“But that’s just it, Andi.” He took a deep breath and stepped up to me, taking me by the arms, his grasp gentle but firm. “I was thinking that maybe… maybe it’s time we thought about being more?”

“Vik…” I winced and had to look down.

“Hey, look, I mean it when I say I hate seeing you so upset. Maybe I could keep you from feeling that way? We always have a good time together, don’t we? We could make something a lot more exciting out of the Portsmouth Pumpkin Ball if we went… together.”

My breath caught and I shook my head as I took a step back, slipping out of his grasp.

“What, am I not good enough?” I could tell he was only half joking.

I shook my head quickly. “No, of course not.”

“Well, why not then?”

“Because… Vik,” I bit my lip hard, and then it burst out of me, impossible to deny, “Because, I love Riley!”

When I finally worked up the courage to lift my eyes again, Vik looked… alien. There was a strange harshness to his face, but it was mixed with unmistakable heartbreaking pain.

“I… I’ve got to go,” he said, and he turned quickly to make for the door.

“Vik, please—”

“No. No, I get it. It’s cool.” He lifted his hands in a dismissive gesture, trying way too hard to look casual, even as he refused to meet my eyes. “I just remembered I’ve got stuff to get done. Scarlett’s putting me through the wringer. I mean, she’s a great tutor and all, but a total tyrant. Yeah. I’ve got to… I’ve got to be prepared.”

The slamming of the door echoed to the bottom of my being.

I was truly alone.

Chapter Fifteen: Confusion

I went straight home after school, because when my mom says Super Grounded, I know she means it.

“I’m here,” I said glumly as I entered the house.

There was a flurry of activity in the kitchen, and I could hear Mom talking on the phone. Dumping my backpack by the driftwood bench in the foyer, I went to investigate.

“Susan, you don’t understand, this is a bad time for me—” she was saying. She caught a glimpse of me, and her lips thinned. Great. I was still in the doghouse. I tiptoed to the fridge, feeling like a thief in my own home.

Susan on the other end of the line seemed adamant though. Mom sighed. “You owe me more than you know. No. No I’ll explain when I get there,” she said, stealing a glance at me. “Yeah. Yeah, fine. See you soon.”

She hung up, and then just stood there for a minute. She tended to do that when she had to do something she really didn’t want to.

“Something up?” I finally asked, mustering my courage.