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I chuckle. Bax just refuses to fit in. He argues that conformity is for those with limited perspectives. He and Talia are inseparable, like rain within a cloud.

This whole scene is about love, free expression, and flower power…and, of course, peace. It sounds lovely, but we are clearly out of place here. I wouldn’t know what peace is like, not with the darkness I grew up in.

Cindy skates past again, holding hands with her Jesus Freak boyfriend. She put this whole event together to raise money for the church.

She stops in front of us. “Talia, Tommy. So nice of you to come.”

I give her a salute, and Talia’s gaze lingers on her. Her eyes flicker just as a couple of other douche bags from her graduating class roll over to us, and Talia clams up and tilts her head as they pass. They were Daniel’s friends.

“Wouldn’t miss it,” Talia retorts.

“What are you up to, naughty girl?” I ask, pulling her into me as we roll forward.

“Why do you always think I’m up to something?” she asks, leaning her back into me.

I nudge my lips to her ear. “Because you usually are.”

“Come on. Let’s skate.” She saunters off ahead.

She’s definitely up to something. This is the third event of theirs we’ve shown up to, and each time we are on our best behavior, which means Talia probably has something nasty planned.

Talia’s been gunning for Cindy for as long as I can remember, and especially since she found out Remy and I were with her that one night. But recently, I’ve been thinking her hatred runs deeper than that. She can’t be that mad about us hooking up with her. She and I weren’t even together.

Lights flash everywhere as we join the flow of people skating around. I get lost in the flurry of people.

“Hey, Tommy!” two girls say, zipping by. “Great race the other day.” I give them a nod, running a hand through my shaggy hair. I have no clue who they are since they are gone in a flash—a blur of sparkles.

Lost in the buzz of drugs and the sight of girls in tight outfits, I can barely focus. Suddenly, a jarring impact snaps me back to reality as someone slams into me from the side.

Whoever it was jolts back and falls on her ass. It’s dark, and I can’t get a good look at her⁠—

Dammit, I hit a girl.

“Hey, are you okay?” I lean down and pull her up because I’m a nice guy, and I can’t help but stare at her ass. It’s a really nice one. She grabs my hand and wobbles before she falls into me, and I hold her steady to make sure she doesn’t fall again.

She’s in my arms, and I know it’s her. I remember every inch of her as the world catches fire around us. My stomach drops as I stare at the girl I saw yesterday beyond the flames. She blinks, and I squint as she steadies herself and looks up at me with those innocent, sweet, white eyes.

White eyes.

I might throw up.

She pulls herself away from me and rolls back a couple of inches. “Hi, Tommy.”

My heart melts, but just for a moment. Then I remember burying her, believing Father Malcolm was the one who killed her. The devastation I felt and all the lies that followed.

“What…what are you doing here?” I manage to mumble out.

Her eyes twinkle… She knows. Damn, she knows everything.

“Holy shit,” a voice echoes from beyond, and Bax rolls up beside me. “Is that…?”

Didi darts her gaze to him. A shadow flashes over her face, and they share a moment of recognition before Bax turns white as a ghost. “Jesus.”

“Hi, Bax.”

I take a better look, taking in her slight frame, dark auburn hair, and killer outfit, complete with the cat eyes I’d always loved. Her eyes are the only remaining proof of her condition, and they glow like heaven on earth.

As if she could ever hide herself from me.