“And he was likely going to tell us on Friday, if you hadn’t shut him down so quickly,” Rosie says, but I ignore her rationale, my eyes locked on Grant across the hallway.

“So he should be helping us convince Emmitt!” I say, finally stilling in Rosie’s arms, turning to face her with a scowl on my face. It’s been three days since Emmitt said no, and I’ve taken to glaring at the back of his head to satisfy my murderous rage. “You have to go talk to Grant, because if I do, I’m going to hurt his feelings.”

Rosie studies my expression before she sighs, gathering her auburn curls in one hand and pulling them back into a bun. She uses her other hand to wrap a hair tie around it. “Fine. Just don’t kill anyone until I get back.”

“No promises,” I say under my breath. At the very least, this new information has helped ease me out of my latest depressive episode.

I carry the weight of my sadness and exhaustion every day—I think I always have, even if I didn’t realize it until high school—but some days are much easier than others. This week is an easy week, where the voice in the back of my head is only a murmur.

I long for a future where there are more easy days than hard ones.

As Rosie leaves my side, Kaity, Sofia, and Linli walk by, whispering to one another, but they falter at the sight of me. They’re carrying a handful of props, from horse heads to fairy wings, reminding me that the spring play is A Midsummer Night’s Dream. “Hey, Mina!”

Some of the tension seeps out of me, and I offer them a subdued smile. “Hey.”

Sofia’s attention seems to be elsewhere, her eyes straying across the hall to where Rosie is, but Linli is looking at me, a wide grin on her face as she nudges me with a fake branch. “Looking forward to auditions?”

“Looking forward to yours,” I agree, and her expression brightens further. “The drama club never fails to impress.”

Linli laughs, jostling the props tucked underneath her arm. “You’re too kind, as always.”

Before I can reply, Kaity leans forward conspiratorially. “So did you end up talking to Ezra the other day? I was telling Lin and Sofi about it, and we all agree you guys would be a cute couple.”

I barely withhold the urge to gag. I would sooner die, but I don’t want to be rude in the face of Kaity’s kindness, especially with auditions coming up. “I don’t think he likes me,” I say instead, toying with one of my pigtails.

Linli frowns, and suddenly, I’m being pulled into a hug, the horse head pressing into my ribs. “Well, he can fuck off, then.”

I huff a fond laugh into her silky black hair. “Thank you, Linli.”