Free Tempted by Cecily von Ziegesar

hadn’t he thought of that before? He felt like he was about to pass out.
    “This is your final strike, Easy,” Mrs. Horniman said. She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the desk, her chin on her hands. “It would devastate me to see such a young and talented individual like you expelled from Waverly. So I’ve managed to sweet-talk Dean Marymount into agreeing that if you can maintain a B average or higher in your classes—”
    “Okay,” Easy said involuntarily, his heart pounding in his chest. He wasn’t going to get kicked out? Suddenly, the only thing he could think about was his father’s promise that if Easy graduated from Waverly in good standing, and made it into a reputable college, he could take a year off after high school and spend it, expenses paid, in Paris. Paris would be so much better than military school. And it was even farther away from Callie.
    “And you can’t leave campus,” she finished.
    Easy looked up at her. “Really?” he asked, rubbing his hand over his chapped lips. Okay, that wasn’t so bad. He stared at the rain-splattered window behind Mrs. Horniman’s head. He probably could have died falling from the top of that tree. Or at least broken an ankle or something.
    “Really,” Mrs. Horniman answered. “Listen to what I’m saying, Easy. This is real. B’s or better and stay on campus. Indefinitely.” She smiled at him. “That means no trips into town without my written permission, no long walks in the woods that happen to take you off Waverly grounds—nothing.
Capisce?”
    “Capisce.”
Easy leaned back in his chair, eager to get home and get out of his clammy clothes.
    “And if I were you, I’d think about taking up some extracurricular activities. You know how much the dean appreciates extracurriculars—and frankly, your horseback riding doesn’t quite cut it. Try something other than solitary activities.” Mrs. Horniman eyed him with amusement. She of all people knew of Easy’s lack of enthusiasm for all unrequired activities at Waverly. Mrs. Horniman leaned back in her chair. “I always thought you’d be perfect for a cappella.”
    It took a moment for Easy to realize she was joking, and then, for the first time that night, he smiled.

    Instant Message Inbox

JennyHumphrey: What was that?
BrettMesserschmitt: No clue. I M drunk and ready to pass out. And dream of Jeremiah.
JennyHumphrey: Callie’s still not home. Should I be worried?
BrettMesserschmitt: Nah. She and Easy are prob busy making up after that huge fight.
JennyHumphrey: Right.

10
A BRAVE OWL DOES NOT RUN AWAY FROM HER PROBLEMS—UNLESS THE RUNNING TAKES HER TO A LUXURY SPA .
    Callie leaned her tired head against the fogged-up window of the black Lincoln Town Car, her eyes still moist. She wiped the sleeve of her cashmere peacoat against her face and stifled a yawn, Easy’s words echoing in her ears. Nothing he’d ever said had felt so cruel—not even the time she’d worn a pink Vera Wang bubble dress to the Spring Fling and he’d told her she looked like a frosted cupcake. He hadn’t meant to be cruel then—it was just a clueless guy kind of thing to say. He’d spent the rest of the night trying to convince her that he loved cupcakes.
    She pawed through the pocket of her raincoat for a tissue. How could he talk to her like that? And in front of the entire world? The thought that she and Easy had provided fodder for a million gossipy e-mails and texts made her stomach churn.He was sloshed, of course, but Easy was normally a quiet, melancholy drunk, unlike the Heath Ferros of the world, who only seemed to go into hyperdrive whenever they touched alcohol.
How could he, how could he, how could he?
repeated on a loop in her head.
    The only answer that made sense was that he didn’t love her anymore. Her eyes filled up again.
    When she’d called her mom to take her up on the spa offer, the governor had informed her the car was waiting at the gate as they spoke—she’d called it just in