Miles lets out a sigh that turns into a groan. “Nah. It was fucking boring in there. Give me five minutes to grab my shit, and then I want to listen to you come while I drive.”

“Nope.” I pluck the phone out of her hand. “Sage will call you in twenty from the comfort of her own room on her own phone.”

She pretends not to hear me, checking her nails, but he chuckles.

“You good, Rem?” he asks. “Please spare me the it’s great bullshit if it’s all just shit.”

Sage flits her eyes up to me, and I quickly force a smile at my best friend and tell her boyfriend, “No, it really is great bullshit.”

“Everything still good with Wanderer? No more video issues? You’ve taken a few less tours lately. If you tell me it’s because the app sucks, I will never forgive you.”

“No, Miles. Wanderer is amazing. The tours are…” I grab for the doorknob, my mouth turning up on its own this time. “One of my favorite parts of the day. I’ve just been distracted with senior year and my escape plan.”

And other things.

Sage shadows me out of my bathroom, the look in her eyes saying everything she’s trying to bite back. She hates the escape plan. I think she worries she’s part of what I’m escaping. In reality, she’s one of the only reasons I’m still here. I love her too much to tell her all the reasons I desperately want to go.

The frumpy dress I wore earlier lies balled up on the floor, and I kick it under my bed on the way to my dresser. I’m done acting for the night. No need for reminders.

By the time I throw on sweats and a baggy tee, Miles is off the phone, and Sage traps me in a hug.

“I love you, bitch,” she says, the term of endearment sweet as always. “I’ll see you in a few days. I’m thinking we dress as slutty nuns or slutty sluts. I’m undecided.”

I wince, pulling away. “Right. Halloween. Can’t wait.”

Dismissing the sarcasm, she heads to my window. I glance at the door and realize the pillows are still shoved up against the bottom.

“Why’d you come up the trellis?”

Lifting the window, she glances over her shoulder. “No one answered. I figured your mom and the chief were out.”

My brow dips as she throws her leg through, but I school it. “Yeah, they must be.”

Sage blows me a kiss before descending the trellis. I close the window behind her, leaving the latch undone as always. I feel too trapped with it locked.