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I jumped as a car horn sounded loudly and turned as a white sedan pulled up next to me. The passenger window opened, and I saw Luke smiling at me. It was the first time I’d really seen him since his first day as the new kid at Fairview High, and his expression was just as friendly as I remembered

“Need a ride?” he asked.

I adjusted my bag on my shoulder as I considered his question. “Please tell me that’s not some kind of stripper pickup line. I’d hate to disappoint you, but I don’t actually take my clothes off for money.”

Luke blanched as he shook his head. “No, Ally, I swear I was just offering to drive you home. Whoever put those posters up is an asshole.”

He looked so shocked and appalled that I couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m kidding,” I reassured him. “Judging by your face though, maybe it’s too soon to laugh about my rumored new career. But, yeah, I’d actually love a ride.”

Luke gave a shaky laugh. “You looked so serious,” he said, pressing his hand against his chest as though I’d almost given him a heart attack. “You’re almost as good an actor as you are a dancer.”

He winked at me as I opened the car door and slid into the passenger seat. Luke’s car was clean and smelled like peppermint, and the radio was humming softly in the background. It was a nice change from the car I shared with Shane, which I had to air out every weekend because he always left his used football gear inside it.

“Where do you live?” Luke asked.

I fastened my seat belt before I looked up at him. “About a five-minute drive away. I’ll give you directions,” I said, pointing ahead.

“That was some performance you gave at lunch.” He glanced at me as he put the car into gear and started to pull away.

I sighed and shrugged my shoulders. “Yeah, I was pretty pissed off. I probably shouldn’t have risen to the bait, but I refuse to be walked all over. There was no perfect way to handle the situation. If I had run away crying, it would only have fueled the rumors. If I had lost it at everyone I would have looked like an angry bitch. I chose door number three.”

“I think you did the right thing,” Luke said with a smile. “You looked like you were having fun up there, and no one is talking about the posters anymore—just about how great a dancer you are. You laughed in the face of the rumors rather than let them tear you down. You’re quite something, Ally Lockwood.”

“Thanks,” I murmured. The way Luke put it kind of made me proud of what I’d done.

“So, where did you live before you came to Fairview?” I asked, ready to change the subject.

“San Francisco,” Luke replied. “My parents grew tired of living in the city, and my dad is in IT. He works remotely so he can pretty much do it from anywhere.”

“And you guys chose Fairview?”

“Try not to sound so shocked.”

“Sorry.” I laughed in response. “It’s just, it’sFairview.”

“Yeah, but my mom has family here and the lifestyle isn’t so hectic. And so far, the kids at my new school seem pretty cool.” He gave me a knowing smile as he spoke. “Aside from the ones spreading vicious rumors about my favorite dancer, of course.”

“Of course,” I replied. I focused back on the road and pointed toward the turn off to my street. “That’s my house two doors down on the left.”

Luke followed my directions and pulled to a stop in front of the house. He was tapping his fingers on the wheel as he looked up at my house. “You’ve got a nice home,” he said.

I shrugged. “It’s not really a home when no one’s ever in it.” I quickly realized I didn’t want to elaborate and continued talking before Luke could get a word in. “Anyway, thanks so much for the ride. The walk would have sucked.”

“Anytime, Ally,” Luke replied with a smile that brought the dimples out in his cheeks.

I gave him a smile in return before I got out of the car. I stood on the sidewalk and waved as he drove off. Luke was cute and seemed like a really sweet guy. It was a shame there weren’t more boys in our school like him. Chase could certainly use a lesson in kindness from Luke.

As I turned to face my house, a sense of dread welled up inside me. I didn’t want to see Chase right now, and I couldn’t face any more confrontation after the day I’d had. I almost considered heading to Tessa’s place, but I knew I couldn’t avoid my house forever. I was going to have to see Chase again sometime; I might as well get it over with.

I tried to open the front door quietly, but Shane must have been listening for me because it was barely open a crack when he came rushing to greet me.

“How are you holding up?”

I gave him a tired shrug. “I’m fine, Shane. It was only detention.”

“I’m not talking about the detention…”

“I don’t care about the prank,” I said, trying to shake off his concern.