“Look, I’m sorry, okay?” Kimberlee said, clearly more interested in placating me than actually apologizing.

“Whatever,” I grumbled.

It took me five trips to load my car up with the rest of the merchandise from stores. And even though I had totally altruistic motives, I had to admit it was a nice bonus that I would be able to take so much stuff back in one trip.

I pulled the rapidly dwindling roll of stickers out of my pocket and slapped one onto each box.

“Why are you doing that?” Kimberlee asked. “With Hennigan on the rampage, you’re more likely to get caught if you’re using those stickers on everything, even if this isn’t in school.”

“It’s my trademark,” I said. “I like it,” I added icily. Maybe I just liked that they still annoyed her. Small victories.

“Well, when Hennigan kicks your ass out of school, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

We drove for almost half an hour before we reached the homeless-shelter-slash-soup-kitchen I’d found online. There was no one at the back door, despite the huge line out front. I’d apparently caught the staff between garbage runs and cigarette breaks. That could last minutes . . . or seconds.

With my heart pounding I ran back and forth from my car to the porch, stacking boxes as fast as I could. I practically threw the last box on the top of the pile, and as I turned I heard it crash to the ground. I glanced back and saw something glittery and gold roll out onto the cement, but didn’t dare go back. I was already a little worried I’d been caught on some kind of camera and was about to experience my first manhunt. And I doubted every cop would be as nice or understanding as Officer Herrera.

I think I was a full ten minutes back on the road before I began breathing normally again. And, miracle of miracles, Kimberlee stayed quiet that whole time.

I glanced down at the dashboard clock. 6:21. “Sweet. I have enough time to go home and sleep for a few more hours,” I said, trying to stifle a yawn.

“What am I supposed to do?”

I shrugged. “Whatever you want. I’m not your social advisor.”

“Yeah, but I’m bored. You’re never around. If I let you sleep, can we watch a movie tonight?”

I just wanted her to stop talking. “Can’t. Have a date with Sera.” Assuming I could get home before I fell asleep and crashed my car.

“Edged out by the junkie cheerleader again,” she muttered.

“Would you shut up!” I half surprised myself when the words came shouting out of my mouth.

Kimberlee looked over at me with wide eyes. “What?”

“Nothing—not a word about Sera ever again, do you understand?”

“I have a right to not like her.”

“Then keep it to yourself!” I gripped the steering wheel harder. “The fact that you don’t like her is probably a compliment.”

“Screw you!” Kimberlee snapped.

“All you have done since I met Sera is rag on her and try to keep me away from her. But guess what? I like her. I like her a lot. You know who I like her a lot more than? You!”

“Yeah, ’cause she’s sooo much better than me.”

“That’s for sure.”

“Because she’s so innocent? Stuff happened before you got here that you can’t even begin to understand, and she was right in the middle of it. She’s lucky she’s not in jail. My dad would have put her away in a second.”

I briefly remembered Sera’s words the other night—It’ll mess you up. It messed me up—but pushed them to the back of my mind. “And I’m just supposed to believe that?”

“Why would I lie?”

“Why would you steal? I don’t know! Because you are a freaking psychopath!” I was out-and-out yelling now and it felt good. Weeks of holding my temper, despite everything, exploded out my mouth. “You’re mean and petty and spiteful! You hate everyone—as far as I can tell you’ve always hated everyone—and I don’t know why you can’t understand when everyone hates you back!”

“At least I’m not the one stumbling blindly down a path led by nothing but a pretty face and a nice ass, refusing to listen to anyone around me!”

I slammed on my brakes and skidded to the side of the road. “That’s it. Get out.”

Kimberlee looked out the window. “Here?” she said, wrinkling her nose. Her voice was calm—as if the entire conversation had never taken place.

“Here. Get out and don’t come back until you’re ready to accept my relationship with Sera. Because if you say one more thing about her—and I mean it—one more thing, I will take everything else in that cave and throw it in the ocean and you will never move on.”

It was an empty threat, but something in my voice must have convinced her I was serious, because her jaw dropped and for a second I thought she might cry. Then her eyes narrowed and her glare was all daggers. “Fine,” she hissed. “But when she breaks your heart into a million pieces because she’s not the perfect angel you think she is don’t come whining to me, because all I’ll say is I. Told. You. So.” She spun away from me, hair flying, and slid through the passenger-seat door. I peeled onto the freeway and forced myself not to look in my rearview, afraid that seeing her standing on the side of the highway might make me change my mind.

I was still a little grumpy when I rang the doorbell at Sera’s house that afternoon.