“Preach!”

We laughed a bit.

“Hey kids,” Dad called from downstairs, “dinner’s ready.”

Cressie popped from her chair. I rose, too. She said, “Maybe you’ll think better on a full stomach.”

“Maybe.” When we left her room she flipped the light switch, so the only brightness was her face, on her MacBook, that video she needed to prep.

Something began to churn in the back of my head.

Food first, though.

After dinner, in my room, I tapped a text to Qwan, who was Angie-free for a night thanks to her visiting uncle taking her people to a movie. I was in socks, flimsy PJ pants, and a Green Creek sweatshirt, bundled beneath the covers because it was chilly. I chatted with my friend, my phone glowing like a lantern in a mineshaft.

Me: What you told me, about those girls robbing you . . . you regret it?

Qwan: Hell yeah I regret it. Who doesn’t regret getting robbed, D?

Me: No! Do you regret telling me it was a lie? Technically, you lied on your dick. Cardinal sin.

Qwan: I’m not sorry I told you the truth. I actually feel better knowing you know. I never have to worry about getting found out later.

Me: What if I’d clowned you for it?

Qwan: Might’ve mattered a year ago, back before I went through some real shit. But thinking Angie was pregnant, and I might be a dad . . . fronting about something that didn’t happen wasn’t important anymore. Why you ask?

Me: I’m thinking about doing something Qwan. It might be kind of big.

Qwan: Is it legal, though?

Me: It’s legal.

Qwan: And it’s about getting some shit off your chest?

Me: Yep

Qwan: Then I got your back, D. Always

Me: Unless Angie calls.

Qwan: Then you’re on your own.

Qwan: lol

Swinging my feet to the floor, I didn’t feel so cold anymore. I checked the clock. 8:45 p.m. There was still time.

I left my room, went down the hall, and knocked on Cressie’s door.

“Come in.” She was in her bed clothes, still tinkering with her video.

I said, “I have a proposal for you.”

“About?”

“A very special episode for your channel.”

She perked. “I’m listening.”

I closed and locked her door.

Chapter 29

NO NEW FEMFAM EPISODE WENT up after midnight. Or by eight a.m. Or even by the early afternoon. It was the Friday before the long holiday break, and I asked my sister to hold off on posting until I finished school. I wanted one last day of semi-normalcy if what we did went the wrong way.

I said “semi” because I broke my Extreme-Focus protocols for the first time in weeks. I had stops to make.

First, I tracked down Shianne between classes. She was at her locker, saw me coming, and went full attitude, expecting a fight. I walked up to her, locked eyes, then hugged her. She went limp, didn’t fight it. Some passerby made a lewd comment and she told him to do crude things to himself.