Of course, thinking of cheerleaders just makes me think of Amber, which feels like taking one more bite of a shit sandwich. Homecoming is up in less than two weeks, and what do I have to show for it? Not a coach who supports me. Not a team who appreciates me. Not a girl I can go to the dance with. Not a school that gives a shit about me. Not friends who can hold a candle to Sage and Morgan, both of whom think I’m being a lousy home-wrecker right now.

In that moment, I feel done. And since I’m done, I don’t really need to go to class tomorrow, right?

The second I’m back in my school clothes, I head for my car and peel out of the lot.

Chapter Six

-AMBER-

I know it’s not a good sign when “Walsh, Jack” goes unanswered in first period. It’s certainly not good when I don’t spot her by her locker afterward. And the rumors that are hitting my ears … Yeah, somebody’s having a bad morning, and judging by the way my stomach’s felt filled with lead since that conversation with my mother, that somebody is more to me than just a good kisser.

I finally catch up with Miguel and yank him aside for details, putting aside that I’m showing my hand by caring way too much about somebody I’m not supposed to. “What the hell happened at practice yesterday? Was Jack in a fight?”

“Hard to even call it a fight,” Miguel says with a snort. “She got ambushed by Sanchez and the rest of the guys, and he threw a weak-ass punch. She would’ve kicked his ass if Coach hadn’t shown up. She got a good swing in anyway. But yeah, it was a mess.”

Oh God. I knew it was bad, but not physical-fight bad. That is fucked-up. That is fucked-up.

“Yeah, it is,” says Miguel, which is how I realize I’ve said it out loud. “I guess you’re still on your thing about creating unity or whatever? You seem pretty upset. Everything okay?”

The truth is on the tip of my tongue—about Jack, about Cara, about everything—but I can’t force it out. Not here. And not before I talk to Jack. “Where is she?”

He shrugs. “Stayed home, I guess.”

“Okay, thank you. Do me a favor and take notes in physics for me?”

“Why?” He narrows his eyes, but I’m already turning away, pulling out my phone to see if I have any messages from Jack. Nothing. “Where are you going?”

“I’ll fill you in later!” I call back over my shoulder, meaning it. “Just take the notes!”

I am not a girl who cuts school, especially because it means getting benched if I miss practice, but I jump into my car and floor it to Jack’s, perfect attendance record be damned.