I balled up my napkin and threw it on my plate. “And why does SHE get to choose? Shouldn’t it be up to Doug?” I covered my heart with my hand. The token was resting over it. “I’m sorry. It’s been a horrible afternoon, and I’m REALLY worried about Loopy.”

I don’t usually leave the table without permission, but I had to get out of there. I pushed back in my chair and ran up the stairs to my room, half slamming the door. I flopped down on my bed and punched my pillow a whole bunch of times until I got tired.

Okay, token. You can stop the testing now. I’m pretty sure I’m NOT the right kid.

I rolled over, sat up, and ripped the chain and the token off my neck. I pulled open my top drawer, the one that holds my underwear, and I threw it in. “You’re better off with the Badger brothers.”

There was a knock at the door. I didn’t answer, but Zoe barged in anyway.

“I didn’t say come in.”

She crossed her arms and stared at my neck. “Where’s the token?”

I pointed to my drawer. She walked over, opened it, fished around, and pulled it out. She held out the chain. The token spun around and around. “That’s not the answer, and you know it.”

“I’m tired of all this, Zoe! I’m NOT the right kid! I’m not worthy to wear pure gold. I’m failing all the tests. Oh, and by the way, I failed a test at school too. So why bother?”

“Why bother? You’re just going to give up that easy? Do you have any mettle at all? Don’t you remember what Elijah said today? About fiery trials?”

I shrugged. “He said they produce strength and character.”

“And he should know! He didn’t have the greatest life before he came to New York City, and it’s not that easy for him still. And yet he’s strong through it all. And you said it yourself this afternoon. He’s peaceful.”

“But he’s older than me,” I said. “He can handle it better.”

“Okay, how about Doug and all he’s going through? How about Wiley? Can they run away from their trials? What about Carlos? Can he throw his wheelchair in his underwear drawer and be done with it? They can’t quit their trials, and you shouldn’t either.”

I wanted to argue with her soooo bad. Show her how her point-of-view was way off. I’m usually so good at that! But this time, as much as I hated to admit it, Zoe was r . . . Zoe was ri . . . okay, Zoe was right.

I reached out, snatched the chain from her hand, and draped it over my neck.