That smile.

“I got you something,” he said, just as I managed to unlock it.

He was holding a small, pink box.

“What’s this?” I asked, pulling three books from my locker and almost falling backward.

He didn’t get a chance to answer.

“You did not miss anything Friday night,” Sam said, joining us with Blake and Adam.

Ethan looked kind of disappointed as he slowly lowered the box he was so excited about moments earlier.

“You, too, for that matter.” Sam turned to him and put her hand on his shoulder, like a hook.

“Hey, Samantha,” Ethan said, friendly as ever.

“That bad, huh?” I asked her, and she nodded.

Blake said, “The music was shit, there were way too many people, and the police showed up, like, an hour into it.”

“It was barely a party, really,” Adam added.

“We ended up going to The Den, which didn’t exactly suck—” Sam said.

“—but it wasn’t exactly great either,” Blake said.

“What did you do all night?” Sam asked, quickly glancing at the box in Ethan’s hand and then looking back at me.

“Oh, you know.” I turned and leaned against my locker. “Binged.”

“On what?”

“The Good Place.”

Not a lie, technically. Just chronologically problematic.

“I love Janet!” Blake said excitedly.

I smiled and winked, because Janet fucking rules.

“How about you?” Sam turned to Ethan.

“Me what?”

He sounded like Yoda.

“Hi, Ethan!” Lucy said cheerfully, walking up to her locker along with Sara.

Sara immediately rolled her eyes, and Ethan turned to face them, his back now against the locker next to me, rubbing his shoulder on mine. I’m pretty sure it was deliberate.

“Did we make plans?” Lucy asked, earning herself another eye roll from Sara, one that was shared by Sam, for some reason.

“Why?” he asked, confused.

“You’re waiting by my locker,” she pointed out.

“Oh!” He instantly jumped and moved away. “I didn’t know. I was talking to my friends here—”

“Tyler, isn’t it?” Lucy asked me.

“Thomas.”

“How can you not know the name of the guy you assaulted?” Sara asked, making Adam laugh.

“I did not assault him!” Lucy said, blushing.

“Are you sure it’s Thomas and not Tyler? She really hit you hard.” Sara turned to me, smiling.

“I did not!” Lucy said, defending herself. “I did not.” She looked at Ethan, shaking her head.

“Listen, I’m not into violence,” Ethan said, making everyone laugh—except for Lucy.

They continued talking while Blake, Sam, and Adam waited as I got all my books and left with them to go to English lit—a class we all shared.

“I can’t stand that girl,” Sam said, making Blake chuckle.

“Which girl?” I asked.

“Lucy Bell.”

“Why do you—” I started.

“Don’t, dude,” Adam said.

I didn’t, but it was too late.