The room complied instantly.
Right on time, the intercom crackled:
“Good morning, Ashford High,”Principal Morales said, her voice overly bright.“A few announcements before we get started today.”
Chairs scraped. Pencils scratched against paper. A few people whispered back and forth.
Mr. Rowen cleared his throat and everyone quieted, sitting up straighter.
“Tomorrow night, we play Melville. Remember, it’s a red-out event—wear your red and get ready to cheer on the Bobcats.”
A pause, then the sound of papers shuffling.
“Happy birthday today to… Let’s see… Hayley Dempsey, Adaira Hickman, and Mrs. Hanks in the front office.”
There was a smattering of claps, and someone whooped.
“And finally,”she added,“for those interested, there’s supposed to be a meteor shower visible during the game. The Astronomy Club says it should be a good one if the skies stay clear. Now, please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.”
We stood and recited it together, then the intercom clicked off.
Mr. Rowen launched into the lecture—governments, power distribution, and the illusion of permanence. I listened with half my attention, my mind on the moves I had to make later today.
“Why don’t societies collapse during periods of prosperity?” He asked in his husky voice.
Hands shot up.
He ignored them and turned those devastating blue eyes on me. “Taryn?”
Every head turned.
“Yes?” I raised one brow coolly, even as heat pooled low in my belly from having his full attention.
Get it together, Taryn. This asshole doesn’t deserve that kind of reaction from you. Lucas could go screw himself. He’d abandoned me as much as Adrian had.
“Answer the question.” He narrowed his eyes.
The demand in his voice made me shiver, and I noticed heat flare in his eyes at my reaction.
“Prosperity breeds denial,” I sighed in annoyance, hoping I’d wiped any sign of desire from my face. “People ignore fractures as long as things are working for them. By the time they admit there’s a problem, the damage is already structural.”
Silence.
Take that, dick. He thought he had me with that question.
Mr. Rowen considered my answer without reacting, the way someone weighs information—surprised at my reasoning.
“And the people who see those fractures early?” He watched me with curiosity.
“They leave and save themselves,” I answered without hesitation.
A few students shifted uncomfortably. Sheep.
“Interesting perspective.” He frowned briefly. “Thank you.”
The bell rang.
Students flooded the aisles, noise rising and order breaking down. I stood, slung my bag over my shoulder, and turned—only to nearly collide with Lucas Rowen.
