“You know me: straight and sober.” She sighs, her shoulders drooping, fatigue lining her beautiful face. “Bernadette Blackbird, were you smoking back here?” Vice Principal Keating asks me, her mouth pursed into a thin line. Can't waste any of it, it's not like I have an endless supply. And you won't like what we do to you if that happens.” I choke on the memory, and the cigarette, before ashing it on the side of the broken cement step I'm sitting on and tucking it away again. Otherwise, I might have a full-blown panic attack. The only way I can face the Havoc Boys by myself is if I steel my nerves first. This is such a stupid, fucking idea, I tell myself as I pace out back of the campus' main building, smoking a cigarette and trying to calm myself down. I just hope this transaction doesn't leave me broken and bleeding like it did last time. This time, I'm sending them on a mission of my own. The Havoc Boys are more than just bullies they're a full-fledged gang. I drink it anyway and pretend like hearing Cal call me Bernie again doesn't bring back horrible memories. Like a freaking elementary school student. He stands up and stalks out of the room as my hands shake, and I pick the carton of chocolate milk up.

He flips the hood on his sleeveless navy sweatshirt up. “More or less,” Callum purrs in that rough, husky voice of his, reaching up to run his fingers through his golden hair. I’m wearing a line called Naked Heat today, and the color is Scorched, this metallic copper shade that tastes even better because I stole it and I didn’t get caught. Isn't that how this thing is supposed to work?” I narrow my green eyes on him, running my tongue across my lower lip and tasting the waxy texture of my lipstick.

“Get the fuck away from me, and I'll meet you after school in the library.

Havoc at prescott high