Seven Hills’ headmistress was only thirty-five, a tall Black woman with a heart-shaped face and braids that were usually pulled into a strict ponytail. So far, she had worn a kind smile on her face every time I had seen her, her voice quiet yet commanding. Now, there was a displeased frown as she called out,

“Noelle Daniels! Over here, right now!”

Noelle froze in her tracks and turned around agonizingly slowly.

“The school year has only just started and you’re already breaking one of the biggest rules, even after we talked about all this just two months ago,” Mrs. Whitworth said once Noelle had reached the bottom of the stairs.

To my surprise, Noelle didn’t respond with a quip or a dismissive glare. Instead, she scuffed her socked foot against the floor and said, so softly I was barely able to hear her, “I know.”

“You know what the school rules say about drinking and sneaking out. According to them, I should’ve expelled you the first time.”

“I know,” Noelle said again. “I’m sorry.”

Mrs. Whitworth pressed a hand to her temple, rubbing it in circular motions as she studied Noelle’s face. In the pale moonlight that filtered in through the windows, she looked tired rather than angry. “I gave you so many chances already,” she sighed. “Noelle, you know I want to help you, but I don’t know how if you go behind my back time and time again.”

Noelle kept her eyes fixed on her feet.

“I can’t do anything for you if you don’t at least try. Now, answer me honestly for once: did you go into town alone?”

It was like a knee-jerk reaction. One moment I was cowering in the corridor with Seth, the next I stepped out into the hall, ignoring his warning hand on my sleeve, and announced, “She was with me.”

Mrs. Whitworth spun around, eyes wide in surprise. “You?

What’s your name?”

“Evelyn.” I went to stand next to Noelle. “Evelyn Greene.”

Behind Mrs. Whitworth’s shoulder, Seth buried his face in his hands.

“One of the new students,” Mrs. Whitworth said, more to herself than to us, and took in my soaked state with a searching look.

“Yes,” I confirmed. “I’m really sorry, Mrs. Whitworth. It was my idea to sneak out. I asked Noelle to show me around town and she was kind enough to do so. We didn’t mean to be so late.”

Noelle stared at me like she was sure I had lost my mind.

Right now I wasn’t sure if I had, but my mouth was talking faster than my brain could think and added, “So really, it’s my fault. I should be held responsible.”

Noelle opened her mouth, but I sent her a look that was sharp enough to make her shut it again.

“It honors you to be so honest, Evelyn,” Mrs. Whitworth said.

“And I am glad that you two have become . . . friends?”

“Yes. I’m so glad I have a roommate who I get along with so well,” I said. Behind my back, I gestured for Seth to leave. “I would feel terrible if she were to receive punishment for this.”