The party was everything it was supposed to be. The drinks flowed through a DJ-fueled dance party on the deck while a sunset clambake on the shore faded into s’mores, firepits, and moonlit skinny dipping. It was all over-the-top augmented, though it didn’t matter to me. Without AMPs, I couldn’t see the fantasy my parents had spared no expense creating. Tonight, nothing could cloud my vision. I had to watch for my contact and Adam.

Nine o’clock rolled around, and I still hadn’t glimpsed either of them, so I dutifully slipped beyond the velvet rope and boarded the boat that would take Lil, Deena, Kylie, and me to the yacht. Jax and Bryce stayed back, happy to curate the private party attendees from the already-growing line.

Once I was on board, even without AMPs, the yacht appeared to be floating in a water-filled crater on the surface of the moon. Surrounded by a galaxy of shooting stars, in the distance the earth emerged from the black unknown, slowly rotating.

For a while, it was just the girls and me on the magical boat. They stuck together, picking at the dessert bar, pouring champagne, posing pretending to steer the ship at all of the Network-bait photo ops scattered around the upper deck. No longer caring who was watching me, I kept to myself, hugging my arms across my chest, watching for Adam’s boat to emerge from the stars. Slowly, other guests arrived, but there was no Adam and no contact. As the yacht filled with partygoers, I had to keep up appearances, and I reluctantly joined the girls in a roped-off corner next to the dance floor.

“Hey birthday girl,” Lil said as I slumped down next to her. “Smile. You’re finally seventeen!” Clearly her feed was live—there was no other reason for her to be nice to me.

“I don’t care,” I said. “In fact, you should all stop caring about rankings. It’s freeing.”

Ignoring me, she expertly kept her expression neutral. “That dress is everything. And those earrings. Birthday gift?” Leaning in, she touched the beads dangling from my ears and muttered so only I could hear, “Careful, Ella. You still have everything to lose. We wouldn’t want any secrets to spill.”

She purposely knocked a glass of champagne into my lap. The cold liquid seeped between my thighs, and I leaped up.

“Oh no,” Lil said. “I’m so sorry.” Grabbing a napkin, she dabbed at my skirt.

“Don’t be,” I said sweetly. “I have dozens of other dresses. I’ll go change.”

Leaving them, I found a quiet corner of the boat and stared into the universe.

Where is Adam?

“Hey,” Deena said, joining me.

Chilled despite the balmy summer breeze swirling off the lake, I rubbed my arms. “Hi.”

We watched the earth rotate in silence, having everything and nothing to say to each other.