“Hey! Gilly! Your mom’s here to take you home,” he hollered.

“Oh.” Gilly swiveled. “Okay. Thanks.”

She sounded annoyed.

Tanner stormed closer. “I s aid—”

“I got it, Tanner.” Gilly stood up.

Tanner jogged closer. Put his foot up on the end of the bench I was sitting on. Gave it a shake.

“Watch your back. You got New Girl on a revenge streak now.” Tanner squinted at me. “You hurt my friend again, New Girl, I’ll break you in two.”

“Shut up, Tanner,” Gilly hissed, storming past him. “Come on.”

Tanner gave the bleachers another bounce for good measure before following Gilly.

Evidence for the prosecution?

Gilly is friends with Tanner.

As I changed back into regular clothes, my phone started buzzing like it was about to explode.

BERRY

ANNNNNEEEE

ANNE

HEY! Have you been at the dentist this whole time?

BERRY

I just got back!

ANNE

Next time you should skip the whole day!

I mean, truly, if Berry did not understand the joy of a legit reason to skip school, it was at least my job as a friend to explain.. . .

BERRY

THE LIST!

BERRY

THE LIST IS UP!

ANNE

WHERE R U?!

BERRY

EAST WING!!!

I stepped out into the hallway, where I was greeted by what I was pretty sure was a shriek from Sarah Pye echoing down the hall like a fire alarm.

“ANNE!” Berry ran toward me, eyes wide. She grabbed my hand. “LET’S GO!”

There was a serious hubbub coming from a bundle of students all packed around a small spot on the wall next to Mr. Davidson’s door. The entire hubbub of students turned as we got close to Davidson’s classroom.

“WHAT THE HELL?!” Sarah screamed as she shoved her way out of the group, looking like a cartoon bull with her tiny ponytails and clear fury; she stormed right up to me till she was, I would say, an inch from my face. Close enough that I could tell Sarah was heated and she’d had PBJ for lunch.

(Also how did she always get out of Gym so fast?)

“FUCK YOU!”

“WHOA,” someone from the group behind her weighed in.

“Fuck me for what?” I snapped.

“You think you can just come here. And just. COME IN HERE AND—” And then she turned and ran down the hallway, her ponytails bobbing behind her. “FUCK YOU, ANNE SHIRLEY!”

By then, Berry was pulling me into the lump of teenagers till we were close enough to see the heart of the matter. The list of the cast for the upcoming Greenville High production of Peter Pan.

Peter Pan!

“Huh.”

I legit thought it would be Our Town. Maybe because Berry was dreading it.

“Anne,” Berry squeaked. “Look at the top! Look at the NAMES!”

There it was, my name, at the top.

“It’s me,” I gasped. “I’m. . .Peter? I’m Peter Pan?”