I walk off before she can leave me first.

It takes two periods before I finally have a class with Shannon, and as soon as I spot her, I storm over and demand, “What the fuck, Shan?”

“What’s wrong?” she asks in the world’s most bullshit innocent voice.

I yank her out into the hallway, because we’re already drawing stares. “I told you about my date in confidence. You know there’s nothing official between me and Chase yet. Why the hell would you run off and tell some girl you barely even know all about it?”

“God, Lara, I’m sorry. It sounded pretty official to me, and I was excited for you. I figured you’d want to tell Gia and Kiki, so when Jasmine called…” She shrugs. “I had to get my excitement out somehow!”

She is so full of shit. I know she’s full of shit. For one, there’s no chance Jasmine called her. Jasmine is not a phone person, and certainly not to chat. But I’m too deep into my own bullshit to be able to call her on that. I’m not supposed to know this, or anything else, about Jasmine.

Plus, I know this move from Shannon’s playbook. Jasmine is on the popularity radar and Shannon’s trying to swoop in so the next time someone asks for details on her love life or why she has such a nice house, Shannon can be The One With All The Dirt. “Knowledge Is Power” is one of Shannon Salter’s favorite mottos, and it’s hard to argue with since she sure seems to have a lot of the latter.

Unfortunately, I also know there’s nothing I can do. Shannon always finds a way to spin things, to make it seem like she was just being a great friend in the best way she knows how; she’s a gaslighting gold medalist. And the mere mention of Jasmine’s name already feels like a minefield. There’s no point in fighting here. Shannon’s gonna do what she wants, and so will Jasmine. And fuck it, so will I.

“Whatever.” I roll my eyes right as Mrs. Spier turns the corner, and I slip back into the classroom and into my seat before I can get called late.

Jasmine wants me to be with Chase. Shannon is apparently very excited I’m with Chase. And we all know I want to be with Chase. So, what exactly am I fighting about?

Maybe Chase and I aren’t official yet, but by the end of our next date, we damn well will be.

And my summer with Jasmine will be a distant memory.

Chapter Seven

THEN