How was this going so wrong again?

Toward the end of my drive, my phone began vibrating steadily. When I parked in the driveway, I found a series of texts from Jameer.

Jameer: Del, I know you’re mad. But I have a plan

Jameer: And the other Purity Pledgers are going to help

Jameer: I’ve got two words for you

Jameer: Harvest Fest

Was I supposed to know what that meant?

Me: Explain

And for the next half hour I sat in my car, watching the details of this new plan arrive in short, slow text bursts—his flip phone wasn’t built for speed. But, the wait was worth it. Me and Jameer were on the same page, throwing the “too casual” approach aside.

Now, all I needed was a disguise.

Chapter 10

WE HAD A FEW DAYS until Jameer’s big play, and things were not uneventful in the meantime. On Monday, Taylor Burkin, the founder of #BabyGettersToo, returned to school. The hall was electric with her presence. From the time her mother let her out at the drop-off lane, to her stepping foot into the main foyer, to trekking the halls to her locker, all manner of social media buzzed.

Taylor’s back!

Taylor’s here!

Another Baby-Getter returns!

The biggest attention-grabber was Taylor’s locker position. A mere three doors down from Kiera’s.

That hall became unusually thick with spectators—more students than had ever hung around that particular set of lockers and classrooms. MJ once told us about this story by a science fiction writer named Ray Bradbury. In it, this crowd would show up around car accidents and other tragedies. Not a general crowd. The same crowd. Every time. Like the way crowds appeared around fights, or other hallway drama at Green Creek.

But I was no different from that ever-present crowd. I, too, was curious as to how Kiera would react to Taylor, or how Taylor would react to Kiera, or if one of them might postpone their locker stop until a less stressful time.

No. Both girls were present. Kiera lingering at her locker with Helena and Shanice, as usual. Taylor approached from the south hallway, with new additions to “The Crowd” in tow.

Murmurs became silence, and the air crackled as Taylor spun her locker combination while flicking glances Kiera’s way.

Obviously, Kiera was aware of the drama leeches waiting to feed on something, despite her best efforts to maintain a casual presence. Some instigator squealed, “She smashed your man!” Attempting to spark a fire.

Kiera’s lips pinched, and she stared directly at Taylor, who stared back.

“Ohhhh!” said another instigator.

Kiera shook her head, looked skyward, mumbling. I recognized this now. It was a church move, a quick prayer. She closed her locker door gently, approached Taylor with Helena and Shanice at her flank.

Taylor closed her locker door, too. Faced Kiera, radiating wariness.

Everyone in attendance leaned in, determined not to miss whatever jab—verbal or otherwise—came next.

Kiera reached striking distance, eyes focused on her target, and said, “Welcome back.”