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She and Julie seemed to be taking advantage of the fact that everyone was distracted by what was happening in the parking lot to join us unnoticed. And for a moment, I too forgot about the other hostilities and simply enjoyed the spectacle.

“I find it odd…” Julie murmured.

“What exactly?” I asked, watching Jenny Bexley hurry across the campus lawn in her yellow stiletto heels, followed by a horde of cameramen and reporters, as well as her younger sister, who was trying to keep up.

“Ooh!” the blond, tousle-haired guy shouted into the megaphone and pointed across the campus.

“The Eye...” Julie continued. “I wonder who could be behind it?”

The entire crowd turned around. I followed his gaze as well.

A group of athletes, no... The baseball team, dressed in their dark green Vanderwood hoodies with the banned athletics logo, was heading straight for the parking lot, swinging their bats in their hands.

“Oh, Harlow is going to be really happy,” Miles quipped.

The closer the baseball players got to the parking lot, the louder the students' cheers became. I had never seen so many people on the entire lawn before.

“I'd love to know who's behind all this,” I thought aloud.

It had to be someone who had the necessary knowledge of campus and technology, but at the same time was socially smart enough to get a crowd so excited.

“Larissa, no.” I looked at my best friend, who was standing next to me with a warning glare. “I know what you’re thinking, and the answer is no.”

“You’re boring, Bay,” I sighed with a grin. “Where's that little rebel from elementary school hiding, hmm?”

Miles and Julie looked at Bayla in surprise.

My bestie stared at me for a moment as if she’d seen a ghost, before giving me an intense look, ignoring the other two.

“This could be a sick psychopath. Are you aware of that?” she continued. “Oh, wait, how could I have forgotten? You attract psychopaths like honey attracts bears.”

Pretending to be annoyed, I raised both eyebrows. “Dude, what's that supposed to mean?”

I tried to push aside the dull feeling that she was right again, even though I didn't want to repress it.

Repression was what drove people crazy in the long run.

For the moment, I allowed myself to forget my past and live in the moment. After all, hot baseball players were about to demonstrate their skills on Harlow's car.

“Now I'm curious,” Miles picked up on Bayla's words.

“That I'll do my best to keep your sister out of danger in this town,” Bayla replied with a serious look.

We both knew that had never worked so far. And our looks spoke volumes.

“Why do I already know that you're going to drag me into some life-threatening situation again soon?” Bayla sighed.

I gave her a crooked grin.

“Yes, please, take care of her, Bay,” Miles said amusedly, grabbing my shoulders and shaking me slightly to tease me. “Because I'm not her babysitter.”

Now Bayla looked at Miles in surprise.

Had he just called her Bay?

“No one ever asked you to,” I replied irritably and pushed him away. “Besides...”

I didn't get a chance to continue because a high-pitched voice, all too familiar to me, rang out.