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and off but never falling completely asleep. My body was far too awake, almost jangling with nerves.
    No, not nerves.
    Desire.
    He’d lit me up somehow. Woken me. I wasn’t sure I liked it. I could feel everything. Instead of being numb and angry all the time, I was awake and hurting.
    And wanting.
    I got up before my alarm went off, deciding to take the time to try and cover the bags under my eyes with concealer. After about two seconds, I realized it was going to take a mountain of foundation and gave up. I didn’t like putting a lot of stuff on my face.
    I had very little time to get to the cafeteria so I hustled. Out of habit I reached for a can of cat food. Then I remembered.
    Honeysuckle. Those boys. Her tail.
    Outrage and worry consumed me instantly. How could someone do something like that to such a sweet, brave little creature? And then reality came crashing down on me.
    Fuck me.
    I needed to find a new place to live and enough money to cover the veterinarian bills. They said she’d be there for a few days. That gave me time to figure things out.
    Not a lot but I could do it.
    I had to. I had no choice. The cat’s life and mine both hung in the balance.
    Focus Nadine!
    I rushed out the door and hightailed it to campus. As I ran, my tight control over my thoughts broke loose. I’d been trying to avoid thinking about last night and everything that had happened.
    Or what it all meant.
    The rest of the night came flooding back to me, washing away everything else.
    James. Over tipping. Driving me home. Kissing me.
    The way he’d stayed with me all night at the animal hospital.
    I shook my head, trying to dispel the romantic ideas that were starting to take root. I was not a silly little girl anymore. And James was definitely not a knight in shining armor!
    Though… he’d kind of acted like one last night hadn’t he?
    Acted like he cared.  
    Like I was more than another piece of ass to him.
    God knows he’d had his share.
    What would he do when he found out about me? That I didn’t like to be touched. That I’d never let anyone touch me. Not since…
    I felt bile rise in my throat, pushing the thought aside.
    I was just exhausted, that’s all. That’s why everything felt so intense. After my shift I would go to the student center and check the housing board. Then I’d go to the library and shut my eyes for a few minutes…
    I worked in a daze, loading and unloading the dishwasher. The steam washed over me, wilting me like a flower. But I just kept going. What choice did I have?
    By the time I got to the student center I was wobbly on my feet. At least I didn’t have to work tonight. I could rest.  
    My phone pinged.
    It was a text. From James. My heart leapt at the sight of it.

    Want to get something to eat before class?

    My stomach clenched. I was hungry. Starving, really. But I needed to sit down. Maybe study. Besides, I looked like hell.
    It was a very strange sensation to realize that I cared what he thought. That I wanted him to think I was pretty. Even though I didn’t really know why or what to do with that.

    Studying in Avery, but thanks. See you at econ.

    There. That wasn’t unfriendly. I’d been accused of being overly prickly a few times. I was making an effort to soften up.
    A little bit anyway.
    I walked towards Avery Library and fell gratefully into one of the ancient, overstuffed leather chairs on the second floor. I closed my eyes, knowing I was going to fall asleep but unable to do a thing about it.
    The next thing I heard was a deep, familiar voice. I opened my eyes. James was standing over me.  
    “Somebody missed class, sleepyhead.”

Chapter Seven
    James

    Nadine blinked up at me, looking like a sleepy little girl. Suddenly, I could see her in my mind, a scrawny kid with tangled hair, always looking a little bit lost. A little bit lonely.
    Her eyes had been so big. They’d always looked too old for her face. Like she’d seen too much.
    My heart twisted in my