^“Would you like pasta for dinner? I can make you some,” Mr. Daniels says gently as I come into the kitchen a few moments after getting dressed in jeans and a thick, long-sleeved, jumper. I tried to choose something that covered me the most, feeling that I’ve been naked enough today. I still feel a little drunk, but the whole getting caught by your teacher, half naked on a couch with a hot guy, has a way of sobering you up. I nod, confused why he isn’t shouting at me and watch as he moves around the kitchen, pulling out pans and food. I expected a massive lecture about underage drinking and what it looked like I was doing with Enzo on his couch. I mean, he invited me into his home, and I do that on the next day. I feel like such a bitch and seriously guilty over it.

“Can I help?” I ask him and he looks over his shoulder for a second, his eyes meeting mine and then turning back.

“You could grate the cheese,” he offers, pointing a finger towards a plate and grater he has gotten out. I pick them up and get the cheese out of the fridge before starting to grate the cheese like he asked.

There’s an uncomfortable silence between us that just seems to go on and on before I cave in and blurt out: “I’m sorry for today, all of it. I know you must think I’m an irresponsible brat or something, but I swear it won’t happen again. I just seem to have a habit of messing things up, and I get it if you don’t want to speak to me,”

“What happened today made me realise something,” he starts to say and then clears his throat, putting down the pasta packet he was opening. Mr. Daniels walks over to me, resting his hip on the counter and crossing his arms. He stares at me for a long time, before uncrossing his arms and tucking a bit of hair behind my ear, his fingers grazing across my cheek.

“Yes?” I ask, my voice a little bit too high-pitched. He goes to say something when the door is banged on a few times, and he closes his mouth, annoyance written all over his face.

“I’ll get it,” I say, moving away and feeling his eyes burning a hole through my back as I walk to the door. I pull it open, and Kelly is standing there, smiling widely. She looks lovely, in a white coat and her blonde hair up in some complicated bun. I’ve really got to ask her to do to my hair at some point.

“So, naked Kenzie, I think we need to talk,” she says, and I laugh. So, she heard, which means everyone must be talking about it. Great, just fucking great.

“Come on in,” I say, holding the door open. She walks in and looks around for a second, just before Mr. Daniels walks over.

“Kelly, right?” he asks, holding out a hand, and she shakes it.

“Yes. I just came to say hello to Kenzie and catch up,” she says.

“Sure, why don’t you show her your room, and I’ll keep cooking. Kelly, would you like some pasta for dinner?” he asks, and she nods.

“Are you sure you don’t need any help?” I ask him, still wondering what he was going to say to me earlier.

“No,” he says, moving away and back to the kitchen. I hook my arm in Kelly’s and walk us down towards my room, pushing the door open. The room is simple, with blue sheets on a single bed and matching, dark-blue curtains. There’s another fur rug in here and a wardrobe with a matching chest of drawers. I still need to get some more of my things from my old room, but I managed to get most of it in here. Kelly goes in and sits on the bed, as I shut the door.

“So . . .?” she asks, raising her eyebrows as she trails off. I don’t know where to start. So much has happened in the last twenty-four hours, and I haven’t a clue how to explain it all.

“Sexy East kissed me, then saw me naked in the bath. Then the twins also saw me naked in the bath. Then, I shifted back naked on top of Mr. Daniels and in front of the whole class. And then, East was a dick to me, despite the fact he has seen me naked twice now. Then, Enzo and I got drunk, like vodka from the bottle drunk.”

“There’s a whole lot of naked in that statement,” Kelly says, her eyes widening, and it makes me laugh.

“Yeah. I don’t think I’ve been naked this much since I was a baby,” I reply.

“So naked on top of Mr. Daniels, was that fun?” she asks jokingly, waggling her eyebrows.

“Totally, the whole class staring and laughing at me really set the mood,” I answer.

“Do you think it’s going to make this awkward, you staying here with him?” she asks, her voice turning more serious.

“It’s beyond awkward, but hey, maybe I’ll catch him naked sometime,” I joke.

“If you do, do the world a favour and commit the view to perfect memory . . . and then recount it for me. I’m living my relationship life vicariously through you. I’m relying on you here,” she teases.

“I don’t know why,” I mutter.

“There’s just nobody here for me,” she says and sighs dramatically, lying back on my bed.

“Come off it, Kells. You know there are plenty of guys in the academy who would be interested in you,” I reply, sitting on the edge of the bed with my back against the wall.

“Not the right ones,” she mumbles, throwing an arm over her eyes.

“What’s that supposed to mean? You have a particular guy in mind?” I ask.

“No, what would make you think that?” she asks, a little too quickly.

“Kelly Curwood, you vixen. Who is this man, and why haven’t I been told all the details?” I ask her.

“Nobody,” she says, again too quickly.

“Oh my god, I know him, right? I must, if you won’t tell me,” I say.

“There’s nobody, you’re being ridiculous,” Kelly replies.

“Sure, What’s Mr. Nobody’s name, Kells?” I ask her.

“There’s really no—”

“I will tickle the information out of you,” I say seriously, cutting her off. She moves her hand from over her face and looks me dead in the eye.

“You wouldn’t,” she says.

“Try me,” I reply sweetly.

“Fine,” she says and then sighs. “There is someone.”

“I knew it!” I exclaim.

“But, it’s complicated. He wouldn’t want me now, anyway,” she says, her voice sounding defeated.

“Why wouldn’t he?” I ask.

“Because I have two marks, just two. He’s got way more and is way too good for me,” she mutters.

“The amount of marks you have doesn’t matter, Kells,” I say to her softly, squishing in to lie beside her.

“We kissed once, me and the guy,” she says, it comes across wistful.

“When was that?” I ask curiously, dying to get some more information out of her. It’s not like Kelly to be so lock-lipped about this kind of thing.

“Months ago,” she sighs. “It only happened once, and he didn’t seem that interested after,” she says.

“Wait, you’ve been crushing on mystery man for months and haven’t told me?” I ask.

“Maybe . . .,” she says trailing off as she looks away.

“Who is he?” I ask, feeling even more curious now. She goes to answer when a knock comes at the door.

“Dinner’s ready,” Mr. Daniels’ voice calls through the door. Now that he mentions it, I can definitely smell the scent of the food slipping through the gaps in the door.

“You may be saved by my desire for food right now, but you are going to give me all the juicy information later, got it?” I say to Kelly.

“Fine,” she grumbles, but she doesn’t meet my eyes as she says it.

“But first, let’s go eat lots of pasta,” I reply lightly, letting her off the hook for now. I feel my stomach grumble in agreement as I stand. At least, something is communicating properly with me. I watch Kelly as she stands and heads toward the door. She’s hiding something more than just a name, and I intend to find out what.