Page 107

“I can hear you both,” Lacey interrupted. She appeared cool and collected. I’d been so rough this morning I hadn’t realized it, but she had make-up on and was wearing what was for her high fashion: tight enough jeans and a scoop-necked shirt. Armor—definitely armor. “She needs a ride,” Lacey told Darius. “Because I have plans afterschool.”

“Which are?” I asked, surprised.

“Private.” At seeing the look on my face she went on: “Please. I mean private for about twenty-four hours, and then I tell you everything, like normal.”

“All right then. I’ll see you in the parking lot about three-fifteen, Jessie,” Darius said and stepped away.

“Have a good day,” I called after him, like a kindergartener’s mom, and immediately felt stupid for doing so.

Lacey gave me side-eye but loved me enough not to say anything.

I walked to all my classes leaving myself open to Lightning Land, ignoring the way that using my powers made me feel like someone was scratching to get out inside my skull. I was trying to listen for anything Lacey-related, but I only got prom-madness instead. It was bad enough that every right angle in the school was festooned with crepe paper and that poorly glued signs were creating perpetual glitter-rain—the trash on all the walls was just as present on the airwaves—and in biology class, where Sarah was waiting.

“How’s operation dress recovery going?”

No need to tell her that my attendance odds were currently a coin-toss. “Surprisingly well. Apparently my mother minored in home ec or something. And it fits—so tell your sister thanks.”

“Ehhh, I figured you needed it more than she did, and it was one of those forgiveness versus permission situations. You break the news to your mom about Liam?”

“Not yet. I just told her I’d have to go in with a junior accomplice, since Liam and I were both sophomores.”

“And she bought that?”

“It does happen,” I protested. “That’s how Kortney got in last year.”

Sarah gave me a look, one much the same as my mother would give me if and when she found out.

“My mom believes what she wants to believe,” I said. “And if she wants to believe that I’m going with Liam, who am I to correct her?”

“I am not sure who you are anymore, Jessica McMullen.”

“What?”

“Who are you and what have you done with the old Jessie? Old Jessie was blah-blah-blah college, blah-blah-blah grades.”

I felt sheepish.If you only knew.“Yeah, well, sometimes things change.”

Sarah gave me one of her wolfish smiles. “Don’t apologize—I like it.”

Lunch found Lacey and I sitting on our bench, making a concerted effort to only look at each other.

“How’s it been?” I asked.

She picked at the crust of her turkey sandwich. “Weird. I feel like everyone knows, Jessie.”

“That’s not true.”

“Can you prove that?”

I racked my brain. “Not really.”

“Good, because I was being rhetorical,” she said, sagging against the cement wall behind her.

“If it makes you feel better, all I’ve heard so far is a lot of party planning, condom shoplifting, and Rosie’s getting Plan B. I don’t know why she can’t make Todd use a condom. Or get herself on the pill. Maybe she’s just paranoid?”

Lacey rocked her head back and forth on the cement behind her. “If you started telling everyone’s secrets, the whole school would be in trouble.”

“Honestly, I’d rather not know all this. It was fun at first, but now…” I did a full-body shudder. It’d be different if scanning didn’t come with a price, like the continuous Brillo-pad scratch my brain felt right now over my left ear. “The only person who enjoys this much gossip is Sarah.”