Even as I say this, I know I’m making excuses. I want things to work out easily, but we’re past that point now.

“Fucking Florida,” Lex mutters.

“Yeah.” Florida has startlingly few laws about magic sharing. The state is all about personal freedom and not letting the government interfere with citizens’ rights.

“Even if it’s technically legal, it’s definitely still against school rules,” Lex says. Her gaze is hard and flinty when she looks at me. “You know, this could be like the witches at that company.”

“What company?”

She waves a hand vaguely in the air. “The one with the CEO that made witches share magic with him for promotions.”

“Oh,” I say. “You think Brittany got with Mr. B just for the scholarship?”

Lex shrugs. “I mean, I know she’s been kind of an asshole to you, but that could have been like a cry for help or something.”

“But then why would she still be with him?” I ask.

“Maybe she feels like she can’t ditch him while she’s a Brockton Scholar.”

My heart drops when she says this. I don’t like Brittany, sure. But I shouldn’t leave her to be manipulated by Mr. B. No matter how annoying and racist she is, she doesn’t deserve that.

The image of Brittany running out of Mr. B’s classroom, clearly upset, replays in my mind. I should have seen this coming. There were so many signs: all the extra hours they spent together, Brittany’s obsession with following him around, his weird lack of boundaries with students.

“You’re right,” I say. “I’ll talk to her tomorrow. Maybe I can convince her to tell the school.”

“Yeah, that’s a good idea.” She nods encouragingly, looks me straight in the eyes, and then reaches over to grab my hand from my lap. “I’m sorry all of this happened to you; it really sucks.”

I chuckle, and it comes out sounding a bit delirious. “It really does.”

She gives my hand a squeeze, and then we sit there in a companionable silence. “Can you drive me home?” I ask after a bit. “Our car broke down again, so I’m sort of stranded.”

“Of course,” she says.

As she’s moving to put the car in gear, I realize there’s one important thing I still haven’t addressed. “Hey.” I turn in my seat to face her fully. “I’m really sorry I’ve been making you feel bad about your college stuff.”