Before Ryan could respond, the crowd of students, emboldened by the presence of a celebrity, began inching closer, eager to catch every word or snag an autograph. Melanie, ever vigilant, stepped forward, her imposing presence enough to make even the boldest of them hesitate.
"Time to go," Melanie said firmly, her tone brooking no argument.
"Go? Where?" Ryan asked, more out of reflex than anything. He didn't remember agreeing to go anywhere with them. But then again, what else was he going to do? Stay and deal with the gawking crowd? With a resigned sigh, he began following them.
Zoe was clearly enjoying herself, savoring the rare moment of amusement that her fame brought her. She deliberately slowed her pace, making Ryan walk through the sea of curious eyes just a bit longer. It was the first time in a long while she had actually enjoyed the attention, especially since it was bothering Ryan more than her.
