“Are you sure it’s a good idea, though?” Kim meets my gaze in the mirror. “You never dressed like this even when you were with King.”

My lower lip trembles and I thin my mouth in a line.

With Aiden, I always felt the need to be myself. I loved being myself and how much Aiden liked it.

Or that’s what he made me believe. It could be a game like everything he played thus far.

“King doesn’t matter,” I say.

“Then who does?”

“No one.”

She takes my hands in hers, making me face her.

Kim opted for skinny black jeans and a white top that drops off her shoulders. Her hair falls on either side of her face, the green highlights shining under the light.

“Ellie, talk to me. What’s going on?”

“I’m changing, Kim. Just like you changed in the summer.”

“What’s your excuse?”

“My excuse?”

“I had an excuse to change. I was done being an outcast and decided to do something about it. What’s yours?”

“I was hurt.” I laugh with a bitterness that slices straight through my chest. “My heart was stomped upon, Kim. All this time, I’ve been a bloody joke. A plot. A game. I feel like if I don’t blow off steam, I’ll explode.”

Her bright green eyes soften. “Is it because of King?”

“You know, people react differently when someone breaks their heart. Some would lick their wounds and run. Others would keep their distance and hide.”

“What camp are you?”

“Neither. I choose to fight for my freedom. I owe myself that much, don’t you think?”

“You do. I understand that more than anyone.” She hugs me from the side. “But be careful. King doesn’t lose.”

“He will now.” I wrap my arm around her. “I promise.”

Because I don’t have any more chances to lose.

As agreed, Knox picks me and Kim up.

During the ride, he jokes with us about the number of times he got lost in RES in one day.

Kim, who’s not big on making conversation with strangers, engages him and laughs at his easy humour.

“So she took the wrong sign?” Kim asks him.

“Imagine this.” Knox doesn’t take his eyes off the road. “I’m lost between those towers shit and there’s no human in sight. Even the cats look at me funny as if they want to exorcise me. Then, I spot a blondie and I run up to her, but she thinks I’m asking her out. She readjusts her glasses in a smart way and tells me, I’m sorry, Mr Van Doren, but I’m married to math. Thank you for your interest, though. It made me happy even though it doesn’t show right now.”

Kim laughs from the back seat. I wince, pretending to scroll through my phone.

The girl sounds so much like me once upon a time.

“And did you correct her?” Kim asks.

“Nah, I just followed her from afar to find my way back to civilisation.” He pauses. “Now that I think about it, that probably hurt my case, didn’t it?”

“Oh, man.” Kim giggles. “She’ll probably tell her friends that she turned you down and you still stalked her.”

“Bloody hell.”

I smile at his comically shocked expression.

We step into Ronan’s house together. After exchanging all types of social media and contact information, Kim and Knox continue joking about his day in RES.

As expected, most of the school’s student body is here. Some Spanish music thumps from the speakers, but it’s not loud enough to drown out the dozen conversations floating through the air.

Ronan’s lounge area smells of alcohol and a mixture of expensive perfumes — but mostly alcohol.

A butler passes us by, wearing a black suit and white gloves.

This is the upper class.

Ronan’s father is an earl. He’s not only loaded like the upper middle class, Kim, Aiden, and Xander, but he’s also a nobility.

I always forget that part because Ronan doesn’t act like an aristocrat at all. He’s more vulgar and spontaneous than commoners.

Kim perks up and grins at me mischievously. “I’m not driving today.”

“Not that it stopped you before.”

She stands between me and Knox and interlaces her arms through ours. “You should drink, too.”

“Pass.” Not only is drinking not good for my heart condition, but I also don’t like the taste.

It’s bitter and burns. No idea why people like alcohol so much.

“Come on!” Kim urges. “This party is in your honour, remember?”

“I’m sure that’s just an excuse Ronan used to throw another party.”

The three of us push through the bodies grinding to the music.

“Isn’t it Ellie and Kimmy?” Ronan cuts in front of us, a sloppy smile painted on his lips. “You can’t be late to your own party, Ellie.”

A strong whiff of alcohol and expensive women perfume comes off his Elites jacket. Is that lipstick on his T-shirt?

“And who are you?” Ronan’s smile drops like a bad habit as he watches Knox quizzically. Almost in the same way Xander did earlier.

Like he’s a threat.

“I’m Knox,” he offers with his signature easy smile. Either he doesn’t feel the threat or he doesn’t care.

I’d be impressed if it’s the latter.

“Thanks for having me,” Knox says.

“I didn’t.” Ronan deadpans. “I don’t remember inviting you.”

“Hey.” I elbow Ronan. “I invited him. Isn’t this my party? I have the right to invite whoever I like.”

Ronan’s gaze slides from Knox to me as if he’s calculating something, then he murmurs to me, “You’re playing with fire, Ellie. You might burn.”

I’m already burning.

Aiden has set fire to my life since the first day I walked into RES.

Now I have to do what I should’ve done back then.

Stop the fire from spreading.

Stop the mortal disease from eating me from the inside.

“Come on, Knox.” I pull at his sleeves. “Let’s find something to eat.”

Kim gives me a discreet nod and takes Ronan in the opposite direction. As soon as they disappear, I let Knox go and motion at the reception table. “You’ll find anything you want here.”

He goes straight to the scones and scoops two of them before taking a bite.

My gaze strays in the hall even when I don’t feel him there.

I’m not naive to think that Aiden will let all this slide.

I straighten.

So what if he doesn’t?

Why the hell am I acting like I’m doing something wrong? I properly ended whatever we have. It’s not my fault that he thinks otherwise.

“Did I land in a weird situation?”

My attention snaps back to Knox. “What?”

“I seem to have made an enemy out of your friends.” Still chewing on the scone, he motions behind him without looking. I follow the direction and find Cole and Xander glaring at Knox’s back.

Or more like Xander is glaring. Cole just stands there, nonchalantly leaning against the doorframe, ankles crossed.