It feels good to be in control for once, even if just to tap the final nail in my coffin. “Thanks, but I’ll pass.” And for the first time since I got to Atherton, I’m the one to walk away.

Chapter Eleven

-AMBER-

“Pick up, pick up, pick up,” I chant at my phone, but like the last six times, it isn’t working. Whatever, it doesn’t matter—I’ve reached those I most need to reach, and hopefully, they’ll take it from there.

I switch over to my texts, which have been flooded by Miguel all morning. It’s a relief to see he isn’t too mad at me to yell, but I’m not sure how much longer that’ll last if I keep ignoring him. However, I’ve already missed half the day for my mission, so I don’t have time to get into it with him now. I type out a quick Coming now, explain later, do a brief check of my hair, makeup, and uniform, and bounce out the door.

It’s a little overly hopeful, still showing up in my uniform. If I get caught skipping the entire morning, they’ll keep me from cheering tonight. But it’s worth it, I think. I hope.

It feels right, anyway.

I’m just walking into school when the message I’ve been waiting for comes in—a simple They’re in followed by a thumbs-up emoji.

I exhale the breath I’ve been holding for the last twelve hours.

The second I get inside I’m accosted by Diana and Zoe, as if they’ve had radar on the front door this whole time. “Where have you been?” Zoe practically hisses, dragging me toward the caf. “I covered for you in physics and Spanish, and I heard Austin did in English, but you are this close to being tossed out of the game tonight. Please tell me you came with a doctor’s note.” She glances behind me and the look on her face gets even angrier. “Where the hell is Cara?”

The part of me that had been wondering if Cara ran straight to the team with the news that one of their bases flies a rainbow flag relaxes. It’s clear that Diana and Zoe don’t know a thing, and though that won’t stay true for long, it’s helpful for today. At least I wasn’t completely delusional all those years of being friends with Cara.

“Haven’t seen her today,” I say truthfully, thoughts cycling through my mind.

Cara never skips school, because she knows all it’ll take is one or two absences until her parents use it against her. They’re dying to switch her to homeschooling, which really just means keeping her around to help take care of the littlest littles. So why is she skipping today?