I reach out to smack her upside the head, but she ducks out of the way.

“It literally keeps me up at night,” I continue. They’re the only people I would ever feel comfortable confiding this in. “After I’ve finished all my homework, I’m like, ‘How can I help Ace study?’ and my brain keeps coming up blank. I just feel so bad. Miss Cannon asked me to do one thing, and I can’t even do that.”

The thought of letting my favorite teacher down is one of my worst nightmares. I feel like I’m constantly disappointing all the grownups in my life.

“Hey,” Cora says, frowning. “Don’t feel bad. You’re doing your best.”

“And if nothing else, at least it distracts you from worrying about college,” Nandini says.

“Oh God, don’t remind me.” I can’t even open the Common App without wanting to jump out my window.

“No, but seriously,” Cora says, reaching forward and tugging one of my dark waves. “Maybe Nandini is right and this is good. You can focus on this instead of worrying about your parents. A win for everyone!”

“It’s not that easy.”

Nandini joins Cora in frowning. “Karina, you don’t have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. You know that, right?”

“Yeah.”

They both look skeptical at my reply. I don’t blame them.

“Karina—”

“Let’s just go to class,” I say, ushering them toward the main staircase. “I’ll see you guys in English.”

“We’re not finished with this conversation,” Nandini says. “Right, Cora?”

Cora nods. “Right.”

I sigh. “I hate when you two team up against me.”

“We do it out of love,” Cora says, reaching forward to flick my nose. “See you later, alligator.”

My mouth quirks into half a smile. “In a while, crocodile.”

We both expectantly look at Nandini and she shakes her head. “Screw you guys. I don’t have a response that rhymes.”

I laugh and reach forward to hug them both around the neck. Their arms wrap around me in return, and we stand like that until the bell rings, spurring us into action.

Maybe my friends are the worst, but they’re also the best.

As usual, I’m the first to arrive to English. I take my seat in the back corner and pull out my notebook.

I’m writing down the date when someone drops into the seat beside me.

“Don’t start with the marriage counselor thing again,” I say without looking up.

“You wound me. Does our love mean so little to you?”

My head snaps up and I see Ace sitting next to me, spinning a wrapped lollipop between his fingers. I open and close my mouth, unsure what to say, and he raises an eyebrow at me. “Cat got your tongue, Ahmed?”