As expected, that shuts her up, and Virany picks that perfect moment to beckon me over so we can pair up for partner stretches.

When Diana and Zoe arrive two minutes later, joined by Taylor, it’s clear they’ve had no luck tracking down Cara, either in person or by phone. Which sends them straight back to me. “Are you sure you don’t know where she is?” Zoe’s voice drips with disbelief.

“I really don’t,” I say, keeping my focus on the various muscle groups of my arms and legs. “Maybe Kelsey does.”

Everyone’s heads swivel to look at Kelsey, who narrows her eyes at me. “Of course I don’t know where she is. I would’ve told you already. Besides, I was here this morning.”

“Well, she’s not answering texts or calls,” says Diana, her face grave.

Crystal mutters a swear under her breath. “Okay. We’ll have no choice but to change it up. Ella, you’re flying in Cara’s place tonight, and we’ll bring up Mandy from JV to cover you, though that isn’t gonna work for the Gator Grind.…” She pulls out her choreo notebook and does some quick scribbling, continuing to murmur her thoughts while the rest of us watch her work—Crystal’s process is not exactly collaborative. Even Nia keeps quiet, silently flexing in anticipation of a more leg-heavy routine.

“Should some of us go out looking?” Ella asks, ever the sweetheart. The girl doesn’t have a cutthroat bone in her body. If I were getting my first shot ever at lead flyer, I sure as hell wouldn’t be looking to change that up. “I’m getting a little nervous. It was one thing when we assumed they were together,” she says, gesturing toward me, “but if they’re not—”

“She’s been gone all of five minutes longer than Ammo was,” Kelsey cuts in. “I’m sure she’s fine.”

I’m sure she is too, but it does bug me not to know where she is, even if our friendship is over.

And then, with a flash, I realize that I do.

Because if there’s one place Cara Whelan would go after telling me about her gravest sins, one place where she’d ignore a barrage of frantic calls and texts, it’s the home of Confession itself.

“You think it’s fine that two members of the squad have missed half a day when the homecoming game is in a few hours?” Crystal demands.