It was back to the three of us, trying not to think too hard about anything, not senior year, not saying goodbye, not college or whatever comes after that. We still have a year and a few months, and for now, we’re desperately clinging to the few months.

The only thing left to think about until the summer is the prom, which is a bigger deal for some than others. Emily comes under “some.”

Prom doesn’t mean as much in eleventh grade, because it’s a party rather than a farewell. But I’m going because Mom would want me to. I’m going because I don’t have an excuse not to anymore.

“I’m getting this one,” Emily says, waving her phone in my face. “It comes in royal blue, baby pink, or merlot red.”

Hanna rolls her eyes, and I can’t help laughing, but Emily doesn’t care.

She just grins and says, “Juniors usually wear party dresses. It’s not until senior year that we need to think about ball gowns.”

We let Emily talk while quietly having our own conversation.

“Have you asked him yet?” Hanna whispers, and I try to play dumb while feeling the butterflies flutter in my stomach. We each have a guest ticket for prom, and there’s no rule saying that your guest can’t be from tenth grade.

Next to us, totally oblivious, Emily says, “It’s got capped sleeves and a lacy overskirt, but the lace looks silly in pink. And I haven’t decided between sandals or heels.”

She could go on like this for hours.

“Speak of the devil,” Hanna says.

Behind me, with no clue what is happening, Jamie nods and says, “All right.”

Emily stops talking about herself and exchanges a look with Hanna that Jamie catches but pretends not to.

When the bell for next period rings, his fingers brush mine, and I think of the night he pulled me back from the alley and everything that came after.

My life is not a love story. But there’s no harm in trying.

Chapter 143

Mr. Collins and I sit across from each other while Danny sets up the camera.

This interview has been a long time coming, but even now, my former English teacher looks like he has made a mistake.

He never came back to St. Anthony’s. He has another job now, at another school in another town.

When I ask how it’s going, he says, “As well as can be expected.”

“I’m sorry,” I say.

He shrugs. “It was my fault.”

That’s why we are here, to find out his story.

According to Adrian, if I want to end my contract early, my audience needs everything resolved. He calls Mr. Collins a loose end.

Danny nods. “Ready when you are.”