I abandoned the idea as fast as it had come. Maybe his super-strict parents couldn’t monitor his web activity there, but the last thing I needed was some asshole like Kent Oster looking over our shoulders at the exact wrong time and blasting to the school that me and Jameer were wet dream research buddies.

He’d made it clear that my own internet research wouldn’t do, no Wikipedia printout. So we were back to me asking a “professional” if I wanted his assistance on my Kiera goals.

At a red light, I said, “What are you doing?”

I knew why I was quiet, but Qwan was uncharacteristically silent. “Texting,” he said.

“Who?”

He tapped his screen, but was slow answering. Almost like he was stalling.

“Who?”

“Angie.” He put his phone to sleep, slipped it in his pocket.

“Don’t stop on my account.”

“She about to get on the road and shouldn’t be texting anyway.”

“Huh?” He sounded like her dad. Or my dad. Or anybody’s dad. Weird. The light changed and I welcomed this distraction from Jameer’s uncomfortable mission. Easing us closer to school, I said, “She tell you anything about what went down with Colossus?”

“It’s bullshit. Said she ain’t do nothing with him.”

“You believe her?”

“Don’t know. That’s what she was in detention for, though. Arguing about it with Tiff Burrell in Spanish class. You know Señora Ortiz don’t play.”

“Lucky you, right?” Ever since he got her number, I hadn’t heard much from him. It had only been a couple of days, but the way Qwan ran game, that was like they’d been dating a month.

He grinned. “Remains to be seen. Working on it, though.”

We got to school, made our cafeteria breakfast run, then went for our lockers. We passed Kiera’s locker, where she was flanked by Helena and Shanice from church. Each of them greeted me with a “Hey Del.” Kiera’s expression hadn’t changed from the night before, still icy.

Qwan, as elegant as always, said, “Man, she looks like you farted in her elevator.”

“That’s not an expression.”

“Whatever. I guess that Purity Pledge plan is going awesome for you.”

“Leave it alone. I’m working on it.”

We rounded the corner, on course for my locker. My neck was craned, evaluating Kiera’s reaction to me. Qwan snapped his forearm across my chest, stopping me dead. “What—?”

“Del.”

I followed his line of sight, no explanation needed. Walking toward us, escorted by Vice Principal Terrier, and her parents, was Shianne Griffiths.

Her head was down, like she was trying to ignore the obvious stares or barely concealed whispers of the classmates surrounding her. What they were talking about was anybody’s guess.

Could’ve been the legendary orgy she participated in our freshman year.

Or the fact that I was her partner at said orgy.

Or that she was a charter member of our school’s infamous Baby-Getters Club, having given birth maybe two months ago.

You know, the basics.

As she got closer, her name slipped from my mouth like a gasp. “Shi.”