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a long time ago.”
    “I’m not trying to do that.” Sam looked surprised. I could have sworn I saw hurt flicker across his face too, but I didn’t care. Who was he to be hurt? “I just meant, well, I know how you feel,” he added.
    I could taste bile in my mouth. I stared at him. Of all the things people said to me to try to make me feel better, I hated that sentence the most. Sam Stone didn’t know how I felt. How could he? I was sick and tired of people who’d had a grandparent die and thought it was the same thing. Or even worse, people who’d had to bury a pet iguana or the dog they’d grown up with. Sure, I felt sad for them, but how could they possibly compare that to losing a parent?
    “You have no idea how I feel,” I said coldly. I reached into the backseat and grabbed my bookbag. I couldn’t get out of the Jeep fast enough.
    “But Lacey—”
    “Forget it,” I said firmly. I fumbled with the door handle and spilled out with my things. I could feel Sam watching me all the way to my front door, but I didn’t turn around.
    •  •  •

    I was overreacting. I knew it. But I couldn’t melt the wall of ice that had formed around my heart in those last few minutes in Sam’s Jeep. I hated it when people tried to help me, especially now. Couldn’t they see I was dealing just fine? I was the person holding my family together. I didn’t need anyone’s help or pity. Especially not some new guy’s. I wondered if he had roved the halls of his old school too, looking for sad girls to save.
    So I steadfastly ignored Sam, even when he tried to pass me a note the next morning in trig class, even when he threw a paper airplane at my arm to get my attention. I didn’t want to talk to him. He wasn’t the person I thought he was; he was nosy, just like the rest of them.
    That was what I was thinking about when Brooke Newell arrived in the doorway with a note in her hand. She was one of the seniors who was community college-bound already and was taking an office-assistant class for credit. She handed Mrs. Bost the note, snuck a look around the classroom, waved to Krista Sivrich, and then hurried away.
    Mrs. Bost unfolded the note and read it. When she looked up, she stared right at me.
    “Miss Mann,” she said, “your presence is requested in Mr. Miller’s office.”
    A murmur went through the class, and I swallowed hard. Mr. Miller was the main principal. You didn’t get sent to him unless something was really wrong. I certainly hadn’t done anything to get myself in trouble, so my first thought was Mom . Had something happened to her? Or to Tanner? Could something have happened to Logan since I got out of the car thirty minutes ago?
    I stood up and stuffed my notebook and pen into my bag.
    “Does it say why he wants to see me?” I asked, hating that my voice sounded nearly as panicked as I felt. Someone in the back of the room snickered, and I heard someone else say, “Ooh, she’s in trouble!”
    “No,” Mrs. Bost said. I glanced at Jennica, who looked worried. Then, just because I couldn’t help it, I locked eyes with Sam.
    “Want me to come with you?” he asked, like it was the most normal question in the world. I opened my mouth to say no, but Mrs. Bost preempted me.
    “I think Lacey is capable of finding the principal’s office by herself,” she said, giving Sam a look.
    Sam glanced at me again and shrugged. I could feel my cheeks getting hot. I strode quickly into the hall before my throat could close up entirely.

chapter 4

    M r. Miller’s secretary ushered me into his office right away, which only added to my already heightened sense of panic.
    “Is my mom okay?” I asked immediately, without bothering to say hello. “And my brothers?”
    “Yes, yes,” Mr. Miller said hastily. He looked a little confused. “Of course. As far as I know.”
    I felt the air I’d been holding in leave my body in a whoosh. “Thank God,” I said.
    Mr. Miller was silent for a minute, as if