Emmitt quickly schools his expression back to one of nonchalance. “No reason. Noojman would be a great rapper.” And then, under his breath, he adds, “If the rap industry is adopting cinnamon rolls.”

I choke in surprise, covering my mouth to hide any stray laughter. Kaity doesn’t bother, giggling uproariously. Linli just waves us off, going over to give her boyfriend a kiss on the cheek.

It settles something in me, though. Rosie might be mad at me, but she must not have told Sofia, Linli, or Kaity. They still look upon me with a warm gaze.

A small part of me is holding out hope that that our friendship is still salvageable. The rest of me reminds me that in order to be salvageable, both parties have to want to salvage it.

Later, Emmitt comes up beside me as Linli and Sofia run lines. “Noojman doesn’t really strike me as the rapper type. Is he any good?”

I smile mildly. “You’d be surprised. It’s always the ones you suspect the least.”

Emmitt tilts his head. “That sounds like someone I know—”

I bump my shoulder into his. “Be quiet, dickhead.”

“I thought we matured past the dickhead stage,” he teases, nudging me back.

“We’re never going to mature past the dickhead stage,” I say. “In fact, I think—” I cut off when Rosie walks back into the room, carrying a letterman jacket in her arms.

“This is for the next scene,” she says to Emmitt, holding it out without sparing me a glance.

I keep my face impassive, refusing to look at her except out of the corner of my eye.

She starts to walk away and I’m startled when Emmitt moves, trailing after her, the space at my side empty.

My eyes follow him and see him lean down to whisper to Rosie. She falters for half a moment, her head tilted as she listens to him.

Then she leans up, covering her mouth from view so she can whisper back to him.

I frown, unsure what to make of it. Emmitt comes back a few minutes later, wearing the letterman jacket.

“What was that about?” I ask quietly.

He flicks my nose. “Just homework. No worries.”

That doesn’t feel like the entire truth, but I don’t have it in me to poke holes at his explanation. Instead, I nod and turn my eyes back to Linli as Brighton comes up behind her, braiding her hair for the next scene.

There’s a time and place for trivial concerns like this, and it’s after we’ve applied to the Golden Ivy student film competition.

46

On Friday, we finish filming Emmitt’s last scene. There are a few left with Linli and Sofia, but it’s still a milestone to celebrate.

For the first time in a while, I feel a hopeful light in my heart, like maybe things will work out after all.