I nod and try not to blurt out something stupid. The first time I met him, my anxiety was on high alert...or maybe I was too preoccupied to notice he was anything more than just a cute guy. But now, with him sitting so close, looking at me with those ridiculous brown eyes, I'm starting to feel uncomfortable. So I do what any apprehensive, eighteen-year-old girl sitting in a car next a hot guy would do. Absolutely nothing. I just sit, waiting for him to start talking, hoping the awkward moment will pass."So, where do you live?" he asks, dropping his gaze down to my lips."We." I pause, trying to ignore the fact that he's looking at my mouth. "My mom and I just moved here. We haven't found a house yet, so we're staying at the Nantucket apartments." Which is my standard answer, the "looking for a house" part. It feels less pathetic than admitting we'll probably never live in a house again. I hadn't noticed until now that I look at my hands when I lie. I glance back up and he's still

** Candice **I'm about to walk into my third period class when I feel a tap on my shoulder. Turning around, I see my counselor, Mrs. Stephens, staring at me with a concern in her eyes."Hi, Candice. Are you finding all your classes?" "Oh, yes, thanks." "Great!" she says with a troubled look on her face. I'm not sure that's what she really wanted to ask.What's going on with her?"That's good. I just..." She stops, dropping her eyes to my cheek, then back to me. Shit.She takes me by the arm, leading me toward the ladies' room like we're about to have a secret meeting, stopping once we're inside. "Is everything all right, honey?" she whispers with a new look of concern.My hand goes directly to my bruised cheek as if covering it up will make her forget what she saw. "Uh huh...everything's fine," I lie, watching her face contort, because I'm sure she knows I'm lying.As if dismissing my words, she says, "You know I'm here to help, right?" I nod, not meeting her eyes."

"Candice, wait!" Brad's voice hits me like a knife. Shit.Seconds later, he catches up to me, gently gripping the top of my arm. I turn around to find him looking at me like I'm insane."What did I say?" he asks, already apologizing with his eyes.I shrug, trying like hell to look calm. This is too much. He is too much, so I blurt the first thing I can think of. "Why are you so interested in me?" He looks at me like he didn't hear me right, so I repeat the question. "Why are you so..." I take a deep breath because he's staring at me in the middle of the cafeteria. "So interested in me?"His eyebrows go up. "I-I just am." The look on his face tells me two things. He's being sincere, and without a doubt, I like him way more than I realized until this moment. But I'm not the girl for him. He should be with one of those giggly cheerleaders eyeballing me at the table. Not someone like me who can barely walk into a crowded room without getting hives. I'm constantly straddling a thi

I glance over just before unlocking my front door and see that he's already back in his car, looking up at me. When our eyes catch he smiles and it's pretty clear he's waiting to make sure I'm safely inside before he leaves. I have to catch my breath. Nobody has cared enough about me to make sure I get into a building safely. He-this-scares the crap out of me. I have no idea where it's going. Hell, I'm not even sure this is a good idea, but spending time with him is starting to blur my own judgment. I smile and shoot him a quick wave and he nods as I pull the door behind me.I'm in trouble. The familiar stench of cigarette smoke yanks me back into reality. I can't stand it and jog over to the window, pulling the curtains aside as I push the frame all the way up. Instantly, a cool breeze flows in, hitting my face. I'm grateful for fresh air-part of me feels like I should sit right here until Mom gets home and complains that it's cold. I'm pretty sure she's never even considered crack

Within a matter of minutes I can see the house. I have to stop for a second and catch my breath, flushed with exertion and relief, but I barely get more than a few seconds. The extreme wrench in my gut is back with a vengeance and the need to keep going consumes me all over again. It's beyond strange, even a little frightening, but I don't have time to think about it-I have to get inside. Glancing in both directions, I dart across the street, hoping no one sees me. Thank God it's pretty much a ghost town this early in the morning, the light from the sun barely peaking over the horizon. I have no doubt I look like a lunatic, that crazy girl on her way to a house, rumored to be haunted.I run as fast as I can to the window, the same window that completely changed my life. I nearly trip when I sprint through, almost landing on the disgusting mattress. I couldn't see it until now because it's so dark but there's just enough light for my eyes to adjust. I scan the room and my first thoug