Page 15 of Between the Lines

Luna

The person in charge of this classroom. Who the fuck do you think you are?

Jude

He’s shocked her quiet demeanor allowed for a response like this—and angry that she dared.

You need to watch yourself.

Luna

I’m not afraid of you. I grew up in a house full of you, went to school with a hundred of you, walk past you on the street every day, and on, and on, and on. You have tried to bend me, beat me, break me, and I have refused at every turn, and I will not start now—especially considering what your niece has been through. You show me some legal document stating that she can’t be picked up by her aunt, and I will happily make sure it’s followed. Otherwise, you are wasting my planning period.

Jude

Look, bitch?—

Silas

Jude.

That was where I—Silas—camein, confused about why Jude was there, trying to intimidate his way into a desired outcome.

An approach I’d already warned him wouldn’t get the result he wanted, but that didn’t work for him. From the time I came into the scene, a good portion of it was spent with Silas playing mediator between the two—or rather, attempting to wrangle his brother before he turned things into something they didn’t have to be.

Obviously, we ended up getting put out.

But not before this moment between me and Luna—Ellie—where I had to make sure this incident didn’t make her write me off.

As an advocate for Shannon,ora potential suitor.

“Hey,” I said, stopping in the doorway of the classroom to grab her hand after I’d glanced to make sure Jude was out of earshot. “We good?”

There was nothing but pure frustration on her face as she looked at my hand holding hers and tried to pull it away.

I held it tighter.

“I will talk to him,” I promised, pulling her closer, not breaking our gaze. “And…anything else you want me to do.”

A smirk broke over her face, which she quickly tried to hide, but had to drop her sightline to the floor. “This is incredibly inappropriate.”

“Not yet,” I countered, making her blush.

This time when she tried to pull away, I let her, fully amused watching her rush to tuck them behind her back. “Silas…”

“Don’t say it,” I insisted. “Technically, I’m not a parent.”

“It’s a gray area at best.”

“Alightgray. Or would it be dark…which is better?”

She laughed, shaking her head. “Get out of here.”

I didn’t budge. “Answer my question.”

“What question?”

“Are we good?” I asked, stepping closer—enough that she had to tip her head back a little to meet my gaze again before offering the slightest nod.

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