I walked out of the dark tunnel again and found myself at the farthest edge of the school's property. Octavia had promised to meet me outside. And it didn't take long for me to get where she was. Quickly spotting a shiny McLaren parking on the other side of the road, I sucked in the night air in my lungs and walked up to the car as brave as I could.

Octavia didn't look at me when I got in, and that made me nervous and a little hurt. I never knew the privilege of having her looking at me meant so much until now.

"Octavia," I said, breaking the...