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"They forbid me to be with you. And our driver is now permanently following me."
"They've got someone watching you?" A vein pulses in his temple. "What the hell?" I grin at his indignation. I try to remember that, for ordinary people, this kind of behavior is outrageous. I grew up hearing about Dad having Mom, and then James, watched. I was never interesting enough to be watched until now. Maybe it's sick of me to think like this, but any attention is better than none at all. And this is the only kind of attention my father knows how to give. "Why aren't you more upset about this?"
I ponder explaining it to him, but I don't think he'll understand, so I just wave my hand. "We’re together at school every day. And if we want to do something outside of school...well...sneaking out is more fun."
I thought this might lighten up the mood, but it seems to have the opposite effect on him. His brow furrows, and he purses his lips.
"I'm a bad influence, Dani."
I nudge him playfully with my elbow. "I think I needed just that."
"We both do," Hazel adds, making us both jump. "Go ahead, be as bad an influence on her as you can. Maybe I'll catch some of it, too. It'd be a shame to graduate high school with the good girl stamp on our foreheads. Every girl worth her salt must break some rules. The best rules are broken with bad boys."
"Who shared that piece of wisdom with you?" Damon huffs, scrutinizing her.
"My mother," Hazel says.
I grin as Damon frowns in confusion. You have to know Hazel’s mom to fathom the mere idea that a mother could say this. The wild stories Hazel’s mom recounts from her youth are nothing short of legendary.
"On that note,” Hazel adds, “I'm leaving. Mom also says being a third wheel should be fined."
Damon grins. "I like your mom, Hazel."
"You would love her mom," I say as Hazel leaves.
Damon turns serious again. "How long is this tailing going to last?"
"Probably until I turn eighteen, which is one month after graduation."
"They'll just stop afterward?"
"No." A pit forms in my stomach as I realize I never told him of my plans to study in England. As a matter of fact, I haven't even thought about what that means for us. Oxford and Damon were in different worlds until recently. "But I'm going to Oxford to college. I'll be out of their reach."
"Oxford," Damon repeats. His voice doesn't hold the shock I expected. Quite the contrary. It even sounds optimistic as he says, "That's far away from here. I can come to England, if you want me to."
"Are you serious?"
"Of course I am. Dani, I've wanted to leave this damn place ever since I came here. For you, I'd stay here after graduation, but if we can both leave, that's perfect. I can find work anywhere."
"Fighting?"
"There is an audience for that kind of entertainment everywhere."
"Wouldn't you like to do something else?"
His excitement morphs into a sad smile within a split-second. "That's not good enough for you?"
"Is it good enough for you?" I bite my lip, realizing I sound like my parents. "You’re smart, Damon, and doing well at school, despite trying your best to do badly."
"School was always important to Mom."
"I bet she wanted you to attend college."
"She did. I promised her I would apply to college, but I never did. There wasn't even a community college near where we lived, and I didn't want to move away from her. If it's important to you, I can apply to college. You're the only person besides Mom who can motivate me for that."
"What would you like to do?" I ask.
"Something math-related."
