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Lee: omg. Nv.

Cass: Door’s opening. She’s coming out.

Cass: picture.

Lee: She doesn’t look good. Is Noah there?

Cass: What part of I can’t see ghosts don’t you get?????????

Lee: I thought you could feel him?

Cass: No. You can.

Lee: Noah will take care of her. He likes her.

Cass: It’s weird that you’re relying on a ghost to take care of our girl.

Lee: I feel fucking helpless over here.

Cass: Stop texting me. I’m going in for my meeting.

Cass: I got our girl. Don’t worry.

Lee: You better. Have her call me, please.

Tears were rolling down my face by the time I got to the end. There were more texts between them.

Folding my arms on the desk, I buried my head in them. I didn’t even know why I was crying. If it was because of what happened? Or how concerned Lee and Cassian both were over me?

I wasn’t used to that except with ghosts. They liked me. They cared about me. People, there’d been no one.

A hand went to my shoulder and began rubbing, soothing down my back.

“You want to get out of here?”

I peaked at him. Cassian was frowning at me. Concerned.

“We got in-school suspension.”

He shrugged. “The teach is my hockey coach. I could probably explain the situation. He wouldn’t like it, but he’d understand.”

Gah. “Your coach?” He was in double trouble, because of me.

The door opened and Nimrod burst inside, strolling over to us. He dropped his books on the table beside me but paused when he saw how we were sitting. Picking up his book, he went to the other side of Cassian and dropped down in that chair. He held up his fist, a gruff expression on his face. “I didn’t know the facts. I didn’t know she was your girl.” He paused, his head canting from side to side. “Mckenna’s girl too. I just saw her swinging on Chlamydia. I didn’t know what happened before that. Swear. I thought it was a chick fight. The golden motto is if chicks want to fight, let chicks fight.” Sheepish, his head lowered a little. “I know the facts now. My bad, bro.”

Cass sighed, already extending his fist to meet Nimrod’s. “All good.”

Nimrod dipped his chin in my direction. “Lee called me, set me straight. Emcee too. It’s cool. It’s a bit weird, sharing your girl, but to each their own. It’s good for you. She’s got a broody rich motherfucker having her back, and she’s got your happy ass too.”

Cassian ducked his head, grinning.

The door opened again. This time it was Jason Emcee.

He stopped, stared at us, stiffening. His jaw clenched, and his whole demeanor dropped. Surrendering. He came over and sat at the table in front of us. Dropping his books with a loud smack, he held his fist to Cassian, Nimrod, then myself. He declared as each of us met his fist with our own, “I was fucked. Now I’m unfucked.” He sat, skimming a look over Cassian before giving me an upnod. “Your other boy set me straight.” He eyed Nimrod. “Guessing I got the call after you, huh?”

“Mckenna?”

“Yep.”