Despite the best of intentions, we are still running late as we rush through the main building to pain class. The door of the room is still open, so we can't hover outside when we get there. The teacher, Mr Tower, is leaning against his desk watching the door. He scowls at us both as we walk in slowly, hand in hand.

“Mr Black, I wasn't aware you were joining us today. Did you suddenly develop the pain mark over night?” he asks mockingly.

“No, sir. I'm just sitting in,” East replies politely.

“And you, Miss Crowe, after Mr Anders informed me you missed healing class earlier, despite Headmaster Lockhart’s reassurances you would be attending, I assumed you must have fallen gravely ill. What other possible excuse could you have?” Mr Tower says, as he slicks his greasy, black hair back. He gives a pointed look between me and East, and I glance away from him to look around the room.

Stella is sitting there with a wide grin on her face. She's dyed the tips of her hair purple since I've last seen her. I normally love seeing colours in people's hair, but on Stella, the purple looks tacky. Especially considering her top is the exact same shade of purple.

“I wasn't feeling great earlier, but I'm feeling much better now,” I lie, and then I head towards the only two free seats together, tugging East along after me. Unfortunately for us, that puts us right next to the desk where Stella is sitting alone. Dropping his hand, I quickly snag the seat further away, leaving East to take the spot between me and Stella. Only a small gap to walk between separates them. He gives me a dirty look as I grin evilly at him from my secured spot. Without any other option, East settles down in the seat.

“Now, before we were so rudely interrupted by a late student, where were we?” Mr Tower asks the class, I can't stop my eyes from rolling at that. “Something funny, Miss Crowe?” he asks, narrowing his eyes on me. Shit.

“No, not at all, Mr Tower,” I answer blandly.

“Uncle, she was just whispering things to East. I'm sure I saw her dirty hands sliding onto his lap under the table too,” Stella whines. Lying bitch!

Both of my hands are flat on the table in front of me, but that doesn't stop my face from flushing hot as everyone in the classroom turns around to stare at me.

“Mr Black, if Miss Crowe cannot keep her hands off you, you will need to leave,” Mr Tower says sternly.

“But that's bullshit, she didn't touch me!” East shouts angrily, pushing his chair back. I lay my hand on his shoulder and shake my head slightly at him. Losing his temper isn't going to help either of us.

“She's touching him again,” Stella gripes incredulously. Seriously?

“I'm touching his shoulder, not his freaking dick. I know you sure as hell aren't a prude, so what's your damn issue?” I ask, snapping at her.

“What are you trying to say?” she growls, standing up and folding her arms. I stand too, not wanting her to tower over me.

“You know exactly what I'm saying,” I answer, raising an eyebrow at her as her face contorts in anger. East goes to stand too, but I rest a hand on his shoulder. I don't need him to fight this battle for me. Rebels, I may need help with, but bitchy school girls? I'd dealt with enough of them to know how to handle myself.

“I'd like you to clarify it for me, bitch. From where I'm standing, you're the one getting around. Even a teacher from what I hear,” she says in a haughty voice. I hear a few sharp intakes of breath. Shit. I may know he wasn't here as an actual teacher, but I doubt anyone else does.

“You're only pissed because none of the guys in this school will touch you even with a ten-foot fucking barge pole!” I snap back.

“Oh really? That didn't stop Enzo coming to see me before he left earlier,” she taunts. Fuck off.

“Yeah right, like he'd go anywhere near you!”

“Ask him yourself. He dropped by my room around five in the morning, he couldn't keep his eyes, or his hands off me.” She steps closer to me, her eyes flaring with anger as she tosses her hair back over her shoulder.

“You're lying,” I insist. She goes to reply, but the sound of a book smacking a desk makes us both look to the front of the class.

“Mr Black, please leave the classroom at once. And you, be quiet and take your damn seat!” Mr Tower shouts, and Stella gives me a victorious look, but it's short lived. “You too, Stella. I won't be pleased if I am forced to put my own niece in detention.”

