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The song changes to something hip-hop, and when his hands find my hips, I go with it, movingcloser.
My arms wind around his neck as I smile up athim.
Beck cuts a look past me, looking bemused. “Fascinating.”
“Whatis?”
“What’s gonna happen in five, four, three,two…”
Someone brushes my back, and Beck angles his head up, hands not moving from my body. “Hey,man.”
Tyler says something to his friend I can’thear.
“Girl needed some mentoring, if you know what I mean.” Beck winks at me, and I laugh inresponse.
But Tyler’s back at his ear, and Beck’s smiledims.
Before I can react, Beck lifts my hand, presses his lips to the back in a move that’s somehow cheesy and earnest at once. “Thanks for thedance.”
A little tingle runs through me, and I bite my cheek as I watch him head back through thecrowd.
“What did you say to him?” I demand, whirling to faceTyler.
“He’s not for you.” He’s a foot away, a muscle leaping in hisjaw.
Everything from this week piles on top of itself until I’m feeling as if I’m in a different dimension than the carefree dancing people around me. “You don’t knowthat.”
“You’re already hanging with the brother of your stepmom’s best friend when you’re hiding out here. You’re gonna fuck himtoo?”
I blink up at him, trying to make sense of the meaning behind his frustratedwords.
Beck. Serena’s Beck, the one she mentioned had gotten intoVanier…
“No.” They have different last names, but it’s too much of acoincidence.
His gaze narrows, and I know it’strue.
“Does he know who I am?” Imanage.
“He hasn’t put it together. But he will. Who knows? Maybe if you hook up with him, he’ll keep yoursecret.”
Someone bumps me from behind, and I step forward. Tyler’s hands are there, catching me by the arm and thewaist.
“You didn’t used to be such a prick,” I state,angry.
“You didn’t used to be such a flirt. He can’t make youhappy.”
His words catch me off guard. “Whynot?”
“Because you need someone who understands what makes you tick, like those music boxes you used to collect. Someone who knows you’re going to get into trouble, who has your back when youdo.”
I could pull away, but there’s barely enough room to breathe. “And that’syou?”
Tyler bends closer, his lips near my ear so suddenly I can’t stop him. “It’s nothim.”
The truth of those words hangs betweenus.
Since I moved here, it feels as if this new world is a dark, vast ocean dotted with sharks under thewater.
