Still lost in my preoccupation, I was almost surprised when I found myself back at my door. I unlocked it and slammed it shut behind me for good measure. I was just contemplating opening it so I could slam it shut again when a sharp knock behind me about made me jump out of my skin. Whirling, I saw Regan standing outside my window.

I moved over to stand in front of my window without making any move to open it. “What do you want?” I asked.

“Let me in,” she said.

“No,” I said.

This brought her up short, and she glared at me through the glass. “Why?” she said.

“Because I don’t want to,” I said.

Regan scowled and then took a step back. “Fine,” she said, her voice suddenly louder than before. “We can just discuss the letter out here then!” As I hurried to unlock the window, I had the absurd thought that if we ever played chicken, she’d win by a landslide.

“What are you doing here?” I said.

“I followed you back,” she said, coming into my room. “Not that you noticed,” she said, peering at my bookshelf as she wandered around. “Although that really isn’t saying much. I could have lit a rocket off under you and you wouldn’t have noticed. You have impressive tunnel vision, my friend.”

“I am not your friend,” I said, removing the book she’d just picked up from her hands. I didn’t like her touching my things.

“You’re right,” she said, turning to face me, arms crossed. “I’m not your friend. I’m your partner. So you could consider not being such a grade-A jerk.”

I raised an eyebrow at her. “As opposed to a grade-B jerk?”

She rolled her eyes and huffed in exasperation, taking the book back out of my hand and chucking it haphazardly onto the bed. “You know what I mean,” she said. “I’m willing to put your horrendous behavior at the fountain behind us in the interest of starting off fresh.”

“That wasn’t horrendous behavior,” I said. “That was what you call self-preservation.” I glanced around my room nervously, although if this room was monitored, the security officers would have arrested me the minute I opened that stupid life-ruining Cocoon last night.

“It’s safe,” Regan said as though she was reading my mind. When she saw my expression, she shrugged. “For the most part, dorm rooms aren’t monitored. Besides, I already checked the database in my mom’s office to make sure yours was camera free.”

“When did you do that?” I asked.

“Last night after you left me at the fountain with your oh so charismatic sounds like a you problem comment.”

I shrugged. “Grade-A jerk, remember? Anyways, about the letter,” I said, and then paused, biting my lip as I considered the domino of events that were already in motion.