“You can't be serious,” she splutters disbelievingly, as I quietly slide into my seat. East stands up, leaning down to place a kiss on my forehead. “I'll just wait outside, Kenz. Don't worry, I won't leave you,” he whispers in my ear, before he walking out the room. I can still see him through the open door, and he gives me a little wave.

“Deadly serious,” Mr Tower answers, his pale, almost translucent face seems flushed with either embarrassment or anger. I suppose nobody wants to hear their niece boasting about hooking up with a guy, especially in the class they are trying to teach. Stella sits down, but pulls out her phone, clearly intending to ignore the rest of her uncle's class. He chooses to ignore the fact she's pulled out her phone, and walks to the door, slamming it shut and cutting East from my line of sight. Asshole.

“Now where were we class?” he asks again in a tired voice. The whole class stares blankly at him, clearly everyone had gotten lost in the drama. Fantastic. They're all still turning to stare at me, and my face just keeps growing hotter. I feel one of my marks on my wrist burning. Which one is that...?

Suddenly, flames erupt all over my desk. I lean back, falling back on my chair and knocking my head on the ground. Fuck. After hearing so many teachers tell the exact same story of a student leaning back in their chair, then falling and knocking their heads, I was so sure that it was bullshit. A freaking wide-spread teacher conspiracy. Now here I am, clutching my damn head, the very moron those stories are told about.

“What the bloody hell are you doing?” Mr Tower shouts. Falling? I look up at the spreading flames. Oh right, I accidentally set fire to my desk. Shit. A jet of water covers the desk, splashing and drenching me in the ice-cold liquid. I look down and notice my white top is completely see-through. Just when I thought It couldn't get any worse. I pull myself into a standing position, and a bright flash goes off right in my face. I blink my eyes clear and stare at Stella, she turns her phone around so I can see the screen.

Flushed cheeks, strands of my hair have come loose from my ponytail and are sticking up all over the place, and my soaked, now see-through shirt does nothing to hide my pink bra as it sticks to my skin. Fantastic. She turns the phone back around to herself. “And send,” she says gleefully.

“Send to who?” I ask, wishing I had a jacket to pull on. I'm really giving the whole class a freaking free show right now. I shiver from the chill the water has left me with. Yeah, I really wish I'd grabbed a jacket.

“Everyone,” she answers, shrugging. Her phone vibrates, and I expect more gloating from her, but her face turns stricken. “I have to go,” she blurts, and then she rushes from the room without another word.

“Stella!” Mr Tower calls after his niece, he follows her out of the room. I trail after them, needing to at least go back to the cabin and change, or I could go and get a new identity to escape the embarrassment of today. I hear a couple sniggers from my classmates as I walk through the room. Oh yeah, new identity sounds so good right now.

“Kenz, what are you...?” East asks, trailing off as he looks down at my shirt. “Nice bra,” he comments, and I roll my eyes.

“Yeah, you would think so. You're the one who helped me pick out which one to wear after breaking my other one when you ripped it off me earlier,” I tease. I hear a shocked gasp, and turn. Shit the classroom door is still open. I look down pleadingly at the floor. Anytime you want to open up a hole and suck me down away from this mess, that would be freaking great. East walks around me and shuts the classroom door. I turn my head left, spotting Mr Tower following Stella around the corner.

“Can't leave you alone for five minutes, can I?” East asks, as he tugs me towards him.

“You can, but please don't,” I reply, sighing as I rest my head against his hard chest.

“I won't. Don't listen to anything she said, Kenz. She's a liar,” he says, grabbing my hand and rubbing soothing circles over the palm.

“I'm not, that girl is freaking psychotic,” I mutter.

“Good, come on, let's get back to the cabin and get you into some dry clothes, or no clothes? I'm sure there are better ways to keep you warm,” he whispers huskily in my ear. A smile curves across my lips.

“I love your way of thinking, East,” I reply, pulling back and already tugging him down the corridor after me.

“And I love you,” he says, pulling me to a stop so he can kiss me. I kiss him back, feeling his soft, but firm lips on mine. I completely melt into him. East is perfect. He's always been perfect.

“I love you too, Easton Black.”