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stainless steel blade. Careful. It’s amazingly sharp. It’ll cut through anything.”
    We were in the small den at Julie’s house, and I was showing them the knife I had bought at Hunters & Company, at the mall, the knife I planned to carry in my bag from now on.
    The guy at Hunters told me all about it and how to use it. It’s called a Magnum Ypsilon Tan G-10 Folding Knife. The handle is black-and-tan and it feels great, heavy but not too heavy, comfortable in your hand. The blade is amazing.
    I told the salesman my dad was a collector, and I was buying it for a birthday surprise. I think he believed me. I don’t think he could see on my face that I was buying it for protection, buying it for me.
    â€œThis is dangerous,” Julie said, shaking her head. “I know you went through a bad thing, Caitlyn, but…”
    â€œIt’s just for emergencies,” I said. “I’m not going to walk around stabbing people.”
    â€œYou’re not allowed to bring it to school,” Miranda said. “If you get caught…”
    â€œI won’t get caught,” I said. “You know that big bag I always carry. I’ll keep the knife at the bottom, under everything else.”
    They tried to argue. But they know me. Once I make up my mind, that’s it. I knew I’d never use the knife. But having it with me made me feel better.
    I got lucky in the parking garage with my knee kick. But what if that creep had come after me? What if he had tried to kill me?
    The thought made me shudder. I still thought about it all the time, still pictured his stubbly, drooling, red-eyed face, still felt his hands squeezing my arms.
    My phone beeped. I tucked the knife into my bag and pulled out the phone. “A text from Blade,” I told them. “We’re going out tonight.” I tapped a reply. “We text each other all day long. It’s awesome.”
    Julie and Miranda exchanged a glance. I knew what was coming. Their lecture on not getting too serious about Blade.
    Well … it was too late for that. I couldn’t be more serious, and I knew he felt the same way, too. But for some reason, my friends thought it their duty to caution me.
    â€œYou always rush into things, Caitlyn.”
    â€œYou’re always so impulsive. You don’t really know Blade that well. You really should be careful not to get carried away.”
    I rolled my eyes. “I seriously am beginning to believe that you two are jealous,” I said. “I’m sorry you don’t have boyfriends, but it really isn’t my fault.”
    Julie jumped to her feet. “That’s not fair. We’re only thinking of you,” she said.
    Miranda motioned for her to sit back down. “Okay, okay, we get it, Caitlyn. You don’t want us in your face. Fine. We’ll stop.”
    Julie sighed and dropped back down.
    â€œBlade and I are perfect,” I told them. “I know we haven’t known each other for long. I know it’s all been so crazy and fast. But … we’re perfect. I don’t know how else to say it.”
    They both sank back into the couch cushions. I think I finally got through to them.
    A short while later, I went home to get ready for my date with Blade. For a long while, I sat on the edge of my bed, daydreaming about him. I imagined his arms around me, holding me tightly against him. I pictured those strange gray-green eyes gazing so deeply into mine. I thought about the way we teased each other, the way we talked together so easily.
    I thought about kissing him … kissing him till I felt lost … till I felt I was somewhere else in the world … somewhere far away from anyone and anything I knew.
    When my phone beeped, it shocked me from my dazed imaginings. I grabbed my bag and fumbled the phone out.
    I read the short text message on the screen—and gasped, “Oh no.”

 
    10.
    The message from Blade