“The question,” Lily said, “is what are we going to do about it.”

Maria wasn’t sure how she felt about that “we.”

“We have to find a way to throw him off track, at least,” Lily said. “We can’t sit around waiting for him to tell someone.”

“He wouldn’t do that,” Maria said. “He’d talk to me first. I’m his best friend.”

That was true, at least. He had come to talk to her first. Right before he’d given her an ultimatum.

Lily rolled her eyes. “We aren’t kids anymore, Ree. You can’t just figure you’re safe because you’re the school princess and he’s your little gay BFF.”

That bothered Maria, Lily talking about Brandon that way. It bothered her more that Lily was right.

“We’ll think of something. Don’t worry.” Lily slipped her hand into Maria’s, interlacing their fingers. Maria used to love how that felt, but tonight Lily’s hand was cold and clammy. The pile of blankets Maria had thrown over them wasn’t doing much to keep out the room’s ever-present chill. “Anyway, it’s all set. The prize committee will post the list of second-round finalists any day now, and you’ll be in first place. It’ll feel wonderful.”

Lily didn’t sound like she felt wonderful right now.

“Yeah,” Maria said.

“We’ll get to be together next year. It’ll be everything we ever wanted. Finally.”

“Finally,” Maria echoed.

Getting made soccer captain hadn’t been as satisfying as she’d thought it would be. She wondered if it was the same for Lily. When Dean Cumberland had first told her she was acting student body president, Lily had smiled, but it wasn’t the kind of smile she smiled when she was alone with Maria. It was the kind she saved for video chats with her parents back home.

Delilah was going to wake up. Maybe. Someday. With every day that passed in the meantime, though, their new reality felt that much more real.

Yet it didn’t feel safe. It didn’t feel certain.

None of it felt like Maria had thought it would. And she didn’t see how it could possibly last.

That first night after Delilah fell, Maria had lain in bed, wishing, hoping, praying she could go back and undo it all. That she could pour that capsule out into the toilet instead of dribbling it into Delilah’s drink.

She didn’t wish that anymore.

But if Brandon told someone, the police would investigate. They’d figure out what had really happened. Everything would be ruined.

Maria squeezed Lily’s cold hand one last time, unlaced their fingers, and climbed out of bed. Lily watched her go without saying anything more. Maria went into the bathroom and closed the door, not bothering to turn on the light. She needed to think this through with a clear head.