He studied my face for approximately three seconds. Then nodded once.
"Dropped. Gone. Never bringing it up again unless you do first."
We walked the rest of the way to Room 3-A in silence.
The classroom was already half full when we entered. The usual clusters. Athletes by the windows comparing workout routines. Overachievers near the front arguing about last night’s howork. Everyone else scattered through the middle in various states of consciousness.
I made it exactly two steps inside before I felt eyes on .
Not the casual glances I’d gotten used to over the past three weeks. The kind where people looked at , then at my car, then back at , calculating whether I’d sohow robbed a bank or sold a kidney.
This was different.
Sharp. Focused. Like being tracked by a laser sight.
I found the source imdiately.
Cassidy and Harlow. Second row. By the windows.
Harlow’s hair was in a half-up style today, secured with clips shaped like tiny hearts. She waved the mont our eyes t, but sothing in her expression wasn’t quite right. The usual brightness dimd by about twenty watts. Her smile looked painted on.
Cassidy didn’t wave. Just stared. Her purple eyes locked onto mine with the kind of intensity usually reserved for opponents across a tennis net right before she served at a hundred miles per hour.
She was wearing her glasses. The black fras that made her look younger and smarter and less like she wanted to fight everyone in a three-mile radius.
Felix whistled low. "Okay so the Valentine sisters are giving you The Look. Capital T, capital L. Any particular reason why?"
"No idea."
"That’s a lie and we both know it."
I didn’t respond. Just headed toward my usual seat in the back corner. Felix followed, muttering sothing about plausible deniability and not wanting to be a witness.
My phone buzzed in my pocket.
Harlow’s na.
are you okay? you look... different today?
I typed back without thinking.
im fine.
you dont LOOK fine! you look like you want to fight the sun! do you need a hug? i can provide hugs! theyre free! no charge!
Despite everything, my mouth twitched. Almost a smile. Almost.
no hugs needed. thanks though.
okay but the offer stands! also we need to talk about the bubble tea thing! vivienne said monchamp posted THREE more photos! they got us at the ice cream place too!
Three more photos.
My phone buzzed again.
This ti, Cassidy’s na.
ignore harlow. she panics about everything. the photos are fine. WE are fine. stop looking like you want to set the building on fire.
I glanced toward the front of the classroom. Cassidy had her phone hidden behind her textbook. Her ears were pink. She was deliberately not looking at .
Which ant she was definitely thinking about .
I pocketed my phone without responding to either sister.
Mr. Patterson shuffled in at exactly 7:58, two minutes before the bell. His fantasy novel was already open to page 347. Sa page as yesterday. He hadn’t made progress in three days.
"Attendance," he announced to no one in particular. His voice had the quality of soone who’d given up on life around the Carter administration. "When I call your na, say present or here or literally any sound that confirms you exist."
He started with the A’s.
My phone buzzed four more tis in my pocket.
I ignored it.
The bell rang at 8:47.
I gathered my things. Slow. thodical. Buying ti before I had to face whatever was waiting in the hallway.
Felix touched my shoulder as I stood.
"You sure you’re good?" His voice had lost the joking edge. "Because whatever’s going on, you know you can tell . That’s what unreasonably loyal best friends are for."
"I know."
"But you’re not going to."
"Not right now."
Felix sighed. Patted my shoulder twice. "Alright. But when you eventually snap and need help hiding a body, I’ve got like four uncles with boats."
"That’s deeply concerning."
"That’s what makes a good friend."
He left. The classroom emptied around . Patterson had already disappeared, his novel tucked under his arm like contraband.
Whatever my mother wanted to say after two months of radio silence, I didn’t want to hear it.
Not today.
Not when I was already running on fus and stress and the constant background static of four billionaire sisters who kept inventing new ways to complicate my life.
I grabbed my bag. Headed for the door.
Cassidy was waiting in the hallway.
She leaned against the lockers with her arms crossed. Her uniform was its usual disaster. Skirt hiked up. Tie loose. Shirt untucked on one side. The glasses were still on, which ant she’d either forgotten to take them off or was planning to study during lunch.
"You look like garbage," she said.
"Good morning to you too."
"Seriously." She pushed off the lockers. Walked right into my personal space. Her purple eyes scanned my face with the sa intensity she used on math problems. "What happened? Did soone die? Did you fail a test? Did Felix finally convince you to try those stupid yellow crocodile shoes?"
"Nothing happened."
"Your ears just turned red."
"No they didn’t."
"They absolutely did. I’ve been studying your tells for three weeks. You’re bad at lying when you’re tired."
"Cassidy."
"Isaiah."
We stared at each other. Her jaw was set. That stubborn tilt to her chin that said she’d stand here all day if necessary. That she’d miss first period and detention and probably her own graduation if it ant getting an answer.
The hallway was emptying around us. Students heading to first period. A few glances in our direction. Phones coming out.
Great. More photos for Monchamp to harvest.
"It’s personal," I said finally. Quiet. "Family stuff. Nothing you need to worry about."
Her expression shifted. The aggression lted into sothing softer. Sothing that looked almost like understanding.
"Iris okay?"
"Iris is fine."
"Then what—"
"Cassidy." My voice ca out harder than I ant it to. "Drop it."
She blinked. Took half a step back.
For approximately one second, hurt flickered across her face before the armor snapped back into place.
"Fine." She turned. Started walking. "Whatever. Not my business anyway."
"Cass."
She stopped. Didn’t turn around.
"I’ll see you at four. Library."
"Can’t wait." Her voice was flat. "It’ll be the highlight of my entire pathetic day."
She disappeared around the corner.
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