Unforgiven by Lauren Kate Read Free Book Online

yanking herself away. “I don’t want your help, or your pity, or whatever it is you’re trying to do.”
    Cam shook his head. “I’m not—”
    “Yes, you are,” Lilith said. “And you’d better stop.”
    Her palm itched to slap Cam. Not even his expression, which was an unsettling mixture of confusion and hurt, eased her feelings. The only reason she didn’t hit him was that Jean was watching.
    “Uhh…” Jean raised his eyebrows and glanced at Lilith, then Cam. “You two are kind of wigging me out. I’m calling Mobley.”
    “Go ahead,” Lilith snapped. “Do it.”
    But the boy was so shocked that he stayed put.
    Lilith’s first instinct was to leave the band room immediately, yet—oddly—she found herself wanting to stay. She didn’t know why she’d never come in here before. It felt comforting to be surrounded by instruments. Even though they weren’t fancy instruments—the trumpets were dented, the drum skins were worn so thin they were translucent, the metal triangles were coated with rust—nothing else at this school was even half as intriguing.
    A gentle smirk crossed Cam’s face. “I’m getting an idea.”
    “Probably a first for you,” said Jean.
    “Forgive us if we’re not impressed,” Lilith said, surprised to find herself siding with Jean.
    “You guys share a common enemy,” Cam stated.
    Lilith snorted. “You pick up on people’s hatred of you quickly. That was what, ten minutes?”
    “Not me,” Cam said. “I mean the school. The town.” He paused. “The world.”
    Lilith couldn’t decide if Cam was wise or a cliché. “What’s your point?”
    “Why don’t you combine forces and channel your rage?” Cam said. He handed Lilith a guitar from a stand and put his hand on Jean’s shoulder. “Lilith and I are starting a band.”
    “We are not,” Lilith said. What was
with
this guy?
    “We are too,” Cam said to Jean as if it was already a done deal. “Prom’s in fifteen days, and we need a drummer if we’re going to win the Battle of the Bands.”
    “What’s your band name?” Jean asked skeptically.
    Cam winked at Lilith.
Again.
“The Devil’s Business.”
    Lilith groaned. “There is no way I’d ever be in a band called The Devil’s Business. Any band I start is going to be called Revenge.”
    She hadn’t meant to say any of that. It was true, she’d kept that band name like a secret for ages, ever since she’d decided that the best way to get revenge on all the jerks at school would be to get famous and have an actual band with legit musicians and never be seen by anyone from Crossroads again, except for the sold-out shows they’d have to stream online because her band would never, ever play her hometown.
    But she’d never planned on saying the name out loud
.
    Cam’s eyes widened. “A band with that name’s gonna need a big-ass synthesizer. And a disco ball.”
    Jean narrowed his eyes. “I’d love to synthesize the shit out of this school,” he said after a moment. “I’m in.”
    “I’m not,” Lilith said.
    Cam smiled at Lilith. “She’s in.”
    Smile back, Lilith.
Other girls would have mirrored his expression, but Lilith wasn’t like any other girl she knew. A thick ball of rage settled in her stomach, pulsing at Cam’s smugness, his certainty. She scowled and left the band room without another word.

    “I’m starving,” Cam said as he followed her out of school.
    They had made it back to detention in time to switch the intercom back on just before Burroughs did his final room sweep. She’d turned in her exam, mostly blank, and they’d both been excused.
    Why wouldn’t Cam leave her alone?
    In his right hand swung a guitar case he had borrowed from the band room. His canvas bag was over his shoulder.
    “Where do you like to eat around here?”
    Lilith shrugged. “A nice little spot called
none of your business.
”
    “Sounds exotic,” Cam said. “Where is it?” As they walked, his smooth fingertips grazed Lilith’s