Free Until Darkness Comes by Melynda Price

this morning,” Morgan giggled.
“You bitch!” Angie snapped. “I can’t believe you just said that!”
“Oh really…? You don’t like him either!”
“Gee, guys, I can’t believe how lucky I am to have such wonderful, supportive friends,” Olivia snapped.
“Sorry, Liv, I thought you knew.”
She doubted very much that Morgan was sorry. “Knew what?” Olivia asked, feigning ignorance.
“That we all pretty much think Max is a douche. We still love you though,” she said, smiling as if that would make everything all better. Morgan was honest to a fault. Truthfully, she couldn’t help but envy her honesty sometimes, but right now was so not one of those times.
“Is there anything else any of you would like to add since we’re all being so totally honest here?” Olivia glared at each of her friends, challenging them to speak.
“Liam’s hot,” Angie added, sending her an apologetic grin.
Olivia rolled her eyes and huffed. She shoved herself away from the table to go dump her uneaten lunch in the trash.
When she got back to the table, Nate cleared his throat, obviously uncomfortable with the awkward silence. “You finished?” he asked Ashley, grabbing his tray.
She handed him hers, half-eaten. “Yeah, thanks.”
Morgan giggled, watching him walk away. “I think he likes you.”
“No, he doesn’t,” Ashley denied. “You’re crazy.”
“Hey, I call ‘em like I see ’em.”
“I think you need glasses then,” Ashley teased. Olivia thought she needed a muzzle.
    ***
    Liam walked into the parking lot to find Balen leaning casually against the side of his car. His arms were folded across his chest with a smug grin on his face.
    “Something funny?” he growled.
“No.” Balen denied innocently. “Hey, Liam—” He cast Balen a sideways glance. “Yeah?”
“The next time you strangle the demon, you should probably do it in a more private location other than your first-hour English class.” Balen busted out laughing.
    “Very funny, I think you missed your calling. Are you sure the Father didn’t make you a court jester?”
“I can’t believe you got suspended on your first day. You made it, what, a whole fifteen minutes?”
“Enough already, I’m glad my misfortune amuses you.” He nodded toward the yellow Mustang parked beside him. “You know, you can go anytime now. I’m going to wait for Olivia to get out of school. Maybe with any luck she’ll let me talk to her since Max is gone.”
“Good luck, bro.” Balen gave him a firm pat on the shoulder. “I sincerely mean that.”
“Thanks, I think I’m going to need it.”

Chapter Eight
    Olivia slammed her Spanish book shut as the seventh hour bell rang. Her oral report had been a complete disaster. She was supposed to give a five-minute dissertation on how to make authentic tamales. By the snickers and amused looks of the class, she was pretty sure that’s not what she’d said. She couldn’t concentrate—her nerves were fried—thanks to Liam.
    “It wasn’t that bad, Liv,” Ashley said, trying to cheer her up.
She shot her a look that said “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Okay, it was pretty bad.”
Olivia stuffed her books in her backpack and slammed the locker door closed, anxious to leave. She didn’t want to keep Max waiting. Her face fell when she looked over at the empty parking space where Max’s Harley should have been. I can’t believe he just left and didn’t come back for me.
She hoisted her backpack over her shoulder and descended the stairs. At least the sun was shining, because a six block walk in the rain would’ve sucked ass. She pulled her iPod out of her bag and hit her favorite playlist. She was a block down the road and halfway through Fergalicious when the hum of bass and the low rumble of an idling engine reverberated inside her chest. When the car didn’t pass, she shot a scowl at the black Camaro with illegally dark tinted windows. The car pulled up beside her and stopped. A second later, the