The Complete Burn for Burn Trilogy: Burn for Burn; Fire With Fire; Ashes to Ashes by Jenny Han Page A

even care about senior year anymore.
    “So are we cool?”
    When I look up, I notice that Kat’s lingering in the stairwell, watching me.
    “Yes,” I say quickly to Rennie. “We’re cool.”
    “Sweet. Will you come with me to Mrs. Gismond’s room? I need to drop off my science lab.”
    I look over Rennie’s shoulder. Kat mouths, We need to talk, and my stomach turns over.
    I say, “Actually, I have to take something over to the office. I’ll meet you in homeroom, okay?”
    Rennie nods and gives me a peck on the cheek. “See you in a few.”
    I watch her go. As she passes Kat’s locker, she opens it up and tosses her half-licked Blow Pop inside, like it’s a trash can.
    As soon as she turns the corner, I walk up to Kat and say, “What do you want?”
    “Not here.” Kat looks around. “I know a place where we can talk in private,” she says, like some Mafia don beckoning me into her study.
    I let out a sigh. “Seriously, Kat. You need to quit doing drugs. They’re destroying your brain. We’re not friends, remember? We haven’t been for a really long time. So I don’t want you calling me, I don’t want you trying to talk to me at school. I’m sorry Alex played you for sex, but—”
    “I didn’t have sex with Alex!”
    I shrug. “Okay, but he clearly isn’t interested in you, because he’s with someone else. But that person is not my sister.”
    Kat groans. “Look, I don’t know why you’re playing dumb. Alex drove Nadia to hang out with all your friends atthe Bow Tie parking lot last night after their little hookup.”
    What?
    Kat continues, but her words come slower and she’s watching me really closely. Which is not good, because I am barely holding it together right now. “Nadia and Alex drove up in his SUV, and Rennie ran up to the window and kissed her hello.”
    I want to say something, I want to tell Kat she’s dead wrong, but I can’t make words.
    Something blooms on Kat’s face. A smugness. “Oh. Rennie didn’t tell you they were all hanging out together?” She taps her lips with her pointer finger. “Gee. That’s weird.”
    “I’m done talking about this.” I start to walk away, but Kat reaches out and stops me.
    She says, “We both know it, Lillia.” There’s something about the way Kat says my name—sad, mad, a bit pleading. “We both know how Rennie is.”
    It’s the pleading in her voice that makes me bite my lip and give her the slightest nod. Then she lets me go.
    *   *   *
     
    It’s not even five o’clock yet, and the sun is already moving away. Squinting, I tilt my chin up so I can feel the sunlight on my cheeks.
    “You want my sunglasses?” Rennie asks from the pool. “They’re on top of my clothes.” Ashlin’s hanging between two pool noodles, and Rennie’s stretched out on a raft, and she’s got one arm holding on to the side of the pool so she doesn’t float away.
    “No, thanks,” I say.
    “Lil, you should wear sunglasses, or else you’ll get crow’s-feet.”
    I shake my head. I never wear sunglasses. I don’t want to make it feel darker out than it is. I want it to be daytime for as long as possible.
    We’re at my house, hanging out by the pool. I asked Rennie to come over so we could talk, but then she invited Ashlin.
    I’m lying on a lounge chair, trying to figure out what I’m going to say to Rennie. I’ll ask her to stay longer when Ash leaves, and I’ll give her the chance to explain herself, to tell me what the hell is going on between Alex and Nadia, but then that’s it. We’re done.
    I’m going over it again in my mind when I hear music growing louder. Bass. I put my sweater on over my two-piece and walk to the gate. Through the slats I watch as Alex’s SUV pulls into my driveway, with Reeve, Derek, and PJ inside.
    I spin around. Rennie’s already paddling her arms to get to the ladder.
    “Why did you invite them?”
    She shakes her head, like I’m being ridiculous. “Reeve texted me before practice and asked