I cried myself to sleep that night because of all the things he’d said, I’d noticed what he hadn’t.

He hadn’t contradicted me when I said Reid was better. He hadn’t said he’d make time for lessons just for me. He hadn’t said he’d help me until I’m first chair.

He didn’t choose Reid.

But he didn’t choose me, either.

CHAPTER NINE

I take it back.

Every thought I dared to think the rest of my guilt-ridden weekend, every millisecond of a moment I spent driving to and from the only sweet shop that stocks Reid’s favorite peanut butter hot fudge sauce, every second I lay awake last night plotting my totally sincere apology-adjacent thing instead of being consumed by the imminent school committee meeting and Melted feelings… I take it all back.

Because Monday morning, the auditorium is a crime scene.

Black paint is smeared all over our celestial canyon.

Paint cans are overturned on the stage.

We’re supposed to be staging a scene for the school committee.

Putting the pieces into place for a coronation.

“How—?” Makayla’s eyes widen. “My set.”

“What the hell?” Arjun says.

Henry’s expression is withering. “You started a prank war.”

“Reid started a prank war,” I clarify.

“Reid finished it, too,” Arjun says.

Shit. I am so pissed at the peanut butter fudge sauce in my backpack. I thought we were being careful. Covert. I thought even if the prank war blew up the Harvest Festival—it had worked, keeping Reid distracted. Clearly, it did not. And, okay. I know I ruined the band’s concert. But it was an accident! A prank gone wrong.

There is no point to this destruction except cruelty.

Behind us, the auditorium doors swoosh open and Danica and Fitz emerge into this disaster with both Mrs. Mulaney and my dad. Mrs. Mulaney takes in the scene, her expression hardening when we make eye contact. Dad’s eyes pop open at the sight of our ruined stage.

“Nat-a-lie,” Dad says slowly, enunciating every syllable. “What did you do?”

“There isn’t a drama club,” Mrs. Mulaney says, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose. “Yet there is a set. Interesting.”

My jaw drops.

The stage has been vandalized! What did I do?

“Was a set,” Fitz corrects, her turquoise nails digging into her palms. “Past tense.”

“Natalie,” Dad repeats. “Explain. Please.”

“We’re presenting Melted to the school committee tonight,” Henry confesses.

I sigh. Henry is always the first to crack.

Mrs. Mulaney frowns. “Have you been conducting unauthorized drama club rehearsals?”

“Not at school,” Henry says.

“But there is a set,” Mrs. Mulaney says.

“Was,” Fitz repeats.

“It was a project for Mrs. DiCarlo’s class,” Makayla explains.

“That Reid totally ruined!” I blurt out.

“Natalie,” Dad warns.

I shrug. “What? Reid knew about HAVE A HE(ART). He has motive.”

“No thanks to you,” Danica mutters under her breath.