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“No, but I do have makeup wipes. Come on, let’s fix you up before you end up an internet meme.” Nicole locks her hand around my wrist and tows me toward the ladies’ room.

“I don’t have time. I need to grab something to eat and get to class.”

Nicole slows, studying me from head to toe. “Better to be a few minutes late than on time looking like you crawled out of an old-timey TV.”

“I knew it!” I laugh. “I look like the girl from The Ring.”

A pair of Barbie look-alikes from Zeta Nu come strutting toward us. The taller of the two blondes whispers “slut” as she shoves between Nicole and me.

“Seriously?” Nicole’s frame goes rigid, her hands balling into fists at her sides. “Try saying that to my face!”

The girl spins around and presses out a stiff grin. “I wasn’t talking to you.” The smile slides from her face, and her steely gaze shifts to me.

My mouth falls open. “Me? What the hell?”

“Come on, Kennedy.” Staring the girl down, Nicole shoves me into the restroom.

I wheel on her. “Why’d you do that? I was about to—”

“To what?” She presses her hands to her hips and arches an eyebrow.

My shoulders deflate. “I don’t know.”

“That’s what I thought.” She laughs, shoving a wet wipe into my hand. “Here. Use this before you end up with permanent black streaks.”

Fifteen minutes later, a little less put-together and a whole lot wet, I slip into my civics lecture just in time for a pop quiz on constitutional amendments. Professor Decker shoots me a dirty look as he passes back the quiz but thankfully doesn’t say a word about my lateness. I’m never late, I always pay attention, and I get amazing grades. I’m so reliable, I even piss myself off.

My skin crawls as I whiz through the multiple-choice questions, finishing before anyone else. Using my hair as a shield, I sneak a peek around the crowded auditorium.

Mark . . . something throws a wink at me from a couple of rows away. I’ve seen him around campus and at a few Greek functions. He’s cute, but I’m not interested.

A little voice in my head whispers, He didn’t make the list.

A girl seated in the row behind him follows the path of his eyes and makes a sour face when her gaze lands on me. And she’s not the only one staring as if I’ve grown a third boob. The evil eye Professor Decker gave me for being late is nothing compared to the weird looks coming from the rest of the class—as if everyone but me is in on some big secret.

I’m anxious for class to end so I can get the hell out of there. Maybe it’s the storm, maybe it’s the way Zeta Nu Barbie looked at me in the dining hall earlier, or maybe it’s because I can’t shake Jordan Keller’s parting words this morning. But all the uninvited attention is making me squirm.

Class finally lets out, and I jump from my seat like my ass is on fire. There’s no way I’m waiting for anyone to stop me. My phone buzzes with a text from my mother, and I open it without thinking. Almost immediately, an animated vagina spreads its petals across my screen like a spring flower.

Really, Mom?

Without pausing to clear the screen, I shove my phone into my pocket and rush out of the building, running smack into Tyler.

“Whoa.” Tyler wraps his fingers around my upper arms, holding me steady. “Where’s the fire?”

Without my permission, my eyes trail up his athletic frame all the way to his amused expression. “I, um . . . art history?”

“You don’t sound convinced.”

I glance over my shoulder and catch at least two girls snarling in my direction. They look . . . jealous? That would explain a lot.

“We’re still on for tonight, right?” His voice falters.

I drag my gaze from the competition to Tyler’s face.

He shifts his weight, sinking his teeth into his bottom lip as he palms the back of his neck.

“Of course! I can’t wait.” As if I’d ever cancel on him.