You're going to be inspirational." I took her hand and -half-pulled her out on the field toward the team bench. The crowd quieted, sensing that someth...ng out of the ordinary was happening.I sat Allie on the bench, right in the middle. "No matter what happens, you don't leave without me."She nodded."Promise?" I promise," she said quietly, looking more confused than ever. I stood next to her and waited for the explosion."What's she doing here?" the coach thundered when he saw her. "Cheerleaders. She wasn’t sure this would work, but if the Westernors were in the palace, it was too late for other options. She stood up and yanked a dangling chain from the First Wife’s corpse, then walked toward him, hand out in supplication.“Come with me.” She knew there was no way he’d understand Parsai, but maybe he’d follow her anyway.He looked puzzled for a second, glanced around then answered – in Parsai!“Where to?”He had a gruff accent – rather more like a lion speaking rather than a man, but he was. Without looking up she says to me, ‘Do you mind ordering this round? I need to make a call.’ Without waiting for a reply, she walks away. I’m stunned. Fucking Evan. He text her, I know it. And now I’m here standing next to Ryan. Alone. I look for the bartender while taking a deep, slow breath. I can do this. I’m an adult for crying out loud. I’m a badass. This is what I tell myself as I stand there awkwardly, tapping my foot, like I do when I get nervous. I don’t dare look at Ryan. Smartass. She just read, ran and studied. She was always pretty but over the last year and a half had grown into her height, learned to dress, learned to apply makeup to suit both her fashion and the day, and had become one of the prettiest girls in school. Every guy stared at her ass, and all of us girls wished ours was as pristine, shapely and toned. As we talked and got to know each other the other girls, including Sandy, were making small talk as well, both with Jessie and her parents. Then her.