They didn’t come immediately, probably because they were hunting me through the school like a pack of hounds, but a few minutes into my lunch, they appeared, backpacks strapped to their backs. Morgan and Erin were shoulder to shoulder, frowning at me, Morgan’s crazy orange hair slicked up to stand on end, Erin plain-faced with no makeup in a dress reminiscent of Wednesday Addams. Looming in the back, Leaf had his hands in his jeans pockets while he stared at the industrial carpet beneath his boots.

I blinked at them, unimpressed. My tongue lashed out to rid my lower lip of chicken salad smear.

“It’s my fault,” Morgan started, stepping away from Erin’s side to whirl a chair around so she could straddle it, her lean arms laid across the chair back. “I’m really, really sorry. After you left, Leaf told me what happened and I went in to tell Erin. My parents had come home. My mom overheard me. She’s friends with half the neighborhood, so then they knew, and it went from there. I wasn’t careful, but I promise I didn’t tell anyone other than Erin. I’m just loud and stupid.”

“And I didn’t say anything, I promise,” Erin said. “Like, I’ll swear on my cat and I really love my cat.”

You really love your cat?

Okay, weird thing to swear on but I guess I get the point.

I sighed and put my phone aside, looking from Morgan to Erin and back again. “You guys screwed me. I know you didn’t mean to, but—”

“I know, and I’m really, really sorry. But I think you’re cool and I just—I’d like to fix this? I’ll crotch punch anyone who gives you shit about it, I swear. Crap. Sorry.” Morgan glanced over her shoulder to see if the librarian had overheard, but Mr. Chekowitz was busy reshelving books across the room. Morgan turned back my way. “I really don’t like to hurt my friends, and I’d like to think you’re my friend? I’m serious about the crotch punching for anyone who messes with you.”

Thanks, I think?

“I feel awful,” Leaf murmured. When he looked at me, it was with the puppy-dog sad eyes. Aaron used to do that to make me less mad, like if I felt sorry enough for him, I could push my upset away and focus on what really mattered in the situation, which were his guilty feelings. I must have scowled making that parallel because Leaf took a step back and cleared his throat.

Maybe he’s being sincere?

Or maybe I’m being an idiot because I caught an easy crush.

“Leaf likes you,” Morgan blurted.

“Morgan!” Leaf barked at her and shook his head, his brow knitting. “Leave it alone.”