Free Salvation and Secrets by L A Cotton Page B

room for my group. A girl waved over at me, so I walked in her direction until I was huddled with her and another guy. We found an empty cluster of chairs and started discussing the assignment.
    "So I was thinking we could compare T. S. Eliot and E. E. Cummings," the girl said, a blush creeping over her cheeks.
    "Sorry, I didn't catch your names?" It occurred to me that I didn't know many of my classmate’s names.
    She stuttered, "Oh, yeah. Hmm, Allie. I'm Allie."
    I smiled, before turning my attention to the guy.
    "Liam," he grunted, obviously not wanting to make friends.
    I flashed him a forced smile and introduced myself.
    "Yeah, we know who you are," Liam grumbled.
    “You do?” was my only thought as Allie looked at me with sad eyes. "You went out with Pierce, right?"
    I didn't know why I was so surprised that she knew. After my breakdown at Dead Man's Cove last year, news traveled fast about the girl nobody knew, who just happened to have a thing going with one of the most popular guys at CFA. I guess I thought summer would be a long time to forget, but apparently, it wasn't long enough.
    I started to nod but something caught Allie's eye over my shoulder and her eyes almost bugged out. Liam shuffled in his seat, sitting a little taller, and I squeezed my eyes shut. I didn't need to turn around to know who was behind me. I felt him the minute he reached the space behind me. My body wanted to sink back into him with relief, but I rubbed at the scar through my long sleeved sweater, focusing on the pain biting into my skin, refusing to look back at Jackson.
    "Sorry, I'm late. What did I miss?" Jackson pulled out the empty chair and dropped into it, positioning himself at an angle from me, keeping his eyes trained on Allie and Liam. I silently thanked him for the gesture; he was giving me space.
    "We were just talking about you actually." Liam’s eyes flashed to me and I glared at him, trying to ask him to leave it, but Allie beat me to it.
    "Liam was just telling us which poets he thinks we should compare. Right, Liam?" Allie nudged Liam discreetly, and he mumbled something inaudible.
    "Cool. Well, I vote we compare T. S. Elliot and Robert Lowell."
    "I didn't expect you to like poetry." Allie's mouth was hanging open like she couldn't possibly believe someone like Jackson had layers that extended to dead poets.
    Jackson cracked a smile and laughed. "Why would I be here if I didn't like poetry? Besides, it's turning out to be my favorite class."
    The words hung in the space between us, and I could feel the heat from Jackson's gaze burning into the side of my face. I didn't need to look at him to know that he meant his words for me, but I didn't understand what game he was trying to play either.
    Allie's face softened and her frown melted into a look of adoration. Girls wore that same look whenever they were in the presence of The Fallen. "I love poetry..." Allie launched into her million and one reasons for loving Peterson's class. I tuned out, staring ahead, refusing to even glance in Jackson's direction. All the time thinking that I should have dropped the class after all.
    ~
    "Ana, wait up." Jackson's voice called after me as I made a beeline for the door.
    I had to get out of there because I couldn't breathe. For the whole of the class, Jackson had tortured me with discreet notes. It was like being back in freshman year. Except this time, his messages went unanswered. He wanted to know if I was okay. And all I wanted was to yank off my sweater and thrust my angry, raw wrist in his face. I was anything but okay. But I didn't. What difference would it make? Jackson had decided his path…and I had to decide mine.
    I kept walking, ignoring the plea in his voice. I’d almost made it to the door, but then Peterson's voice boomed, "Miss Parry, a word please, after everyone leaves."
    What did he want? He had said nothing during class about wanting to see me. I reluctantly lingered near the door until all the students were