Terrin’s friend glanced up and caught my smile. He grinned back, and his whole face lit up. He had green eyes, as deep as the ocean, and an angular nose. He was beautiful and he knew it.

A hand slammed into my back, and I stumbled. Tripping over my own feet and the unfamiliar shoes, I lurched into a broad chest. Hands came up as if to catch me and shoved me to the ground instead.

“What the hell?” growled a deep male voice.

Blinking, I looked up into the most startlingly handsome face, and my words caught in my throat. Dark auburn hair, blue eyes, and chiseled features sat atop a muscled physique. No school uniform for this guy, just a soft jersey tee shirt and black jeans.

“Watch where you’re going,” he said, his eyes hard. A bit of fire blazed in their stormy depths.

“I’m sorry,” I said, stumbling a bit over the words. What was the matter with me? I never acted like this.

He sneered, “I don’t need your apologies, new girl.”

My heartbeat chittered against my chest. Why was he doing this to me?

Planting his legs wide, he loomed over me and glowered. “Are you just going to lay there?”

“Leave her alone, Brenton,” said a familiar voice next to me. Terrin’s warm hand slipped into mine and helped me to my feet.

I looked back and forth between two guys who couldn’t be more different. Terrin’s calm support and Brenton’s almost scorching anger, and for the first time in my life, I felt helpless. My cheeks grew hot, and tears threatened. Even when I’d been trapped in Hasting’s House, I knew I was strong and I could fight back. What was wrong with me?

Glancing around at the other students laughing and gawking, I caught sight of Monica, her lips boasting a vainglorious smirk. Right behind her stood the girl from last night, her arm across Monica’s shoulders.

I pressed my lips together. These were enemies I knew how to fight. Pushing away from Terrin, I marched across the quad and pulled back my fist. Even though I knew I’d get in trouble, slamming it into pretty Monica’s eye was the best thing I’d done since I’d arrived at Thornbriar. She crumpled to the ground, screaming.

I sneered and said, “What, are you just going to lay there?”