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“I don’t know. I thought maybe they knew you,” she mumbled. “I thought if I stayed long enough, you’d show up.”

“Holy shit,” Nico muttered. “Hayden, I stayed with Mrs. Pauline by then. I—little wolf.”

Yeah, she figured the same afterward. "Well, things got pretty interesting while I waited." She laughed a little bit. "The music they were listening to, changed and all of them got naked. I didn't understand what I was about to see, but I also couldn't leave."

“They had sex and you watched?” Nico continued to stare at her with a dumbfounded look on his face.

"Yeah, I did." Heat filled her cheeks. "They'd have never known I was there if I hadn't kicked a bottle." She ran to Kalkin's house and snuck into her uncle's home, though now, she wondered if he knew she left home, and he let her in. She pushed the thought aside. "No one asked me anything, and I never offered anything either."

She didn't know how long they sat there, but eventually, their lunch was placed in front of them and their drinks had been refilled. She didn't tell him about what happened because she wanted him to feel sorry for her. Though, she did want him to have some perspective too. Not everything he knew about her was rosy after she arrived in Window Rock. The one group of people who were supposed to take care of her all but ignored her for the most part.

"Then there were the nights I didn't eat," she whispered. "I don't think Holly did it on purpose and it was my fault too. I'd get so drawn into my homework I'd forget." She shrugged. "Most of the time, Mac would bring me cookies and milk when he'd get home, especially if he worked late at a site. I never had the heart to tell him the truth."

“Never again,” Nico snarled. “Never fucking again.”

“I’m fine, Nico. I didn’t ever say anything because I didn’t want to be a burden to anyone. It’s hard enough beingthatkid, let alone asking for stuff or needing people." She pushed away the morose feelings and tucked into her lunch. "Now you know, and I'd appreciate it if you never said a word to anyone too."

“I can’t make that promise.” His brown eyes blazed with rage and pain. “They are your family. They should always be there for you. This... I can’t keep this to myself.”

“I didn’t tell you so you could run off and blab about my problems, Nico. Please don’t make me regret telling you any of this,” she pleaded.

“Fine,” he grumbled. “But if shit is ever said or the right opportunity presents itself, you better bet your sweet ass, I am going to give them all a piece of my fucking mind. Damn it, Hayden, do you understand what was happening to you at all? You were no better than us orphans! They treated you like a charity case, not their fucking blood. I am so fucking angry. So fucking hurt. Goddammit!” Nico slammed his fist on the table, drawing attention to them. “You deserved so much more, baby. Then I had to go and fuck your life up more. No wonder why you stayed here and never went home. I can’t fucking fault you there. If you never want to return, I’m good with it. I can be a deputy anywhere. Not just Window Rock.”

She laughed a little. “I have news.”

“What?” Nico wiped his mouth.

“Loraine is pregnant. I have to go home. The baby is due around spring break.” Hayden held her hand out to him. “And, I'd love it if you came with me."

An hour later after they’d eaten and talked, they returned to her room. She placed the key in the lock, and he stilled her hand then turned the knob, stepping inside first. He made a quick circuit of the room then motioned her to enter.

“It’s my room, in Bell’s sorority house. It’s not like someone is going to booby trap it.”

He shrugged. “Not like someone won’t. It’s better to be safe than sorry.”

“Aren’t you a Boy Scout,” she said, walking into her room. “So, now what?” She sat on her bed, while he opened and closed the closet before going into the bathroom. He came back out and sat beside her. “Well?”

“Coast is clear.”

“And?” she hedged.

“And what?” Nico tilted his head.

“What now?” Geez, sometimes it’s like pulling teeth with him.

“I guess it depends on you.” He shrugged.

“Oh really?”

“Yes, really.” Exasperation laced his words.

“Okay, so, what is it?” she pushed. “That depends on me.”

He glanced out the window of her room, overlooking all of the other sorority houses nestled at the base of the hills. “Full moon starts tonight, little wolf.”

“Yes, it is,” she agreed. “Though, I still don’t feel the pull like the rest of you.”

Nico gave her a little smile, joining their hands. “What do you say to us trying to figure out why that is and tonight, I’ll maybe I’ll finish what we started, all those years ago.”