I open my mouth to say something else, but my phone flashes with a new text. It’s an unknown number. My eyes widen and my spine goes straight. I’m barely even breathing.

Hey, Simone. This is Jesse from the crew. Just wanted to check in about sets! I know you wanted to change the cue for the apartment set. When in the scene should it come out?

For a second, I wonder why he has my number. Then I remember the directory we made at the beginning of rehearsals and let out a sigh. This stupid note is making me paranoid as hell.

“Simone?”

“I don’t know, guys,” I say. “I don’t know. I think I’ll ask him about it.”

“He’s not going to admit it,” Lydia says.

“Well, what am I going to do?” I snap. “I’m not going to let you guys get suspended for beating a guy up, and I don’t want my parents to flip out, either.”

Not only would Pops and Dad tear the principal apart, but they’d also want me to transfer again. If I can stop this without telling them, I will.

“You could tell Principal Decker,” Lydia offers. “Or literally any other adult.”

“And they’ll tell my parents, which brings us back to the drawing board.” I groan, dropping my head between my legs. “I just…I don’t want everyone to find out. I don’t want Miles to hear this from a random person I don’t even know.”

There’s silence on the other lines. My chest feels heavy, but I’m not going to cry. I’m not.

“So don’t let him take your chance away,” Claudia finally says. “Tell Miles before Eric can.”

CHAPTER 18

Wednesday is the first time I’m actually looking forward to feedback from Group. Pops is right: the kids here understand things that no one else does. If I’m going to tell Miles that I’m positive, Group is the best place to go for advice.

“So, I like a boy,” I say, trying to focus on a spot at the back of the room. It feels like everyone’s eyes are on me. “But he doesn’t have HIV—at least, I don’t think so—and I’m not sure how to talk to him about…well, any of this. It’s freaking me out.”

Julie sits in the center of the circle, nodding like I’m an episode of a soap opera. Maybe she’s surprised that I know how to speak.

“Does anyone have any advice for Simone?” she asks, turning to the rest of the group. “It’s very important that couples talk about differences in HIV status, and I’m glad she brought it up. Even if some of you aren’t worried about it now, it’s something you’ll all eventually deal with.”