“Supposedly,” Salem concedes, and I both do and very much don’t want to ask him if there’s an SG+JL on here somewhere. “But I figured it was a good baby step, considering about a thousand people got here first.”

“I don’t need baby steps,” I lie, putting my initials into a heart all on their own. Salem nods as if he believes me, then nods toward the accompanying Martha Camden bench and hands me his omnipresent uncurled paper clip. It takes me about ten minutes to carve a remotely satisfying SKEEVY into the polished wood, and while it is the worst nickname known to man, at least it’s a slightly less dead giveaway of whose vandalism is on display.

“Nice job,” he says with a nod as he takes back the clip and pulls out a lighter. “Wanna step it up?”

“I do not.”

“Probably a good choice.” He slips his lighter back into his pocket. “Cutting classes was another big one, but I guess a Sunday’s not a great day for that. Oh, I once got a week of in-school suspension for streaking across the football field. You could try that?”

Over my dead body. “Maybe next week.”

Salem drops onto the bench, kicking up his Vans as he considers other options. “Honestly, there’s not a whole lot to be done on campus, especially if you’re not up for smoking or arson. We might need to take a field trip. How would you feel about stealing a car?”

“Not great, especially since I don’t have a license, and neither do you.”

He swings his legs around and rests his elbows on his knees. “I mean. You did want to do things I’ve gotten in trouble for before…”

“Not things that could potentially get me a record,” I clarify.

“Well, that doesn’t leave a whole lot. But since it looks like we’ll be taking the Camden shuttle, I think I know where we’re going. First, though, a quick stop at Rumson.”

“Okay, why?”

“Because it’s my turn to teach you how to dress for the occasion.”

“Candy store, candle shop, or Old Navy?”

My heart pounds in my chest as I consider my options. “Why just those three?” As if I want more. But I’m buying myself time.

“Because neither of us are interested in sporting goods and I thought the lingerie place would be awkward. Now, which one?”

The lingerie place certainly would be awkward, especially since it’s where his girlfriend and I bought matching lacy underwear. Hard pass. “Candy store.” Candy’s small, cheap, and mass-produced; who really cares if I walk off with a little bit of it in the strategically placed pockets of the outfit Salem selected for this purpose?