The bell rings and Paige ignores me, standing up. She walks out of the cafeteria with Lottie, who is shaking her head.

“Uh-oh, Stevie, she’s mad,” Aidan says unaffectedly. “And trust me, you do not want her mad at you. She’s a raging bitch half the time anyway. At least to me,” he grumbles.

I spend the rest of the afternoon texting Paige, asking her if she’s okay, apologizing.

I didn’t know. I’m sorry!! Please!!!

After the bell rings, I shoulder my way through the crowds and get to Paige’s locker, but when she doesn’t turn up, I head to the doors of the school, where I can see down the little hill, see everyone leaving. Lottie and I always meet at the huge rock at the end of the driveway of the school. Maybe I can talk to her, I think, as I crane my neck to see if she’s waiting for me or on her way. Nearby, Matthew is huddled over a book with Mitch and Jamie. He pushes his glasses up on his nose and laughs at something Mitch says. I see Dee, smoking under a tree while a guy from our homeroom talks animatedly to her. She sees me and lifts a hand in greeting. I ignore her, and notice Lottie, her white-blonde hair shining in the sun. Paige is with her, and they are already walking away from the school. I stand on the steps while people jostle and bump into me until someone speaks in my ear.

“Hey, kid, you gonna stand here all day?”

It’s Rhonda. No—Pete, I correct myself, feeling a sad snag but ignoring it. His satchel over his shoulder, ready to go home as well.

“What? No, I just—”

“Where’s your partner in crime?” he says, looking out over the crowd with me.

“Oh, I’m not sure. I think she might have left …”

“Huh,” he says, looking a little surprised. “Is she being a jerk or something? Do I need to step in?”

“No, no. No.”

“So, no?”

“Haha. Everything’s fine.”

Pete looks at me closely. “If you’re sure. You know where to find me if it’s not.”

I get a lump in my throat and look away. “Yeah, I know. Thanks. Well, I’d better get going,” I say. “See you tomorrow!”

I walk home, my hand around my phone, waiting for a vibration that never comes.

*   *   *

Later I get on my bike and ride over to Lottie’s, feeling sick and anxious.

“Hey,” she says, leaning against the door.

“Can I come in?”