I think of Jennifer’s transformation from sex-obsessed to best-friend material, Pav’s stint as a kangaroo, and Eloise’s friendship with Bernie, and how any of them could have done it.

I think of Yinka, Sam, Austin, and Harrison, the only four boys in a class dominated by girls, and wonder if they are hiding in plain sight.

What if Maya planted it before offering a ton of alcohol as the perfect cover?

It could be any of them, but for once, my drama has been swallowed by someone else’s. Bernie is today’s headline, and if one of them is taunting me, they have the perfect story to hide behind.

When it’s just the three of us, Hanna turns to Emily and says, “Since when are you friends with Jennifer Erswell?”

Emily shrugs. “Since now. She’s all right.”

“All she talks about is sex.”

Emily and I laugh, and I can tell Hanna’s annoyed. She hates private jokes when she doesn’t know the punchline. But it feels good to laugh and mean it.

“She’s actually really nice,” I say. “Em was right. She makes up all the stuff about sex. But when you get to know her, she kind of admits that.”

Hanna sighs and shakes her head. “I knew that place would make you weird, but I didn’t think this would happen.”

“What?” Emily asks. “You didn’t think we’d make friends with people?”

“Other people,” Hanna says. “It’s always just the three of us.”

This could turn into an argument, but it’s kind of cute how jealous she is.

Before Hanna can get angry, I gather them in for a group hug and say, “It will always be us.”

They smile and pull me in closer.

Over my shoulder, I see Danny recording every word.

Two months is a long time if we use it right. I can do this. And then I can live the kind of life I saw at Mayfield.

I think of Ella, Sonia, Lucas, and Ryan and feel so grateful. We all applied for a reason, but in the end, was fifteen minutes of fame enough for them? Even Ryan, who could only say sorry so many times.

“Why did they do it?” I ask Danny.

“Because your story matters.” He smiles, and I can’t help absorbing it, only for a moment, before I think of the newspaper articles and who is responsible.

“What now?” he asks, and I take a deep breath.

“Now we finish this.”

Chapter 75

I sit at my desk with the head cam pointing at my face, my laptop screen in front of me like a live-action mirror. My viewers can see exactly what I can, and I almost chicken out. But this is the next phase.

I have two more months to finish this, and for a second time, I need to start strong.