Funny how basketball seemed so pointless now.

“Well,” said Ms. Anderson, “I hope this means you’ll do well on the makeup exam this afternoon.”

“Wait, that’s ”

“We agreed on today. You are free fifth period, correct?”

Christ, like he would have remembered a math test with everything going on. This lady couldn’t cut him some slack? He glanced at the doorway, but Layne was long gone. He wouldn’t even have a way to get a message to her. “I . . . look, I need to ”

“I want to give you more time,” she said gently. “I know you’re not focused today.”

He breathed out a sigh. “Yes. More time would be great.”

“I can’t. I’m already giving you a free pass by letting you make up the test.”

His hands balled into fists at his sides. “I don’t give a crap about the team anymore.”

“Do you care about graduating? Because right now you have a zero in the system. And with Friday’s events, the principal asked me about it. I said you were scheduled to take a makeup exam today.”

Gabriel wanted to hit something.

“Look,” she said. “Just take the test. I’ve seen your work over the last few days. You’ll do fine. And I can help you recover from a low score. I can’t help you recover from no score.”

“I can’t,” he said. “I need to be somewhere.”

“Where?”

Somehow he didn’t think I need to meet a girl would suffice here.

Her expression hardened. “I’m telling you that you will fail this class. You will not graduate. I know this might not matter to you right this instant, but I assure you, it will matter in the long run.”

He snorted. The long run. Considering Bill Chandler’s comments Saturday morning, he didn’t even know if he had any chance of being around for the long run.

But then he realized he did have one last option.

Layne’s voice was echoing in his head, the way she’d chas-tised him for cheating.

He shook it off. “Fifth period,” he said. “Fine. I’ll be here.”

Now he just needed to find Nick.

CHAPTER 39

Layne sat in the back corner of the library, blocked by the stacks, yet with a crooked view of the entrance. The same table where she always sat. The same table where she’d stood up to Gabriel, two weeks ago. It felt like a lifetime ago.

The library wasn’t crowded, but no one ever sat back here because the books were old and smelled musty. They must have cleaned the carpets over the weekend, because today it also smelled sweet yet acrid, a chemical scent that was giving her a headache.

Her palms were sweating, and she swiped them on her jeans, again reveling in the realization that there were no scars under the denim along her left thigh.

That was the only thing she’d left out of her confession to her father.

She just wasn’t sure what to say. She was used to dealing with facts and numbers. Her father was used to dealing with truths and untruths. Neither had any experience dealing with the super-natural.

Because it had to be, right?

This morning, in math class, Gabriel had reminded her of the way he’d been that first morning on the trail, when she’d compared him to a land mine. Only this time it was more like a hand grenade after the pin had been pulled. It was just a matter of time before he went off.

“It’s like every time I see you, you’re sitting all by yourself.”

Layne jerked and almost fell out of her chair. Ryan Stacey was behind her, leaning against the bookcase. He must have come around the side of the stacks.

“I didn’t expect to find you here,” he said. “But I like it. You will, too, I think.”

Now her palms were sweating for an entirely new reason.

“Go away. You’re lucky I’m not having you arrested for assault.”

“You kissed me, too, sweetheart.”

“Don’t call me that.” She threw a glance at the doorway and prayed for Gabriel to appear.

He didn’t.

“Besides,” she said, making her voice hard even though her insides felt like jelly, “I’m not the only one you’ve assaulted.”

“Yeah, like your baby brother is going to earn any friends by being a retard and a tattletale.”

“Simon is not a retard.”

“Whatever. I took care of him.” He took a step toward her, and she scrambled out of the chair before she could stop herself.

Her back hit a bookcase, and the metal shelves dug into her shoulders.

A smile lit his face, but not in a good way. “Too bad about the fire at the horse barn. Did that satisfy your little burn fetish?

Add a new scar or two?”

She flinched, but then he looked at her crookedly. “Or is it Merrick who has the burn fetish? I guess you freaks all have to stay together ”

“Leave her alone.”

Layne was choking on her breath, on her heartbeat, fear warring with relief. Gabriel was here, looking as fierce as ever. He’d protect her.

She just didn’t want him to do it at his own expense.

She moved close to him, letting her hand close over his forearm like she had in class. “Don’t fight,” she said. “Let him say what he wants. It’s not worth it ”

Gabriel glanced down at her hand, as if surprised to find it there. “I won’t fight him.” Then he made a face. “What is that smell?”