For the rest of the pep rally, I fall perfectly in line, ignoring the glares from the contingent of girls determined to embarrass Jack at every corner. Of course, Crystal and the rest of the seniors don’t look too thrilled with me either—that wasn’t exactly a sanctioned move—but I hope they at least get why I did it.

And if they don’t, they will soon.

Still, when the marching band is done with their performance, Dan Sanchez and Matt Devlin have made their nauseating speeches about how they’re going to crush Kennedy High (oh, are you, now?), the step team’s brought everyone back to their feet, and we’ve done our final routine, Crystal yanks me by the arm and pulls me over to the side. “Ammo. What the hell?”

Out of the corner of my eye, I see the football players file out, and once more I quickly catch Jack’s eye before she leaves. “Is that not what we rehearsed?” I ask innocently, turning back to Crystal.

“Amber.”

I exhale sharply and meet her warm, dark eyes. “You heard Claire. You know this isn’t about honoring Robbie.”

“Just because it isn’t for her doesn’t mean it isn’t for other people.”

“And how is this honoring him, Crys? Is the position just supposed to shut down? No one gave Tim shit when he stepped in, and he sucks.”

“Tim was the team’s QB3. This was the slot he was set to inherit when Drew up and left.”

“Well, he did, and he failed, and they had to get someone new, and Jack is the someone new, and she’s really good. And we’re punishing her for it because … what? Because she’s a girl who dared to prove you don’t have to be male to kick ass at football? Because she hasn’t been an Atherton Alligator for life? Literally none of that is her fault, and frankly I think the fact that she’s a girl is pretty badass.”

“Yeah, I see that,” Crystal says, arms crossing her chest. “Are you really gonna tell me that this is all about school spirit for you?”

I square my shoulders. “If you want to ask me something, ask it.”

“Fine. I think you like her. I think you liked Veronica, too. And I don’t know what that means about you and Miguel, but I do think you’re thinking with your…” And there she falters, because for all that Crystal can whip us in line and run a tight ship of girls in tiny skirts, she’s never vulgar about it.