I nod. “That counts.” Not exactly the Friday night of my dreams, but it’s not like I have any plans, and anyway, how does one say no to community service? Or to Isabel McEvoy? “Where do I sign up?”

“Oh, I got it. Don’t worry,” she says with another smile that has undoubtedly brought at least 50 percent of the student body to its knees. “I won’t forget you.”

She says it like I’m memorable, like I’m somebody, like I’m not just a campus punch line or a warm body or a gateway to somebody else, and in that moment, she is my favorite person at Camden.

“You know,” she adds, “I thought you’d take a little more convincing.”

“Do I not look like someone who would service my community?” I bite my lips as even Matt’s teammate looks up from his phone at that one. “Hold on, I hear how that sounds.”

“No judgment from me,” Matt says with a shrug. “I am all for servicing the community. I know that’s what I’ll be doing on Friday night.”

“Let me guess—there may even be bottles involved?”

“Probably not bringing food to the elderly,” he admits, his mouth widening into the cocky grin I’m coming to know very well, “unless you count—”

“Do not finish that sentence,” Isabel and I say simultaneously.

“You’re both no fun,” Matt says, but the smile on his face doesn’t fade in the slightest. “And speaking of people who are no fun! Grayson! Come over here!”

I turn to see Salem not-so-subtly looking for an out, but finding none, he trudges over to the basketball table, hands jammed in the pockets of his hoodie. “I already told you, I’m coming on Thursday. You can chill on the hard sell.”

“Can’t a guy just say hi to his roommate?”

“And a girl say hi to her bestie?” I can’t resist adding.

His answering scowl does not disappoint, but you can see the exact moment he spots Isabel standing behind me, because he stands up a little straighter, adding inches to his height in an instant, and adjusts the strap on his messenger bag as if it’ll make him look even 5 percent less like he just rolled out of bed. The urge to tease him is so strong, I have to change the subject in order to stop myself.

Of course, what comes out of my mouth is “I’m going to service the community on Friday night.”

Well, at least that drops the scowl from his face, though his smirk isn’t any more welcome. “Thanks for the advance warning. I’ll make sure to wear earplugs.”

Oh, I am going to cheer extra loud at tryouts.

Extra, extra loud.

Chapter Five