bChapter /bb1030 /b

    Halsey pulled out her phone and started dialing 911.

    The big guy nced at Sierra, and she gave him a quick look, telling him to run.

    He bolted out the door.

    A few ssmates shouted after him, “What, you scared now? I thought you were so tough you’d stick around for the cops!”

    But the man was long gone.

    Everyone rushed over to Halsey instead.

    “Halsey, you were amazing!” one girl said, her voice still shaky.

    “I was so scared I could barely breathe,” another admitted. “But you weren’t. You stood up to him like it

    was nothing!”

    Halsey shook her head, serious as ever. “Listen. When your safety’s on the line, fear won’t help you. The only thing that works is thew. Always protect yourself with it.”

    Zada grinned and stuck up her thumb. “You’re the best!”

    Sierra was silent, her face filled with frustration. She had put on this whole performance, and somehow it was Halsey who walked away the hero.

    Everyone was crowded around Halsey, cheering her on. What about Sierra, the supposed victim?

    Sierra forced herself back into the spotlight. “Halsey… Thank you for what you did.”

    Halsey gave her a small smile. “Don’t mention it. Anyone else would’ve done the same.”

    Sierra’s eyes welled up again. “But… That’s my dad. He ran away today, but what about tomorrow? He coulde back anytime. I’m really scared.”

    She sniffled, watching Halsey’s reaction carefully. Then she added, “I don’t even feel safe going home anymore. I don’t have a home now. Where am I supposed to stayb?/bb” /b

    Zada jumped in right away. “Sierra, you can stay with me!”

    But Sierra shook her head fast. b“/bYour ce doesn’t have a spare room. And you’ve got your sister–inw

    staying over.”

    She reached out and held Halsey’s hand. “Halsey… Could I maybe stay at your ce for a little while?”

    What Sierra really wanted was’to move into Halsey and Shaun’s big house.

    Chanter E

    You want to stay at my ce?” Halsey asked, a little taken aback.

    Sierra let out a soft sob. “If it’s too much trouble, forget I asked. I know it’s a lot. But I only have two real friends–Zada and you I didn’t know who else to turn to ”

    Zads looked between them “Halsey, maybe let her stay a couple of nights? She won’t be any trouble.”

    Sierra jumped in quickly. “Yeah, Halsey, please! You’re the best.”

    Halsey hesitated, then nodded. ‘Alright. You can stay at my ce for nowi./ii” /i

    Sierre’s whole face lit up. “Thank you! You’re such a good friend.”

    She threw her arms around Halsey, hugging her tightly. As she smiled into Halsey’s shoulder, a sly grin curled at the corner of her lips.

    Halsey had taken the bait. She was officially in.

    Halsey just said calmly, “Don’t thank me. We’re friends. That’s what friends do.”

    Sierra beamed. “T’ll go pack my stuff right now.”

    With that, bshe /bhurried off, practically skipping.

    Halsey and Zada sat down at a nearby table.

    Zada leaned in toward Halsey. “How about this–Sierra stays with you a couple of nights, thenes to my ce for a couple of nights. We’ll split it.”

    Halsey didn’t reply to her suggestion. Instead, she asked, “How did you and Sierra meet?”

    bZade /bblinked “Why do you ask?”

    i“/iJust curious,” Halsey said “I don’t remember you ever mentioning her before.”

    Zada started to exin

    “It was kind of crazy, actually. One night after school, I was walking home alone. It waste, and suddenly, two creeps jumped out of nowhere and tried to mess with me. I screamed for help. And then,

    deze sluwed up out of nowhere

    She was so brave bthe /bstood up to them and scared them off. After that, we started talking, and it turns

    we both go to Antech University. We realized we were ssmates, so we became friends”