Dammit. He would be gone in one second, and he wouldn’t see them.

I opened the door, and a car next to us pulled out. I saw them, parked right in view of us. I paused and stared, knowing John would look over.

It took a second for him to grasp that we were looking at Sarah and Tom. They were in Sarah’s car, their lips locked. I felt him put all the pieces together. Everything made sense—why the whole school seemed to be talking behind his back. Everyone knew about his girlfriend and his good friend except for him.

Sarah and Tom looked up, sensing they were being watched. I had the pleasure of seeing their faces register that they were caught. And that John and I were in a car together.

Again I had the urge to rescue him and help him save face. Out of nowhere I moved closer and took the sides of his face in both my hands—the first time I’d voluntarily touched an outsider. I made him look at me, staring into his brown eyes, which I saw were flecked with gold.

“Forget them. They aren’t worth it. You’re so much better than they are.” My words were forceful and honest, but I kept my touch soft because I wanted to act for Sarah and Tom’s benefit. I felt a sudden surge of attraction.

“Let’s go,” I coaxed. I backed off, not believing I’d just done that and not liking what I’d felt. I needed to catch my breath. Without sparing another look at Sarah and Tom, John reversed and exited the parking lot.

“Take a right. Here, on Scenic.” Mansions lined the tree-shrouded, winding road, all of it passing by in a blur. This wasn’t part of my plan. I didn’t know what I was doing.

“Um, here is fine.” I couldn’t help that I seemed nervous. John pulled over where I gestured—a small, manicured dirt parking space at the side of the road, near the front entrance gate. It was a service person’s spot.