Page 114 of Sticks and Stones (Shadow Valley U)

“You said it first,” she mumbles.

“Oh my God,” Ally yells in the background. “You said it?”

I laugh. “Bye, baby. Text me when you’re here.”

Evan and Grant sit across from me, and they trade a look.

Then Grant says, “Okay, so…you made up?”

I smirk. “Yeah.”

“Great,” Evan mutters. “More sex.”

“The reprieve was kind of nice,” Grant agrees.

I pick up a pad and chuck it at them. “Shut up, you assholes.”

My phone goes off. I glance at it, and my blood runs cold. I try to hide my expression, running my hand over my mouth. When I glance up, Evan and Grant have switched their attention to Archer, who’s doing some funky stretching in the corner.

I stand quickly and step past them. They don’t question where I’m going, although I make a vague motion at my phone anyway.

There are other Knights in the hallway, kicking a soccer ball around. They call to me, but I shake my head and lift my phone again.

Sweat pricks at the back of my neck.

I shove out the heavy metal doors and exit onto the sidewalk, taking a deep breath. Then I scan the text on my phone again.

Step-monster

Your dad is in the hospital. Please call me.

My chest is tight. I brace my hand on the wall as the ground tilts. It must be serious—Martha never sends a text without an exclamation point. And there’s no trying to ease the blow.

Simple, straight to the point.

Stupid.

I grip my phone tighter. Do I just leave? I’m hours away—

“Hello, Stone.”

I straighten and spin around.

A man stands in front of me. He’s got a black coat on over jeans and a black knit cap over dark, kind of longish hair. He’s about my height. Thick, although it’s hard to tell if it’s muscle or fat. He’s vaguely familiar. Something about the shape of his face…

He smiles. “I need you to come with me.”

I start. “No—my dad—”

“Your father is fine.” He holds up a phone. “Easy to clone a number nowadays. Technology at its finest. My name is Jessie Davis. And I know… I didn’t expect to be meeting my pumpkin’s first love this way either.”

His gaze flicks over my shoulder, and he nods slightly.

My reaction time is pretty good. But even I’m not quick enough to dodge the blow that comes from the man behind me.

Pain bursts across my head, and my vision goes dark.

The last thing I remember is hands grabbing me before I hit the pavement.