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“Is everything okay?”
    I try to process this. It was one thing for Blake to talk to me when I approached him in the kitchen, but there is no reason whatsoever for him to be here now. None. A tickle of nervous energy makes my stomach tighten. Is he jealous? I try not to let myself hope for things that can’t possibly be true.
    â€œWe’re fine,” Austin says. He slides his arm around me and pulls me back to him.
    For the second time, Blake looks directly at me. “Your friends are looking for you.” The words are neutral, but everything about his posture is tense. The slightest pressure and he’ll snap. “They’re ready to go.”
    â€œShe can stay here if she likes.” Austin doesn’t even try to make the sentence sound innocent.
    Blake emits a low guttural sound that’s almost a growl.
    I shrink back. “I should find out what they want.”
    Austin whispers in my ear. “Back here in five minutes.” It’s not a question.
    I step forward, but Blake still stands in the doorway, blocking my way. We’re too close, inches apart. I almost feel the current of electricity that hangs in the air between us. Only the fact that Austin is right behind me keeps me from running to the farthest corner of the room.
    â€œExcuse me?” I say.
    Blake blinks and takes a small step back. “They’re in the kitchen.”
    I slide past Blake, twisting my shoulders so my body doesn’t touch any part of his. Then I nearly run, snaking through the people milling in the hallway.
    Christy heads me off in the living room. “Omigod, Brie.” She rakes her hands through her black hair, creating body that will only last as long as she continues the motion. “What’s going on?”
    I almost launch into the whole story. About the weird hallucination with Blake and my kiss with Austin, but the worry in her tone stops me. “What do you mean?”
    â€œWhat are you doing with Austin?”
    â€œNothing.” The answer is pure reflex. It’s far easier than trying to sort out the truth.
    Christy looks around to make sure no one’s listening. “Haley saw you go off with him. She’s freaking.”
    Join the club, I want to say. Instead, I just wait, knowing Christy won’t be able to resist filling me in on whatever Haley’s latest drama involves.
    â€œHello? You hooked up with Austin! What were you thinking?”
    Not much beyond “yes,” if she wants the truth. It’s not like Christy can judge, given her own track record. She picks up guys the way an adrenaline junkie picks up hobbies. The more dangerous, the better.
    Christy pouts. “Austin’s the guy Haley came here to see in the first place. She really likes him, right?”
    I almost laugh. Austin is Otto? It figures that the one guy to show any interest in me since I moved here nearly three years ago is Haley’s latest boytoy. My life is a series of cruel ironies. The pretty girl no one sees. The horse I have to sell. The kiss I can’t keep.
    It’s not that I’m unattractive, exactly, but people always seem surprised when they see a picture of me—as if they never noticed I was pretty before. It’s not as obvious a thing with girls, but it still happens. It’s like I’m missing some key ingredient when I’m around people in person.
    Christy grabs my elbow and leads me out to a patio that’s serving as an impromptu smoking section. “I can’t believe you’re doing this to Haley,” she says, like I planned it or something.
    I’m grateful for the cloak the cloud of smoke provides. It’s a relief to disappear. “I swear, I didn’t know.”
    Christy bums a cigarette from a group of skaters in the corner even though she doesn’t really smoke. “I knew you wouldn’t do this on purpose.”
    â€œI didn’t know,” I say again, hoping if I repeat it