She shrugs. “I’m not even out of bed yet.”

“Now’s your chance before I open the door.” I don’t move from my spot on my side of the room.

The banging comes again, rattling the wood.

“Jesus,” Ruby says. She climbs out of bed and puts on a sweatshirt, then nods to me.

I go over and yank the door open.

Sebastian glowers at me.

Ah—his car. I wonder if he found it.

“Can I help you?” I ask drily.

He shoves past me, stopping short when he sees Ruby. He shakes it off relatively fast and spins back around to face me. “Where is it?”

I smirk. “Your dignity? Maybe you left it in the theater.”

My roommate gasps.

It only further incites Sebastian. He stands before me, a quivering mess of anger, and… I’m not excited by it. It isn’t fun, like when I get Theo going. No, Sebastian is just an asshole who can’t take a rejection.

“You know what I mean.” If looks could kill…

I tap my lips. “Where’s the fun in that, Sebastian? How hard did you search for it?”

“What is he looking for?” Ruby asks.

We ignore her.

“You fucking bitch,” Sebastian says, striding forward. He grabs the front of my shirt and shoves me against the wall beside the open door. His fingers flatten, sliding up to touch the base of my neck.

Honestly, it’s ballsy. Anyone could walk by—and what would they see? An upperclassman assaulting a freshman. Maybe if I started blubbering, it would be more believable, but I don’t have that in me. He can probably feel my hummingbird pulse under my skin.

I lift my chin. “Get your hands off me.” And in a lower voice, I add, “You don’t want to know what happened to the last guy who touched me without my permission.”

He scoffs, and his palm presses harder into my collarbone. “I’m not sure what I ever saw in you, Page.”

Theo once taught me how to escape such a hold—taught me by using it on me. It infuriated me so much, I made Amelie practice with me until I could do it on autopilot.

I execute it now, pivoting and slamming his arm to the side. He stumbles forward, surprised at the movement, and I wrap my arm around his neck, locking it in with my other hand. His head faces the wall, his whole body hunched over.

“Lucy!” Ruby yells. “Let him go.”

I tighten my grip, until Sebastian slaps at my thigh.

“We don’t touch people without permission,” I say. “Understood?”

He’s practically vibrating under me, and he releases a choked affirmation.

I shove him away, and he wheels around.

“Where did you learn that?” he barks, massaging his neck.

“Oh dear.” I pout. “Sebastian Redmond only picks on girls who can’t fight back, is that it?”

“Just tell me where my car is and I’ll leave you alone.”