Page 97 of The Darkest Note

His eyes flicker to me before dropping to the ground. “Forget it, man. I’ve already missed two months of school.”

“That’s not a problem.”

“Why do you think I’m here, man? Iwantedto go back to Redwood Prep, so I acted up at every school my mom tried to shove me into. Didn’t last more than a week here or there. That’s why she stuck me into this hell.” He glances at the ceiling. “And that’s how I know that if I don’t get into a school soon, I’m going to have to repeat an entire year.”

“How soon?” I ask urgently.

“Two weeks. Max.” He lifts a shoulder in a half-hearted shrug.

Two weeks? The deadline ricochets through my body.

Finn gives me a pointed look. “Two weeks isn’t a lot of time. We’ve been trying to find a way for you since we got back to Redwood but…”

“But what?” Sol asks, wide-eyed and innocent.

Zane rubs the back of his neck and shoots me a loaded look. “We haven’t been successful.”

“It’s alright.” He sighs, resigned.

“We’ll figure something out. I promise. You’re getting out of here one way or another.”

“Unless youwantto join the military?” Zane asks with an uncomfortable grin.

“No, no, man.” Sol chuckles. Then he flops back on the bed and stares at the ceiling. “I want to eat mama’senchiladaswith the sauce that’s a family secret. I want to drive to school with my friends and act like a sound engineer even though I know jack about music.”

Zane laughs softly.

Finn smiles.

I stare at the floor in guilt.

Sol’s voice gets low and vulnerable. “I want to feel normal again.”

At that moment, an alarm goes off.

Finn fishes for his phone and swipes it off. He gives Sol an apologetic look. “We have to go.”

“Five minutes are up already? Damn.” Zane shakes his head.

“Thanks for stopping by, guys. Sorry I couldn’t offer any refreshments or anything.”

“Make it up to us next time.” Zane offers his fist.

Sol bumps it.

Finn gives him a two-fingered salute.

“I’ll see what I can do about your mom’s enchiladas,” I tell Sol firmly.

His lips curve up in a half smirk. “Don’t get my hopes up, Dutch. I’m starving already.” As if to prove the point, he rubs his belly.

Sol’s pajama top lifts at the corners and exposes his skin. I catch sight of weird jagged scratches tearing into his lower stomach.

My eyebrows tighten.

Sol glances down and quickly drops his shirt. “You should leave. I don’t want you to get caught. Dusty’s gonna ban you for life.”

“Come on.” Finn tugs me when I don’t move. “Someone’s coming.”