The next day, Ana is still ignoring me. I stare at her across the room in our classes, getting more and more frustrated as the day goes on. She was the one who wanted to be friends. I didn’t care about whether or not we talked a few days ago. I barely thought about her. Or, well, I only thought about her in a negative way.

Trying to put Ana out of my mind, I hole up in the greenroom behind the stage to work on the Bronxtown Brooms choreography until rehearsal starts. I slowly fumble through the section of “The Block Party” that I still can’t get down, twisting under and around my imaginary partner. Practicing alone in this small space isn’t super helpful, but it’s the best I can do. Kevin is also a terrible partner, so running through things with him isn’t much help anyway.

My phone dings as a series of texts comes through from Lex. I plop down on the couch to read them, happy to have an excuse to take a break.

LEX: omg lady look at this insanity the magimeds left in my room

She’s sent a photo of a pamphlet next. The title reads How Communes Are Killing America, and How to Keep Your Kids Out!

LEX: have they LOST THEIR MINDS

LEX: none of this is even true! there’s this whole section about how everyone in communes is malnourished, which doesn’t make sense because they definitely have some herbologists there

SHAY: oof, I’m sorry

LEX: I kind of made fun of the pamphlet when they talked to me about it and they got really mad. like, they alexandra nicole evans-ed me

SHAY: damn

LEX: UGH I’m so annoyed. maybe I should run away to a commune just to spite them

SHAY: ew don’t even joke

LEX: brb googling how much flights to the nearest commune are

SHAY: LEX

LEX: but seriously, the people in them are doing fine. it’s just meant to be a statement on how messed up the whole licensing system is.

She follows this up with a link to a Washington Post article called “Why America’s Youth Are Escaping to Communes.”

I frown at the screen. She can’t be serious.

SHAY: you can’t just abandon everyone you know though. that’s so lazy and messed up

It takes a while for her to send her next message.

LEX: w/e. I’m not going to actually move to one. my parents would disown me

SHAY: phew