Page 34 of Chloé

Something in his voice must’ve broken through, because finally Ethan looked up.

“You didn’t do anything.” His amber eyes were flat. Darker and colder than Zayne ever remembered seeing them. “I just…” He rubbed a hand over his face. “This is a hard time of the year for me.”

“It’s Halloween. The time of year you can scare the shit out of everyone without getting in trouble. Why would that be—”

That was when it hit him. Ethan’s parents. This had to have something to do with Ethan’s parents. “Ethan, I—”

“No. Don’t do that.”

Zayne frowned. “Do what?”

“Pity me. Everyone else does that all fucking month. They stare and wait for me to lose my shit.”

So that’s why he’s staying away.

“I can’t deal with that from you.”

Zayne slipped his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “I don’t pity you.”

“No?”

“No. I’m too pissed off at you. You could’ve just told me what was going on instead of being a jerk.” He thought about that for a second then shrugged. “Actually, it’s you, so being a jerk kind of comes with the territory.”

Ethan’s lips tugged up at the corners. “Well, now I’ve told you. So don’t freak out when I’m gone for a few days.”

“Gone? Gone where?”

“I have to go and do something, and I’m leaving in about half an hour.”

Trying not to be a nosy asshole, Zayne nodded and decided to just leave it there. Ethan had been clear: he didn’t want Zayne prying, so there wasn’t much else he could do.

“Okay. Then I guess I’ll see you when you get back.”

Ethan’s eyes narrowed as Zayne headed to the door, and just as he was about to open it, he heard, “Z?”

Zayne stopped and glanced over his shoulder, and just when he expected some kind of caustic comment, Ethan threw him for a total loop.

“Will you come with me?”

ZAYNE COULDN’T REMEMBER a time he’d ever packed a bag so fast. But in less than ten minutes, he had clothes and school books stuffed in a backpack and was again knocking on Ethan’s door.

Ethan opened it almost immediately, and if Zayne had expected a warm welcome, he was in for disappointment, because the grim line on Ethan’s lips was still in place. He had a bag on the bed, much like Zayne’s. He grabbed it and headed for the door.

Without a word, Ethan stormed down the hall toward the main lobby of the school, and Zayne followed. When they reached the front desk, Principal Morton’s eyes immediately locked on Zayne and a frown of disapproval pulled at his brows.

“Excuse me? What exactly is going on here?”

Zayne had no idea, but before he could come up with any kind of believable lie, Ethan came right out with the truth.

“Zayne’s coming with me.”

Principal Morton’s eyes flicked between the two of them. “I don’t think so. Mr. Copeland doesn’t have permission to leave the grounds.”

“Then give him permission.” Ethan’s tone was cold, his expression impenetrable as he stared Principal Morton down, and Zayne figured they were about two seconds away from being put in detention.

Instead, Principal Morton looked over to Miss Margaret—the school receptionist—and leaned in to tell her something. A few seconds later, she handed him a clipboard that he then thrust in Zayne’s direction.

“You need to sign this.”

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