By the time I got home that night by way of two buses and a twenty-minute walk, it was almost ten thirty. I’d hung around with the team for a bit, listening to them go over the bout. It sounded like there were actual plays and stuff, and as I’d never competed in team sports, working with others wasn’t something I was used to. I’d have to deal with that part later.

I hadn’t managed to talk to Shanti again, though she was hovering nearby the whole time, helping the team with their gear and joking around with some of them. I’d kept glancing over to see if she’d show any sign she was happy that I’d been included by Kat and the team, to be let in on some of the jokes—she’d invited me into the scene, after all. But she pretty much ignored me, and instead of wasting any more energy on caring what she thought, I gripped the back of a metal chair and focused on trying to understand what the hell the team was talking about.

Though I’d texted Aunt Vicki to let her know I’d been studying and would be home a bit later than expected, I was still super pissed about the whole boxing thing. And though she hadn’t mentioned it in her text, I also figured my school had probably called to let Priam and Vicky know I’d skipped. So I was ready for battle by the time I walked in the door.

As I hung up my jacket, Vicki and Priam appeared with a flourish from the kitchen, Vicki’s red hair loose and swirling around her shoulders, Priam’s hands twisting together in front of him. It was obvious that they were perturbed.

“Daya, the school called. You weren’t there today? And it’s a little late to be out on a school night, isn’t it? Even if you were studying. Who were you studying with, anyway?”

I avoided eye contact by kneeling down to carefully unlace my Vans, which, obviously, I never usually bothered to do. “Anna,” I replied, staring at the top of my foot. Anna was this friend I’d made up last year. As in “Anna-nymous.”

“Oh, Anna! The darling. How is she?”

“Fine.”

“And school today? Is everything all right?”

I clenched my jaw. “I just needed a day off.” I glanced up at Priam, who, I noticed, hadn’t said anything and looked uncomfortable. I rose and kicked off my shoes, then tried turning to head up the stairs, praying they’d just let this shit go. But of course, they didn’t.

“Daya—” Priam began, but paused.

I stopped and turned, the look on my face and the tension in my shoulders sending signals I hoped would dissuade them from whatever it was they were about to launch into.

“We’re sorry…,” Priam continued.